Television series
House of Games
Other titles called House of Games: the 1987 film.
- Comedy
- Light-hearted
A cosy nightly ritual: four celebrities who mostly can't answer general knowledge questions battle it out across silly, tightly-formatted rounds, hosted by Richard Osman at his driest. The prizes are deliberately worthless, the vibe is warm chaos, and nobody comes out looking clever. Perfect for winding down, quiz nerds, and anyone who likes watching famous people fail with good grace.
Should you watch it?
Watch it if you like brisk general-knowledge quizzing, where the fun lies in famous faces sweating over questions and in the dry, easy rapport Osman and Sheen keep up between rounds.
Skip it if you want story, character or emotional stakes, since the whole engine is quiz answers and the half-hour format rarely leaves room for more.
What it asks of you: Half an hour a sitting, light on commitment; you can drop in on a whim and pick up the thread without any homework.
Not sure? Find tonight's pick in a minute.
If you liked this
Pointless2009
The other great British teatime quiz obsession — same gentle stakes, same delight in obscure trivia, and Alexander Armstrong's warmth pairs nicely with Osman's needling. If you like one, you'll slot right into the other.
But It's civilians not celebrities, so you lose the specific pleasure of watching famous people squirm.
Would I Lie to You?2007
Celebrity panel banter at its best, built entirely on bluffing rather than knowledge, with Rob Brydon presiding over genuinely brilliant improvised nonsense. The chemistry carries it as much as any format does.
But Less quiz, more comedy panel show — if you specifically want the knowledge-testing angle, this drifts away from it.
Taskmaster2015
Swaps trivia for absurd physical and creative challenges, but keeps the same core joy: watching famous people be bad at things while a deadpan authority figure judges them mercilessly.
But Bigger, messier, and far less about knowledge — a different kind of silly that some House of Games fans won't click with.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from House of Games
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Takeshi's Castle1986
Same core pleasure — ordinary (or famous) people failing at deliberately silly games while a deadpan authority narrates — just genre-swapped from quiz to physical comedy.
A Japanese game show, dubbed into gleeful chaos for UK audiences, where contestants attempt absurd physical challenges purely to be laughed at. All the joy of House of Games' silliness, none of the trivia.
But No knowledge component at all, and the humour leans on slapstick and mockery that can feel a bit mean-spirited by today's standards.
More like this (7)
Only Connect2008
For when you want the puzzle-brain satisfaction turned up several notches — genuinely fiendish connections and sequences, hosted with Victoria Coren Mitchell's dry wit.
But Much harder and more cerebral, with civilian teams instead of celebrities — less cosy, more genuinely tricky.
QI2003
Trivia reframed as pure delight rather than competition, stuffed with strange facts and celebrity guests riffing off each other. Stephen Fry (then Sandi Toksvig) sets a similarly warm, clever tone.
But Longer episodes and less game-structured — points barely matter, so if you want competitive tension this won't scratch that itch.
The Chaser2008
A proper quiz with real jeopardy, anchored by Bradley Walsh and a rotating cast of terrifyingly good Chasers. More tension than House of Games, but the same teatime comfort-watch energy.
But No celebrities, and the stakes (actual money) make it feel a bit higher-pressure and less silly.
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown2012
Countdown's letters-and-numbers format hijacked by comedians for maximum chaos — similar blend of real quizzing and celebrity nonsense, just louder and ruder.
But Considerably more sweary and unruly — if you like House of Games' gentleness, this might feel like a mugging.
University Challenge1962
The granddaddy of British quiz shows, and a reminder of how seriously this genre once took itself — genuinely difficult questions, no jokes, no mercy.
But Zero comedy, zero celebrities, and a level of academic difficulty that can feel punishing rather than fun.
The Wheel2020
Michael McIntyre's big, glossy celebrity quiz spectacle, with a giant randomising wheel replacing House of Games' tight little rounds. Same DNA, dialled up to blockbuster scale.
But Glitzier and more chaotic — the intimacy and dry wit of House of Games gets traded for spectacle.
Quiz2020
Same televised-quiz world, register cranked all the way up: it takes the format's low stakes and shows you what happens when someone decides the stakes should be enormous.
A tense, witty drama about the Who Wants to Be a Millionaire cheating scandal, dramatising exactly what's at stake — reputation, money, obsession — when TV quizzing stops being cosy.
But It's a scripted drama, not a game show, and the tone is far more anxious and morally knotty than anything House of Games attempts.
People
Cast
Richard OsmanPresenter
Michael SheenPresenter
Recommended by
Taskmaster, Family Full House, The Floor, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown