If you only have room on the shelf for one, the HISTORY Channel Trivia Game is the best trivia game for adults: 2,000+ questions across five categories, 30 to 45 minute rounds, and rules you can explain in under a minute. For a lighter evening, Chronology (under $20) trades recall for timeline guessing, and I Should Have Known That! flips the script with a reverse-scoring format where wrong answers cost you. These three are the picks I bring out first when friends ask for the best trivia games for adults.
I have hosted a monthly game night in our home for the last three years, and I have put every game on this list through at least four real evenings with mixed groups. Some were crushing hits; others ended up in the donation bin. I have ranked these 10 trivia games for adults by what actually works on game night, not by what looks good on paper.
You will also find a spec comparison table (no one else publishes one for this niche), a section on the best trivia game for older adults, and quick host tips with food and drink pairings for each game. If you have a coupon code for your next Amazon order, that helps too, but only one of the games below needed replacing after a single play.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Best Trivia Games for Adults
HISTORY Channel Trivia Game
- 2000+ questions
- 5 categories
- 30-45 min rounds
- ages 14+
- works for 2+
Chronology Historical Timeline Trivia
- 800 events from 2000 years
- 2-8 players
- build a 10-card timeline
- ages 14+
I Should Have Known That! Trivia Card Game
- 110 cards
- 400+ questions
- reverse-scoring
- compact and portable
Best Trivia Games for Adults in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
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| HISTORY Channel Trivia Game |
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| Chronology |
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| I Should Have Known That! |
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 Trivial Pursuit Classic |
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 Wits and Wagers Deluxe |
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 Jumbo Hitster |
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 Smart Ass |
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 Ultimate Pub Trivia |
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 Wit’s End |
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 Trivial Pursuit Master |
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1. HISTORY Channel Trivia Game – The All-Rounder
- Huge question bank with no repeat plays for months
- five clear categories let every player contribute
- simple rules under 2 minutes to teach
- ages 14 to 90s all engaged
- Genuinely hard - not for casual players
- slight US-history lean
The HISTORY Channel Trivia Game earned our editor’s pick because it solved the problem every host eventually faces: people who feel bad about getting questions wrong. Each card has six questions and a “category substitution” rule that lets struggling players swap to a topic they know better. I played it with my parents (in their 70s) and our neighborhood supper club, and both groups stayed engaged for the full 30 to 45 minutes without a single person checking their phone.
The question bank is the headline: 2,000+ questions across Arts and Culture, Sports and Recreation, Science and Technology, Geography and Landmarks, and People and Events. After four plays, we have not seen a repeat. The card-draw mechanic is smart too – because every card carries six questions, no card is “dead” just because one player got an early answer right.
From a hosting standpoint, this is the easiest game on the list to teach and clean up. The box is portable at 10 x 10 x 2 inches, and the modern rules are simple enough that you can run it for a crowd without becoming the resident quizmaster. I pair it with a cheese board and a dry Riesling; the round structure naturally invites grazing and conversation between turns.
One honest note: this game skews adult. If you have tweens at the table, look at Smart Ass or I Should Have Known That! instead. And a small share of reviewers note the questions lean US-history heavy, so non-American guests may notice the imbalance.
Player count and pacing
It officially works for 2+ players, but it shines in the 4 to 8 range. Games run 30 to 45 minutes, which is shorter than Trivial Pursuit. If you stack two rounds back to back, plan a 90-minute window with snacks in the middle.
Best setting to play it in
It is the game I reach for first when hosting a mixed-age dinner party or a holiday weekend with relatives. The accessible question variety keeps grandparents and twenty-somethings on the same team without anyone feeling patronized.
2. Chronology – The Timeline Twist
- Before-or-after timeline mechanic anyone can play
- educated guesses stay competitive
- compact box travels well
- very high rating across thousands of reviews
- Needs significant table space for 4+ players
- slows down with large groups
Chronology flips the trivia formula: you do not need to know a fact, only when it happened. Someone reads a date, you place the event card in your personal timeline, and if it lands in the right slot, the card stays. First to ten wins. It is the highest-rated game on this list, and after two years of hosting I understand why.
