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Social Engagement

Keep Sharp – and Social – with Trivia

By Sharon McDonnell Monday, March 28, 2022 10 Comments Share This:

Online trivia quizzes and other games make you think and engage with news, information and the outside world. Even better – they can improve your mood and well-being, according to a study of regular or sometime online players.

And even better than that, online trivia games help you socialize virtually, all while keeping brains sharp and having fun.

The original trivia game goes online 

Jeopardy! has an online version named J!6, a daily game with six categories in standard answers-first format, followed by another set of six. Broadway musicals, criminals, world travel and business were some topics when I played. You can also play on your smartphone: just download the free app or use voice commands with Google Assistant with Android phones.

Search for free trivia quizzes by topic from the two million at JeopardyLabs, or create your own quiz using its template.

Geeks Who Drink

Geeks Who Drink offers several varieties of trivia quizzes. They have themed one-subject quizzes (on subjects like Harry Potter, Baking, Disney, Broadway or decades like the ’80s and ’90s) or Classic quizzes, which can range from Hungary to The Hunger Games, science to sports, the Billboard Hot 100 to Game of Thrones. Each quiz has seven rounds of eight questions each.  Both audio (name the song title and artist) and visual (e.g. name the movie or show portrayed) are in each round. The company ran quizzes in bars and restaurants for 15 years before adding online games in March 2020, and has hosts for all quizzes. Each two-hour game costs $5.99 per device (a team sharing one device pays just $5.99). A 10-pack is $44.99.

“Teams can discuss answers to each round in virtual ‘breakout’ rooms,” says Bryan Carr at Geeks Who Drink. “Whether you want to be entertained, compete with other players, or socialize with friends, we cover it all.” Pick a quiz from days, times and themes on its website.

Words with Friends

Words With Friends is a free Scrabble-type game, with jumbled letters you shape into words. “I play Words with Friends constantly on my phone with its app – meaning I can do it on a bus, waiting for someone, in a dentist office etc.,” says Jessica Levant, an artist and former management consultant in San Francisco. “I like it because it’s a problem to solve. Anagram and strategy skills are needed to get the highest score and prevent others from using high score squares.”

Levant often plays many games at once, with one person each, sometimes using the chat function to discuss the game or plans for next weekend. “Actual playing depends on when the other person engages,” she says. “For example, I play with one guy who manages a word or two a week: the game stays until his next move. But others play every morning or evening, so we can finish a game.” For the past three years Levant has played with a friend she met on a flight to Arizona (they realized they were playing the same game).

Wanna play? 

Don’t be limited by this list!  There are many places to find online trivia games to play alone, with friends or with anyone. You can also find dozens of free online games in this list from AARP Staying Sharp. These include trivia, fill-in-the-blanks-from-famous-texts and Around the World in 80 Trips. This game asks you to pick countries, then remember place names, photos and routes connecting them in order, and tests memory, attention and visual-spatial brain functions.

What’s right for you?

  • Do try game types that interest you. If you’re a fountain of obscure facts, trivia is for you. If forming jumbled letters into words doesn’t appeal in real life, it won’t magically enchant you online.
  • Decide if you want free, short games just minutes long, or a longer, more official, hosted paid “game experience.”
  • With phone voice apps, talk slowly and clearly into the microphone.
  • Don’t force yourself. If you’re bored to tears, it defeats the purpose. Have fun while sharpening your brain!

 

And remember – if trivia is not your thing, you can always socialize virtually with Senior Planet’s online activities – from book clubs to exercise classes and more. Check it out here. 

 

Photo by Vane Nunes for Adobe Stock

COMMENTS

10 responses to “Keep Sharp – and Social – with Trivia”

  1. Raquel Fok:
    Sunday, April 3, 2022 at 1:08pm

    Der Senior Planet,

    Can a “bridge game” be installed virtually, among Senior members. Would appreciate it.

    Raquel

    Reply to Raquel Fok
  2. victoria liska:
    Tuesday, March 29, 2022 at 11:31am

    I wish Senior Planet had more lectures about technology. Exercise is nice, but we need to learn technology, changes, updates, new terminology, etc Also some lectures about travel, investing/finance, budgeting, science, medical issues, etc.

    Reply to victoria liska
    1. Senior Planet:
      Thursday, March 31, 2022 at 2:09pm

      Hi Victoria! Thank you for reaching out and for your feedback. We do offer a wide variety of workshops and courses on technology related matters – if you are not already, I highly recommend you sign up for our “all online events” weekly newsletter so you can receive a list of all of our offerings that week. Sign up here: http://www.seniorplanet.org/newsletters

      Reply to Senior Planet
  3. Jan:
    Saturday, March 27, 2021 at 9:52am

    Can Senior Planet put together a group that can play together? I don’t have anyone to play with.

    Reply to Jan
    1. Senior Planet:
      Monday, March 29, 2021 at 9:22am

      That’s a good idea, Jan! We’ll pass it on.

      Reply to Senior Planet
      1. Adele - Resident Service Coordinator:
        Wednesday, March 30, 2022 at 9:06am

        I would LOVE it on behalf of myself and the 57 Senior Residents I serve here at AHEPA in Waterford CT. We already participate in Wellness Wed and other programs.

  4. anna:
    Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11:46am

    Correction
    No, you just installed one.
    No editing option?

    Reply to anna
  5. anna:
    Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 8:00pm

    I despise trivia as much as I despise gyms. The artificial reality of artificial people.
    One can engage with news, information, and the outside world without this idiocy.
    For example, I am very much engaged with the “news” that a country between water and water and no war on its soil for over 150 years is in this condition.
    Until now, I thought that demented rulers are only possible in inherited (not in elected or even pseudo elected) circumstances.

    Reply to anna
    1. Martin E. Gross:
      Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 5:46am

      We just got rid of one.

      Reply to Martin E. Gross
      1. anna:
        Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at 11:45am

        No, you just install one.
        dr anna

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