Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition (1981) Board Game

Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition was first released in 1981 by designers Scott Abbott and Chris Haney. It quickly became a popular party game known for its challenging trivia questions and competitive gameplay. The game has since been published by Diset S.A. and has multiple editions covering a wide range of topics.

Game Components of Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition

Game board

3600 question cards divided into six categories: Geography, Entertainment, History, Arts & Literature, Science & Technology, and Sports & Leisure

Game pieces (scouting for the original pie-shaped tokens)

Scorepad

Rulebook

Box to store all components

How To Setup Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition

To set up the game, start by placing the game board in the middle of the playing area. Each player chooses a game piece and places it on the “Start” space. Shuffle the question cards and place them face down on their respective category spaces on the board. Determine who goes first, usually by rolling a die or drawing a card.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Roll and Move: Players roll a die to determine how many spaces to move.

Answer Questions: When a player lands on a space, they draw a question card from the corresponding category and must answer the question correctly to stay on the space.

Fill the Pie: The goal is to fill all six pie slices on your game piece by answering questions correctly in each category.

Win the Game: The first player to fill all their pie slices and return to the “Start” space wins.

Player Experience

Playing Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition was a staple of family gatherings and social events in the 1980s. The game brought a competitive yet entertaining atmosphere, where knowing obscure facts granted bragging rights, while not knowing them could lead to humorous moments of ignorance. The game’s broad range of questions made it engaging for a wide audience, though some categories, like History, could be particularly challenging.

Pros

Cultural Significance: It was a phenomenon that made board games appealing to adults.

Extensive Question Bank: 3600 questions provided immense replay value.

Engaging Categories: The variety of categories catered to different interests.

Social Interaction: Encouraged family and friends to gather and compete.

Cons

Time-Sensitive Questions: Many questions have become outdated over the years.

Difficulty Level: Some categories were notoriously hard, which could be frustrating.

Long Game Sessions: Games could last for hours, especially with competitive players.

Personal Thoughts on Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition

Trivial Pursuit: Genus Edition is for anyone who enjoys trivia, social interaction, and a touch of nostalgia. It’s ideal for families, friends, and trivia enthusiasts who appreciate the challenge of broad knowledge. However, due to its age, some questions may seem outdated, so it might not be as appealing to younger players who prefer more contemporary content. Nonetheless, it remains a classic that can still provide hours of entertainment and intellectual stimulation.

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