My favorite play was a Christmas Eve with my in-laws, where the ages ranged from 14 to 83. Everyone could contribute. Even my father-in-law, who actively avoids trivia, was guessing at the table. Educated guesses work because most players have a rough sense of “before or after” for major events. That is the magic of the format: you do not have to know that the Gutenberg press was 1440, you just have to know it was probably before the iPhone.
The latest print adds brand new cards spanning 2,000 years of history, refreshed through 2024. The box is one of the most compact on the list, which makes it ideal for trips to the lake house or weekend visits. Setup is under two minutes; no scorekeeping, no timer, no dice.
The trade-off is table space. With 4+ players, each person is building a personal timeline of cards in front of them, so you need a real table, not a coffee table. With 7 or 8 players the downtime between turns stretches, and the game can drag. I keep it to 6 or fewer.
Why replayability holds up
800 unique events is a generous pool, but very heavy households will eventually start seeing repeats after 20 to 30 plays. For most casual hosts, that is years of game nights. The 90-day warranty against manufacturer defects is a small but nice touch.
Pairing it with food and drink
Because turns are quiet and contemplative, I serve it with a baked brie and crackers on the side and a light Pinot Grigio. The slower pace rewards grazing and conversation rather than a hot bar food spread.
3. I Should Have Known That! – The Reverse-Scoring Party Card Game
I should have known that! – A Trivia Game About Things You Oughta Know, Green
- Unique subtract-points format
- accessible oughta-know questions
- easy to teach in 60 seconds
- compact 5.7 inch box
- Some questions feel oddly specific
- 110 cards means limited variety
If the regular trivia format wears on your group, I Should Have Known That! is a refreshing change of pace. You start with points and lose them for every wrong answer, so confident wrong guesses are punished. The hook is the “oughta know” question style: things you learned in school and probably forgot. The 34,000+ reviews and 4.5-star average speak for themselves.
It is the game I have pulled out most often for an impromptu evening. The box is 5.7 x 5.7 inches, smaller than a deck of playing cards, and the rules can be explained in under a minute. With more than two players it scales nicely from 2 to 6+ in a casual setting.
The “I should have known that” groan that comes out of the room after a wrong answer is the sound of a game doing its job. About 70% of reviews are five stars, and the praise is consistent: easy to learn, keeps everyone engaged, great for families and parties. The minor complaint is that some questions feel oddly specific to the reviewer, but in mixed groups that very unevenness creates the most laughter.
I serve this one with small bite snacks: spiced nuts, pretzels, and a batch of dry martinis or a sparkling lemonade. The game is fast enough to play two or three rounds in 30 minutes, which makes it ideal as a pre-dinner warm-up before pulling out a longer game.
Is it good for two players
It officially lists “more than 2” players, but I have played it happily with my husband as a one-on-one round. With two it becomes a low-stakes recall battle, which is a fun change of pace. With four or more it is the better experience.
What makes it different from a standard trivia game
The reverse-scoring mechanic means guessing can hurt you, which pushes players toward honesty over bluster. That single design choice changes the energy of the table; it stops being a quiz and starts being a confession of “I really should have known that.”
4. Trivial Pursuit Classic Edition – The Nostalgia Pick
- Nostalgic 1980s-feel board
- large question bank
- updated wedge design
- works for individuals or teams across ages
- No multiple-choice so harder than most trivia games
- fewer cards than vintage sets
- US-centric questions
Trivial Pursuit is the trivia game that started it all, and the Classic Edition still belongs in any best-of list. I broke it out for a 40th birthday dinner where half the guests had not played since college. Within one round, everyone was leaning in. The 2,400 questions across six categories (Geography, Entertainment, History, Art and Literature, Science and Nature, Sports and Leisure) cover a wide range, and the updated pie pieces now rest on the edge of the pie plate, so the wedges actually come out without flipping the whole game over.
Where the Classic Edition shines is multi-generational play. A teenager and a grandparent can each find a category they know. The 16-and-up age recommendation is conservative; I have seen 12-year-olds hold their own when paired with a patient team.
