Next-Level Know-How: Ultimate Video Game Trivia

Think you’ve mastered gaming lore? Tackle clever, challenging questions across eras and genres—prove your gaming IQ and surprise your friends.

  1. Which early 1990s fighting game popularized the use of digitized actor sprites rather than hand-drawn art?
    1. Tekken
    2. Street Fighter II
    3. King of Fighters
    4. Mortal Kombat
  2. What nonlinear design concept did Dark Souls popularize in modern action RPGs?
    1. Procedural levels
    2. Instanced dungeons
    3. World interconnectedness
    4. Open hubworld
  3. Which programming limitation led to the iconic short, looping music in early arcade games?
    1. AI composers
    2. Memory constraints
    3. Streaming audio
    4. High sample rate
  4. Which game engine introduced node-based visual scripting to mainstream indie developers via accessibility and licensing?
    1. id Tech
    2. Unreal Engine
    3. Source Engine
    4. CryEngine
  5. Which franchise's sales strategy helped normalize annualized sports game releases with minor updates?
    1. NBA Jam
    2. FIFA
    3. Tony Hawk
    4. PES
  6. Which 1980s game is often credited with establishing nonviolent puzzle-platformer mechanics centered on pushing blocks?
    1. Bubble Bobble
    2. Lode Runner
    3. Sokoban
    4. Boulder Dash
  7. Which company pioneered cartridge-based console production to avoid software piracy and ensure quality control in the 1980s?
    1. Atari
    2. Sega
    3. Nintendo
    4. Coleco

Answers and explanations

  1. Question: Which early 1990s fighting game popularized the use of digitized actor sprites rather than hand-drawn art?
    Answer: Mortal Kombat
    Explanation: Mortal Kombat used actors photographed and digitized to create its character sprites, giving it a distinct realistic look and controversy for violence.
  2. Question: What nonlinear design concept did Dark Souls popularize in modern action RPGs?
    Answer: World interconnectedness
    Explanation: Dark Souls designed areas that loop and interconnect, rewarding exploration and shortcuts; this inspired many studios to adopt more cohesive world layouts.
  3. Question: Which programming limitation led to the iconic short, looping music in early arcade games?
    Answer: Memory constraints
    Explanation: Limited ROM and RAM forced composers to create short, repeating melodies; those loops became memorable hooks associated with classic titles.
  4. Question: Which game engine introduced node-based visual scripting to mainstream indie developers via accessibility and licensing?
    Answer: Unreal Engine
    Explanation: Unreal's Blueprint visual scripting democratized complex gameplay logic without code, boosting indie creativity and rapid prototyping.
  5. Question: Which franchise's sales strategy helped normalize annualized sports game releases with minor updates?
    Answer: FIFA
    Explanation: EA's FIFA series established yearly numbered releases emphasizing roster and cosmetic updates, shaping consumer expectations for sports titles.
  6. Question: Which 1980s game is often credited with establishing nonviolent puzzle-platformer mechanics centered on pushing blocks?
    Answer: Sokoban
    Explanation: Sokoban introduced block-pushing puzzles that influenced many later puzzle-platformers and level-design challenges.
  7. Question: Which company pioneered cartridge-based console production to avoid software piracy and ensure quality control in the 1980s?
    Answer: Nintendo
    Explanation: Nintendo used licensed cartridges and lockout chips to control third-party publishing and reduce piracy, shaping console industry practices.