Whether it’s trivia quizzes, sporcles, psychology tests or simply quizzes for fun: games always make good ice breakers, whether in the pub, at home with your feet up or after a dinner party. When banter dies down, think of a quiz as a more highbrow version of the game ‘would you rather…’ We’ve been on the lookout for free online and printable quizzes. Here goes.

JetPunk

Jet Punk quiz


JetPunk attracts committed trivia nuts. Over 135 million quizzes have been taken since 2008 on this site, which is the brainchild of brothers John and Dan Hostetler. They currently get about 200,000 page views every day. Ready for a challenge? Why not try an Olympian gods quiz? Or what about identifying famous landmarks out of focus; or unscrambling obfuscations of song titles were just a few quizzes that grabbed our attention. If you’re looking for a diverting way to spend a spare 20 minutes (or more), you’ve come to the right place. Play here.

Buzzfeed Quizzes

Buzzfeed quizzes


BuzzFeed’s popular personality quizzes should come with a warning. They are highly addictive, which explains why there is a generation of youth hooked on BuzzFeed. Users answer a series of questions by choosing a photo that correlates with their response; for example, you can find out whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert on the basis of which doughnuts you like best. Obviously. Or which Squid Game character is your favourite based on the desserts you choose. See, it’s vital, compelling, must-know stuff. The easy-to-use platform for creating and answering quizzes is at the top of its game. Play here.

Quiz UK

Quiz UK


This easy-to-navigate website showcases an archive of free general knowledge trivia quizzes, both obscure and mainstream. The printable quizzes cover most subjects from music, sports, cinema and science to fashion. It’s a great one for all ages, with animal and nature trivia tests among the online quizzes. Plus, for the theologians out there, there are religion-themed games, while any budding Joe Wicks might revel in the health and fitness category. Best of all, we like their Pot Luck general knowledge quiz questions. Have this site up your sleeve for a dull, rainy day. Play here.

Sporcle

Sporcle quiz


Essentially a digital version of every pub quiz ever written, Sporcle is a general knowledge minefield. The site was founded in 2007 by Matt Ramme who was looking for a better way to remember US Presidents. It now has thousands of free online trivia quizzes on every topic conceivable. Sporcle aims to ‘actively and methodically search out new and innovative ways to prevent our users from getting any work done whatsoever.’ Users can play quizzes without registering as a member; however, some features such as score tracking and commenting are only available to members. But for those who want to play fun quizzes, why not try your hand at seven letter words in 1980s songs, bald singers, or Taylor Swift songs. Play here.

The Pub Quiz Company

Not In A Pub Quiz


Kicking off its online offering in March 2020 just as lockdown hit, what began as The Pub Quiz Company’s pandemic measure has stuck. Because, frankly, not all of us want to schlep the pub to indulge in a good quiz game. The Not In A Pub quiz happens every Thursday at 8pm; you just log in and play along, and can even create your own Zoom hangout if you want to play as a team. An ideal way to test your trivia while socialising from the comfort of your home. One of a small handful of positive remnants of lockdown. Play here.

Quizly

Quizly


Quizly is an easily navigable site which offers quizzes from the general to the more specific (think Disney and Marvel). We like the IQ and brain teasers, as well as some of the TV games. Do be warned though; the titles of each quiz specialise in taunting players – (examples: ‘Only a real Marvel fan can match these characters with their superpowers’; and ‘I’ll be impressed if you score 12/18 on this general knowledge quiz’). If you have a competitive streak, you may be here some time to prove the quiz setters wrong. Recent examples include: ‘We can guess your age by the foods you find gross’ and ‘Form a team of dogs to find out whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert.’ Life changing stuff. Play here.

16 Personalities

16 personalities quiz


If you’re looking for quiz games online, this might not be the site for you. However, anyone who wants to discover more about their own psychology should head straight for 16 Personalities. In just ten minutes, it purports to deliver a ‘freakishly accurate’ description of who you are – according to, as the title suggests, sixteen personality types. Forget the blanket introvert/extrovert umbrella terms; this drills down into the details. As for the types themselves, they are as follows: the analyst, the diplomat, the sentinel, the explorer, with four further types identified within each category. It is fascinating stuff; we highly recommend it as an illuminating way of using just ten minutes. Take the test here.

Wizarding World

Wizard World quiz


Wizarding World is an official hub for fans of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts. A collaboration between Warner Bros and Pottermore, to enter is to step into a whole world of Harry and beyond – and, as part of the offering, there are a huge number of quizzes online to play. Be warned: these are for mega fans only. On the other hand, only mega fans are likely to frequent the site (good thing, then, that they exist in their millions). Here you can try ‘which chapter’ quizzes online, as well as a ‘centaurs and prophecies’ quiz, a ‘room of requirement’ quiz, or a ‘dark arts edition’ quiz among many others. Potterheads will be in heaven (or their version of heaven – in short: Hogwarts). Play here.

Visual DNA

Visual DNA


If 16 Personalities carefully quizzes its ‘players’ on the finer points of their personalities, Visual DNA has a similar ultimate aim, but instead of asking questions that require a verbal response, it offers a range of images to choose from. If you enjoy a spot of reflective introspection, then this is a fun and quick test to take. Simply answer a variety of questions about how you see yourself by clicking the appropriate picture and thus denoting an emotion. The results are interesting and insightful. If you’re looking for more personal and revealing quiz games online, this is a great one to try. There is a lengthy customer survey before your results, but if you don’t want to get suckered in, you can simply skip it if you like. Take the test here.

Kids National Geographics

National Geographic Kids quiz

Some online quizzes are simply a daft but fun form of entertainment. Others help to train our brains and keep our noggins in good nick. There are, on the other hand, some games which help to shape young minds. Kids National Geographic is one such. The games themselves are just for fun but, little by little, they teach little ones about the world without ever being didactic. Children can play games about space, the Egyptian pyramids, oceans or bugs – to name but a few. And if this is their gateway into a subscription to the magazine, then a whole world of jaw-dropping knowledge awaits them. For budding brainiacs, this is undoubtedly one of the best quiz websites. Play here.

How Stuff Works PLAY

How Stuff Works Play


How Stuff Works PLAY offers its users a range of games, from those that are just for fun to others of a more practical persuasion. For example, it might entice some players in through its offer to guess ‘what kind of beauty you are based on your fashion preferences’, or ‘which Greek god would be your parent.’ For others, though, its less whimsical and more solid games might prove more compelling. These might include quizzes to discover ‘what car should I buy online’, or ‘How well you know the rules of the Australian road.’ You may, of course, prefer to go down the downright daft route, with games such as ‘which Hogwarts house would your dog be in?’ Fun and wide-ranging, this offers a good selection of online quizzes to while away a bored moment. Play here.

Seterra

Seterra


Does your knowledge of geography leave something to be desired? You wouldn’t be alone in that. Over the last forty years, as the way the subject was taught in schools moved away from the traditional capital cities and naming countries on a map and more towards types of rock and surveying people in the street, the basics got a bit neglected somewhere along the line. But no matter. Seterra can help right that wrong with more than 400 map quiz games – some of them printable – available. Its claim? That using fun quizzes alone, players will soon be able to identify every country in the world. Impressive stuff. Available in forty different languages and via both website and app, this is a great resource for anyone hoping to improve their working knowledge of the globe. Choose your area – or go bold and click world geography straight away – and the world is your oyster. Or at least it soon will be. Play here.

Updated February 2023