The 60-minute play time is the longest on this list, and the no-multiple-choice format is genuinely harder than competitors. That is a feature for serious trivia fans and a barrier for casual players. There is also a real US-centric lean that non-American guests notice, especially in the Geography and Entertainment categories.
Replayability concerns
The biggest complaint in the reviews, and one I share, is that the card count is roughly one-quarter of vintage Trivial Pursuit sets. After 8 to 10 plays, you will start to see repeat questions. For a household that plays monthly, that is two years of solid use. For weekly play, you may outgrow it in a season.
Who should buy it
Buy the Classic Edition if you want the most well-known trivia game on the planet and you entertain groups that span ages. Skip it if you have a small group, want shorter games, or live outside the US and prefer less US-centric questions.
5. Wits and Wagers Deluxe – The No-Knowledge-Required Party Game
- You do not need to know the answer to win
- casino-quality chips and felt mat
- inclusive of non-experts
- easy one-minute teach
- Higher price around $50
- comes with too few betting chips
- finite question pool
Wits and Wagers is the trivia game where the best guesser wins, not the smartest person in the room. Everyone writes down a numerical estimate, then you bet on whose guess is closest. A math whiz with no historical knowledge can clean up. That single twist is why I keep it in rotation for guests who “do not like trivia.”
The Deluxe edition is the upgrade worth making. The casino-quality wager chips and the crease-free felt betting mat feel like a real Vegas night, and the dry-erase answer boards and markers keep the round moving. With 4+ players (and easily 8 to 12 in teams) it scales beautifully, and 30-minute play time means you can run two rounds in an hour.
The price tag of around $50 is the biggest barrier. The non-deluxe version runs cheaper if you are budget-conscious. Two other quirks to know: the chip supply runs short for very long games, and the question pool is finite, so heavy hosts will see repeats after a dozen plays.
Why it works for non-trivia people
My husband hates straight trivia but will happily bet chips on whether the answer is closer to 100 or 1,000. That is the design intent: it pulls social gamers and reluctant players into the same circle. If you host people who say “I am bad at trivia,” start with this one.
Host tip for the deluxe set
Pair it with a tapas spread (olives, marcona almonds, sliced Manchego) and a Spanish red. The casino night vibe matches the felt mat, and the slower pace gives people time to debate their estimates between rounds.
6. Jumbo Hitster – The Music Card Game for Multi-Generations
- Brings together all generations
- songs span 1920s to 2023
- learnable in 3 minutes
- compact travel box
- Requires Spotify account and smartphone app
- occasional explicit songs need removal
Hitster is the trivia game for people who say “I do not like trivia” but love music. You scan a QR code on the card, the song plays through the Hitster app and your Spotify account, and you place it correctly on your personal music timeline. Songs range from the 1920s to 2023 across pop, rock, hip-hop, and more. The 4.8-star rating across 1,700+ reviews is the highest on this list along with Chronology.
It is the best cross-generational game I have played. My 80-year-old mother-in-law identified a 1957 doo-wop song in under five seconds. My 15-year-old niece nailed every 2020s pop hit. The two groups discovered shared favorites in between, which became the conversation of the night.
The setup is a real consideration: every player needs the Hitster app and at least one shared Spotify account. We ended up using a small Bluetooth speaker in the center of the table, which worked well. The box itself is travel-friendly at 8.5 x 4.5 x 3 inches, and we have brought it to a beach house and a backyard cookout without issues.
Cleaning up the deck
A few cards have R-rated songs with explicit content. We pull those out before mixed-age or family play, and Hitster makes it easy to spot them. Cards span radio hits rather than musical theater or Disney, so if you want show tunes specifically, look elsewhere.
Best vibe for hosting
This is the game I serve with a batch of crowd-pleasing cocktails (a classic Paloma punch worked beautifully) and a build-your-own taco bar. People wander, snack, and dance when a favorite song comes on. The whole evening turns into a party that happens to include a game.
7. Smart Ass – The Shout-It-Out Family Trivia Game
- Anyone can shout out the answer even off-turn
- fast-paced family play
- easy to learn
- fun alternative to Trivial Pursuit
- Games can end in as little as 5 minutes
- limited card pool
- questions skew adult/North American
Smart Ass is the trivia game for families who treat game night as a competition. The unique rule is that you are allowed to shout out answers even when it is not your turn, which makes every player an active participant for the full game. With 411 question cards, 6 playing pieces, and two oversized dice, the box practically screams “party.”
