Developer: MobileFwd
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.0
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 4
Trivi.al is setting out to do for trivia games what Draw Something did for Pictionary and Words With Friends did for Scrabble. It doesn’t quite hit the spot as well but amongst friends, it still stands a chance of being quite a hit.
Players take in turns to answer 3 rounds of questions in order to beat their opponent. Opponents can be selected either randomly, by username or through the player’s Facebook friends list. There’s no support for Twitter friends but it should still provide plenty of outlets for socially minded gamers.
The questions themselves are quite a mixed bunch of genres. Some will be quite simple such as a question about popular culture, while others will test the gray matter such as questions about geology or 19th century history. Most of the questions are quite heavily geared towards the US market with the focus on American history and American advertising slogans tough for non-US gamers to keep on top of.
The more questions answered correctly in a row, the more points are given. Once the round has been completed for one player, the questions are handed over to the other player to answer in their own time. Play continues in that manner for three rounds, until a winner is decided. The winning player then sees their in-game IQ increased, meaning an increased likelihood of being pitted against a more talented opponent.
It’s simple stuff but fun to compete against friends with. As a trivia addict, there’s always that drive to be better. There’s a form of lifeline system with the addition of power ups but I didn’t find these overly neccessary and, arguably, detracted from the experience.
While Trivi.al is a little heavily weighted towards US audiences and far from the most attractive looking of apps, it’s a fun starting block for an enjoyable trivia experience. In-game chat keeps the competitive element steady and the free ad-supported nature of the game will ensure it’s open to all. With the right community, this could prove popular.