Trivia Crack, the smartphone game that lets people compete against friends and strangers from around the world, embarked on yet another victory lap this week: The hugely popular -- and highly addictive -- application once again topped the charts for free downloads for both the iPhone and its Android competitors.

Fansided notes "there seems to be no slowing down for Trivia Crack," which became the most downloaded free iOS app in early December and has maintained that stop "except for a very brief blip on Christmas Day."

So what is behind the success of the game that TouchArcade says is "like 'Trivial Pursuit' condensed into an asynchronous, mobile-friendly package like 'Words With Friends?'"

For one, it's "super conducive to mobile gaming," the iOS gaming publication argues.

"It's a piece of cake to pop in and play a few rounds when the mood strikes," TouchArcade writes. "Comparatively, getting folks together and sitting down to play through an entire game of 'Trivial Pursuit' is something that rarely if ever happens in my life anymore."

Just as important, however, may be a feature called "Question Factory," which allows users to suggest, rate and translate questions to be used in the game. So unlike in traditional games, the inquiries may be more closely lined up with the players' personal interests and expertise.

"It's highly community-driven and as such there are a whole lot of 'regular people' questions out there," TouchArcade insists. "The questions feel along the lines of the type I hear at my local pub trivia nights.

They all fall into one of six categories -- entertainment, art, sports, history, science and geography -- and players spin a virtual wheel that determines just on what areas they are going to be quizzed. But that concept has led some conspiracy theorists to wonder just how random the spinning process really is.

"I've noticed a rather distressing trend as I play Trivia Crack," Jenni Lada said on Technology Tell. "I'm good at certain topics. (But) sports is my worst. Yet somehow, despite there being seven slots on the wheel, the Sports category comes up most often."

And since Trivia Crack allows players to skip questions with a so-called "power up" -- which can be purchased with in-game coins and real cash - she suspects the game may be rigged.

Hard evidence, though, is so far missing; and at least judging by the early February stats, Trivia Crack remains a smartphone stable, whatever the integrity of its algorithm.

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