I brought it out for a mixed group of adults and teens, and the laughter was the giveaway that the game was working. The “Who, What, and Where Am I” question format means the clues are layered, so you can shout something and still be wrong in a hilarious way. For a fast, energetic option, it is the most fun under $15 on this list.
The biggest quirk is the game length. With the right dice rolls, a game can end in 5 minutes, which feels anticlimactic after setup. We house-ruled that we play three rounds minimum to give the evening a sense of arc. Expansion packs are available if the base card pool starts to feel tired.
Why it works for mixed generations
Younger kids struggle because the questions skew adult, but teens and up handle it fine. The shout-out format is forgiving; the worst that happens is a silly wrong answer, which becomes the next joke. That makes it a low-stakes option for people who would otherwise dread a “real” trivia game.
What to serve with it
Because rounds are so short, this pairs well with a snack-heavy spread (charcuterie cups, sliders, popcorn) and casual drinks like hard seltzer. The energy of the table is high, so food you can eat one-handed is best.
8. Ultimate Pub Trivia – The Bar Quiz at Home
- Authentic pub-quiz team format
- high replay value
- well-made legible cards
- optional drinking
- Questions run difficult
- slight UK/Commonwealth lean
- requires a dedicated host
Ultimate Pub Trivia is the box you buy when you want the bar trivia experience at home. It comes with 1,100 questions across 5 categories, 10 score sheets, 200 team answer sheets, and 4 pencils. One person runs the quizmaster role, and teams collaborate on answers. The format is exactly the kind of weekly pub quiz you have probably played at least once.
It is a great choice for hosts who want a structured evening with rounds, scores, and a winning team at the end. The 4+ player minimum keeps it team-based, which is a feature, not a bug, because it is harder to embarrass the player who does not know the answer when the team is debating.
The honest caveat is the difficulty. The questions skew harder than casual trivia, and the categories carry a UK/Commonwealth lean that surprised my American friends. Some answers are also dated to a specific print cutoff, so you may want to flag any answers that reference current events.
Running the night
You need a willing quizmaster. We rotate the role every month so no one gets stuck. Drinking is fully optional; the game works equally well as a family-friendly night with snacks. The only physical complaint from reviewers is that the box insert has one too few storage slots, so consider a small zip pouch for the category stacks.
Food and drink pairings
We do fish and chips (baked, not fried) and a citrusy pale ale to lean into the pub theme. Round it out with a non-alcoholic option for designated drivers and you have a complete pub-quiz-at-home evening.
9. Wit’s End – The Brain-Teaser Trivia Hybrid
- Genuinely challenging question quality
- four distinct categories mixing logic and knowledge
- replayable through difficulty mix
- Plain board design
- frustration for younger players
- question deck can repeat after full play-through
Wit’s End is the trivia game for people who think trivia is too easy. It mixes four very different categories – Teaser (rhyming riddles), Odd-1-Out (spot the mismatch), Sequence (put things in order), and Wild Card (anything goes) – so raw knowledge alone will not win. You need pattern recognition and lateral thinking.
It is one of the harder games on this list, and that is exactly its appeal. Reviewers consistently mention players aged 14 to 76 enjoying it, which matches my experience. The “race up a four-level board” structure creates real tension; wrong answers can knock you back down, which makes every question a decision.
The current question refresh keeps the content relevant. There is an isolated report of receiving an outdated card set with missing components, so buy from a reputable seller and check the deck on arrival.
Who it is for
Buy Wit’s End if you have a group that finds Trivial Pursuit too easy and Wits and Wagers too random. It is the middle ground: real knowledge rewarded, but with puzzle mechanics that give non-experts a fighting chance. The plain board art is the only real complaint, and it does not affect play.
Pairing it
Because the game demands focus, I serve it with simple finger foods (mini quiches, stuffed mushrooms) and a glass of red wine. The slower pace pairs better with conversation-friendly snacks than with loud, crunchy party food.
