I grew up on my mom’s ABBA records and my dad’s old movie quotes. So yeah, I’m that person who yells “1977!” before the question is even done. Last month, I brought two 70s trivia games to a family cookout: Talking Tables 70s Trivia and Ridley’s 70s Music Quiz. We had grilled corn, a sticky picnic table, and one loud uncle. Perfect test lab, right?
Let me explain what worked, what bugged me, and a few funny moments that still make me grin.
The Box That Got Everyone Talking: Talking Tables 70s Trivia
This one is simple. A neat little deck. Bright colors. No fussy board. You read a card, call your guess, and keep the ones you nail. We played teams because my aunt likes to whisper.
Fans who want to crank the mirror-ball vibe even higher can also check out Talking Tables’ Hit Replay Disco Dipsticks, a sister party game that swaps trivia for quick-fire disco challenges.
The topics are wide: movies, TV, sports, ads, fashion, and a little politics. Not heavy stuff. Think living room and popcorn, not homework.
Here are a few real examples we pulled (from memory, not exact wording):
- “What year did the first Star Wars hit theaters?” (We shouted 1977 like a choir.)
- “Who played Rocky Balboa?” (My cousin answered “Sylvester Stallone” with fake punches.)
- “Which group sang Stayin’ Alive?” (Bee Gees. My mom did the little finger-point dance.)
- “What car did Burt Reynolds drive in Smokey and the Bandit?” (Black Pontiac Trans Am. My dad clapped. Loud.)
- “Which ad used the line ‘Choosy moms choose Jif’?” (Jif. My aunt rolled her eyes and grabbed chips.)
- “What city is tied to Saturday Night Fever?” (Brooklyn. Bonus points for “dance floor.” We gave them anyway.)
I liked how fast it moved. You draw, you guess, you laugh. We played through a whole stack before the burgers even cooled.
What I Loved
- Fast play. No one got bored waiting.
- Good mix of easy and “oh wow” questions.
- The card stock held up, even after my cousin dripped salsa on one. We wiped it off. No smears.
What Bugged Me
- A few questions felt very U.S.-centric. My friend from Toronto said, “Well, okay then.”
- Some cards got slightly repetitive. A lot of TV. Less world news.
- No scoring rules in the box that fit our crew. We made house rules.
Tiny fix: we set a 10-point game. Steal allowed. If you didn’t grow up with vinyl, you got one lifeline per round. That kept Gen Z involved and happy.
The Spin-Off I Brought Too: Ridley’s 70s Music Quiz
Now this one is music only. It comes in a tidy box, like a little gift. The cards look cute. But the tone is sharper. A bit deeper for music nerds.
If that sounds up your alley, Ridley’s 1970s Music Trivia Game is the exact set we passed around the picnic table.
We got cards like:
- “Which disco hit begins with that iconic ‘ah, ha, ha, ha’ riff?” (Stayin’ Alive again—people danced in their chairs.)
- “Which Fleetwood Mac album features Dreams?” (Rumours. I said it fast. Then hummed it.)
- “Who sang American Pie?” (Don McLean.)
- “Which punk band released London Calling?” (Okay, 1979 album by The Clash. One cousin mixed it up with The Jam. We forgave him.)
- “What singer did an epic live version of I Will Always Love You in 1974?” (Dolly Parton, folks.)
It’s great for a music night. But the clues can be tricky if your 70s knowledge stops at “ABBA good.”
What I Loved
- Crisp music focus. Good for fans.
- The questions feel fair but not baby easy.
- Cute design that looks nice on a coffee table.
What Bugged Me
- If your group likes TV and movies more, this set feels narrow.
- A few song-title cards assume you know deep cuts. Some faces went blank.
We solved that with a quick house rule: hum a tune for one hint. It got silly fast, but it worked.
Small Detour: Our Best Surprise Moments
- My quiet cousin knew the year of The Rumble in the Jungle (1974). He said it like a sports announcer. We cheered.
- My aunt mixed up Mork & Mindy with Happy Days. Close! We still gave her half credit because Robin Williams made a cameo first.
- My dad nailed “Jaws was 1975” and then pretended to swim under the table. He’s a grown man.
- Somebody shouted out Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka when a question about jump-splash legends came up, sparking a quick debate that sent us down memory lane with 70s pro wrestlers.
You know what? Those little wins keep the game warm.
Who Should Buy What
- For mixed groups and family nights: Talking Tables 70s Trivia. It’s broad and friendly.
- For music lovers or people who argue over album liners: Ridley’s 70s Music Quiz.
If you’re hosting a 70s party, both together make a full night. For extra inspiration—or a quick crash course so your guests feel primed—browse the trove of decade-defining playlists and factoids at Super70s. Start wide, then slide into music. We did that, and no one even looked at their phone.
A Few Quick Tips That Helped Us
- Keep teams small. Two or three per side. Everyone gets a turn.
- Make gentle house rules: steals, one hint per round, or “sing it for a bonus.”
- Toss in small prizes: a vinyl sticker, a tiny disco ball, or, like us, first pick of the last brownie. Want to sweeten the pot even more? Bring along some 70s candy that still slaps for an instant sugar-fueled bonus round.
- Play the right soundtrack. We had a 70s mix: Bee Gees, Fleetwood Mac, Al Green, Queen. It set the mood without shouting over us.
- Need to loop in friends who are miles away? Fire up a webcam so they can shout answers from their sofa—before you do, peek at Camster, a live-cam platform broken down in this Camster review to see how smooth streaming and private rooms work for casual hangouts, trivia nights, or just testing your mic. That rundown covers pricing, safety features, and interface quirks so you know what to expect.
Finally, when talk inevitably drifts to how people actually met up in the disco decade versus today’s swipe culture, you can point the group to Backpage Kyle—an eye-opening walk-through of how modern classified ads evolved and what lessons they offer social butterflies looking to make new connections right now.
Final Take
Both games passed the picnic test: fast, fun, and easy to teach. Talking Tables 70s Trivia is the crowd-pleaser. Ridley’s 70s Music Quiz hits deeper if your group loves songs and stories.
I’ll be real—some cards repeat themes, and a few clues feel very American TV. Still, the laughs win. Also, the salsa stains came off. So we’re calling that five stars for durability.
Next time, I’m bringing a Polaroid and a cheap glitter ball. Because why not?