Gaming has been mainstream for decades now, but the history runs deeper than most players realise. Studios, legends, records. How well do you really know it?
This quiz covers the classics, the record-breakers and the moments that defined the industry. Mario, Zelda, Pokémon, Minecraft, GTA. 10 questions, no continues.
Pick your level
From the first arcade cabinets to sprawling open worlds with hundreds of hours of content, the video game industry has become one of the biggest cultural forces on the planet, bigger than film by revenue. Behind every legendary game is a story worth knowing.
This quiz covers Nintendo classics, landmark PC titles and the studios that shaped the medium. Expect questions on franchise origins, iconic characters and the milestones that every gamer should have in the back of their head.
Joel, Ellie, Clickers and the Cordyceps fungus.
10 questionsPower-ups, Bowser, Yoshi and forty years of Nintendo.
10 questionsLink, Ganondorf, the Triforce and Hyrule.
10 questionsBiomes, crafting, mobs and dimensions.
10 questionsRings, Chaos Emeralds and Dr. Eggman.
10 questionsAll ten easy level questions, with the answer and the reasoning behind it.
Correct answer: Among Us
Among Us, released in 2018, which took off massively in 2020.
Correct answer: Ryu
Ryu, with his Hadouken. Ken wears red.
Correct answer: Kratos
Kratos, the Ghost of Sparta, who later moves on to Norse mythology.
Correct answer: Virtual people's lives
Virtual people's lives, including a remarkable number of ways to end them near a swimming pool.
Correct answer: Grand Theft Auto
Grand Theft Auto, the American legal term for car theft.
Correct answer: Master Chief
Master Chief, also known as John-117.
Correct answer: Tom Nook
Tom Nook, and your home loan never quite goes away.
Correct answer: The Wii
The Wii, with Wii Sports, and a good many broken lamps.
Correct answer: The cake
The cake. GLaDOS has no intention of keeping that promise.
Correct answer: A bandicoot
A bandicoot, an Australian marsupial, as the title suggests.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: Donkey Kong
Mario, then called 'Jumpman', first appeared in Donkey Kong in 1981. He did not yet have his iconic name, and his mission was to rescue his girlfriend from the gorilla Donkey Kong.
Correct answer: Minecraft
Minecraft holds the record as the best-selling video game ever with over 300 million copies sold. Created by Markus 'Notch' Persson, it was acquired by Microsoft in 2014 for 2.5 billion dollars.
Correct answer: Ubisoft
Ubisoft, founded in 1986 in Brittany by the Guillemot brothers, created Assassin's Creed. It is one of the largest video game studios in the world, with offices across many countries.
Correct answer: Princess Peach
Princess Peach is the recurring character Mario must save from Bowser. Peach is also playable in several Nintendo titles and received her own dedicated game in 2024.
Correct answer: GTA V
Los Santos is the fictional city in Grand Theft Auto V (2013), inspired by Los Angeles. The game shattered industry records with over 200 million copies sold worldwide.
Correct answer: CD Projekt Red
CD Projekt Red, based in Warsaw, created The Witcher 3. The game won over 800 industry awards and is widely regarded as one of the greatest RPGs ever made.
Correct answer: Metal Gear
Solid Snake is the iconic hero of the Metal Gear series, created by Hideo Kojima for Konami. The first game launched in 1987, and the franchise is famous for its complex storylines and lengthy cutscenes.
Correct answer: Pokémon
Pokémon is the world's best-selling RPG franchise with over 480 million games sold. Launched by Nintendo and Game Freak in 1996, it also spawned a hugely popular animated series, trading card game and several films.
Correct answer: PlayStation 2
Sony's PlayStation 2 is the best-selling console in history with over 155 million units sold between 2000 and 2013. It became a genuine cultural phenomenon on a global scale.
Correct answer: Minecraft
Minecraft is the ultimate block-building game, recognised worldwide for its pixelated aesthetic. It runs on virtually every platform and boasts one of the largest and most creative communities in gaming.
Stuck on one, or just curious how nasty it gets? Every hard mode question is here with its answer and the reasoning behind it.
Correct answer: The Magnavox Odyssey
The Magnavox Odyssey, designed by Ralph Baer.
Correct answer: Norman Reedus
Norman Reedus, as a courier with far too many parcels to carry.
Correct answer: Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A
Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, made famous by Contra on the NES.
Correct answer: Taito
Taito, in a game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado.
Correct answer: John Carmack
John Carmack, whose code went on to be studied for decades.
Correct answer: Square
Square. Hironobu Sakaguchi has said the name reflected his fears for his own future.
Correct answer: The Dreamcast
The Dreamcast, discontinued in 2001, and Sega has only made games since.
Correct answer: George R. R. Martin
George R. R. Martin, who wrote the game's mythology and backstory.
Correct answer: Zero Wing
Zero Wing, in the European Mega Drive version with its famously poor translation.
Correct answer: Eric Barone
Eric Barone, known as ConcernedApe, over more than four years. Toby Fox made Undertale.