10. Trivial Pursuit Master Edition – The Hardcore Upgrade
- 2
- 950 updated questions
- flexible classic or faster rules
- picture questions add variety
- vibrant redesigned board
- Genuinely hard for casual players
- electronic timer considered unnecessary
- large board needs table space
The Trivial Pursuit Master Edition is the Amazon-exclusive upgrade that longtime Trivial Pursuit players wanted. It swaps the older question bank for 2,950 updated questions, adds visual picture questions, and includes an electronic timer for players who like structure. The 4.6-star rating across 3,300+ reviews reflects how it has solved the “outdated questions” complaint that dogged the brand for years.
The board has been redesigned with taller wedges that fit more easily, and the rules offer a fast-play variant where you can earn a wedge any time you answer correctly, not just on wedge spaces. That single rule change is the difference between a 90-minute game and a 45-minute one, and it is the variant most of my groups now default to.
The honest weaknesses: the Master Edition is hard, and the difficulty is not for casual players. The electronic timer needs 2 AAA batteries that are not included. The board is also larger than you might expect and needs real table space; this is not a travel game.
Who should buy Master over Classic
Buy the Master Edition if you already know you love Trivial Pursuit and you want the freshest, hardest question set. Buy the Classic Edition if you are buying your first one and want the nostalgic experience. Both are excellent; the difference is intensity.
What to serve with it
Because rounds are long, I break the evening into halves with a “halftime” snack break. A charcuterie board with two cheeses, a soft baguette, and a chilled Sancerre works beautifully. The Master Edition rewards guests who are willing to dig in, so the food should match that energy.
Best Trivia Games for Older Adults and Mixed Generations
This is the question I get most often from friends: “What is a good trivia game for older people?” The honest answer is that the best trivia games for older adults and mixed generations are the ones where wrong answers still feel fun, where you do not need to recall obscure facts, and where the question variety is wide enough that everyone gets a turn to shine.
My top three picks for older adults and mixed-age groups are Chronology, HISTORY Channel Trivia, and Hitster. Chronology works because educated guessing on a timeline is genuinely accessible; my 83-year-old father-in-law won his first game. HISTORY Channel Trivia works because the category-substitution rule and the broad question variety keep everyone engaged. Hitster works because music triggers memory in a way that pure facts do not, and songs from the 1950s and 1960s often give older players a real advantage.
Avoid Wit’s End and the Trivial Pursuit Master Edition for groups with a wide age range or for older adults who are not dedicated trivia fans. Both are genuinely hard and can feel demoralizing. Wits and Wagers is also worth a mention; because you do not need to know the answers, it is a great equalizer for non-trivia players of any age.
How to Choose a Trivia Game for Adults
Choosing the right trivia game is less about finding the “best” one and more about matching the game to your group. After three years of hosting, here is the framework I use.
1. Start with your group size. Two players or a couple? Look at I Should Have Known That! (works for 2+), Hitster (2-10), or Chronology (2-8, but really shines with 3-6). Four to eight players? Almost anything on this list works. Ten or more in teams? Wits and Wagers, Ultimate Pub Trivia, and Smart Ass are your best bets.
2. Consider the knowledge spread in the room. If your group includes trivia experts, lean into harder games (Wit’s End, Trivial Pursuit Master). If your group is mixed or skews casual, the games that level the field (Wits and Wagers, Chronology, Smart Ass) are more fun for everyone.
3. Decide on the vibe. Do you want a structured, scored evening (Ultimate Pub Trivia, Trivial Pursuit), a party game where the rules are simple and the laughs are loud (Smart Ass, Hitster, I Should Have Known That!), or a hybrid that feels like trivia but plays like a social game (Wits and Wagers, Chronology)?
4. Think about replayability. The HISTORY Channel game, Trivial Pursuit Master, and Ultimate Pub Trivia all have 1,000+ question banks, which means monthly play for over a year. Smaller card pools like I Should Have Known That! (110 cards) and Smart Ass (411 cards) will show repeats faster, though they are also cheaper to replace.
5. Check the format. Card games (Hitster, I Should Have Known That!, HISTORY Channel) are easier to set up and travel with. Board games (Trivial Pursuit, Chronology, Wit’s End) feel more like an “event” but require table space and longer play sessions. The format you choose often determines whether the game gets played at all.
Quick Picks: Digital Trivia Alternatives
If you want a daily trivia habit or a quick round between meetings, three apps dominate the conversation: Sporcle for solo and group puzzle play, Kahoot! for virtual or hybrid trivia nights, and Water Cooler Trivia for bite-sized daily questions. They are not replacements for a board game night, but they cover the days when you do not have a group or a table.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 10 trivia games?
The top 10 trivia games for adults are: 1) HISTORY Channel Trivia Game (2,000+ questions, 30-45 min, ages 14+), 2) Chronology (800 timeline events, 2-8 players, ages 14+), 3) I Should Have Known That! (reverse scoring, 110 cards), 4) Trivial Pursuit Classic (2,400 questions, 6 categories), 5) Wits and Wagers Deluxe (wager on guesses, 4+ players), 6) Hitster (300+ music cards, app + Spotify), 7) Smart Ass (shout-out family play, 411 cards), 8) Ultimate Pub Trivia (1,100 team questions), 9) Wit’s End (4 brain-teaser categories, 1 hour), and 10) Trivial Pursuit Master Edition (2,950 questions, electronic timer).
What is a good trivia game for older people?
Chronology, HISTORY Channel Trivia, and Hitster are the best trivia games for older adults. Chronology uses before/after timeline guessing, so you do not need to recall specific facts. HISTORY Channel Trivia offers a category-substitution rule that lets struggling players swap to a stronger topic. Hitster uses music memory, which often gives older players a real advantage with songs from the 1950s-1980s.
What are some good daily trivia games to play?
For daily trivia play, Sporcle (web and app) offers thousands of free quizzes across every category, Kahoot! provides structured multiplayer rounds, and Water Cooler Trivia sends a short daily question to your email. Among physical games, I Should Have Known That! and Smart Ass are the easiest to pull out for a 10-15 minute round between other activities.
What are some of the best adult trivia games?
The best adult trivia games span several styles. For traditional trivia, the HISTORY Channel Trivia Game and Trivial Pursuit Classic Edition are reliable. For party play, Wits and Wagers Deluxe, Smart Ass, and Hitster are the most inclusive. For unique formats, Chronology trades recall for timeline guessing, Wit’s End mixes riddles and logic, and I Should Have Known That! flips the scoring so wrong answers cost you.
What is the funniest trivia game?
Brilliant or BS? is widely considered the funniest trivia game because the bluffing mechanic rewards the most plausible fake answers. Among the games on this list, Smart Ass is the next funniest, because the shout-out format and the layered Who/What/Where clues regularly produce silly wrong answers that become the next joke. I Should Have Known That! is also funny in a different way, because the groans over missed oughta-know facts are part of the experience.
How do you choose a trivia game for a group?
Start with your group size, then think about the knowledge spread and the vibe you want. For 2-4 players, pick Chronology, I Should Have Known That!, or Hitster. For 4-8 players, almost any game on this list works, but Wits and Wagers, HISTORY Channel Trivia, and Trivial Pursuit shine. For 10+ players in teams, choose Wits and Wagers, Ultimate Pub Trivia, or Smart Ass. If your group includes casual or older players, prioritize games that level the field (Wits and Wagers, Chronology) over hard-knowledge games (Wit’s End, Trivial Pursuit Master).
The Final Word on the Best Trivia Games for Adults
After three years of monthly hosting, my honest ranking of the best trivia games for adults in 2026 is this: start with the HISTORY Channel Trivia Game if you want one game that works for almost any group, add Chronology for cross-generational nights, and keep Smart Ass or Hitster on hand for the evenings when you want energy over accuracy. Wits and Wagers Deluxe is the best choice if your group includes people who insist they “do not like trivia,” and Trivial Pursuit Master is the upgrade for the trivia obsessive in your life.
Pick the one that matches your group, pair it with good food and a real drink, and the night will take care of itself. If you try one of these and love it (or hate it), I would love to hear how it went. Bring it to the next dinner party; that is the only review that truly counts.