Best Hidden Traitor Board Games, Ranked

Summary

Hidden traitor games have gained massive popularity in various genres.
Games like Obscurio and Shadows Over Camelot employ unique hidden traitor mechanics.
Classic games like Nemesis and Mansions of Madness mix horror and betrayal elements.

As someone who has spent countless hours huddled around a table with friends, trying to outwit each other in a game of hidden traitors, I must say that these games have become a staple in my social circle. They offer an exhilarating experience where trust is tested, alliances are formed and broken, and friendships are put to the ultimate test.

In recent times, there’s been a significant surge in the fame of deceptive player games. This rise includes hit independent video games such as Among Us and British reality TV shows like The Traitors. Interestingly, this gameplay mechanism has been a significant aspect of board gaming enthusiasts for about two decades now. It gained prominence around 20 years ago when Days of Wonder, the publisher of Ticket to Ride, first brought it into focus with Shadows Over Camelot.

This list focuses on cooperative board games that feature secret roles or alliances among players. Unlike many social deduction games, there are no hidden roles or allegiances here. Instead, some players can secretly work against others. So if you’re in the mood for a little deceit and treachery, these are the top 10 board games with hidden traitor mechanics!

10. Trailblazers (With Sasquatch Expansion)

What’s That Coming Over The Hill?

Designer: Ryan Courtney
Publisher: Bitewing Games
Player Count: 1-8

Innovators stand out due to the unique way the secret saboteur mechanism is incorporated, as the game hasn’t been widely available yet to generate a substantial critical appraisal. In cooperative play, players collaboratively place cards into a common zone, aiming to construct one of three trail types for collective scoring.

When combined with the “Sasquatch Expansion”, it introduces an element of intrigue, as a hidden player may represent a Sasquatch deliberately sabotaging the team by concealing beneficial cards and being limited to unfavorable moves during crucial moments. Since gameplay ensures that no one will usually receive superior hands, doubt will persistently surface with every action affecting the score. Furthermore, it’s possible that no Sasquatch player is present in the game. The uncertainty of whether a traitor lurks among the players remains constant.

9. Inside Job

Secret Agent Subterfuge

Designer: Tanner Simmons
Publisher: Kosmos
Player Count: 2-5

Inside Job, much like a social deduction game, can be compared to an adaptation of Kosmos’ top-selling game, The Crew series. It’s essentially a card game that involves taking tricks and adhering to specific parameters to accomplish missions. If players manage to finish a predetermined number of missions, they emerge victorious.

At our gaming table, I find myself in a unique position – an ‘insider’ who can bend the usual rules to my advantage. My goal is twofold: either subtly sabotage a specific number of missions or become the player with the most tricks. Both paths lead to victory, but it’s crucial that I avoid raising suspicions about my unconventional playstyle.

8. The Thing: Infection At Outpost 31

Licensed Horror Tie-In

Designer: Joe Van Wetering
Publishers: Mondo Games, Project Raygun, The Op
Player Count: 4-8

The movie “The Thing: Infection At Outpost 31,” inspired by John Carpenter’s classic film, does an excellent job of capturing its eerie ambiance. For those who are unfamiliar, the plot revolves around a shape-shifting extraterrestrial that infiltrates a research team stationed in Antarctica, leading to turmoil and suspicion.

In this board game, players aim to eliminate four secret items scattered throughout the gameboard. The objective is to eventually reach safety using a helicopter. At the start, there’s one player who can absorb others as the game unfolds, potentially resulting in up to three such players by the end. If any of these special players manage to board the helicopter, it results in a loss for all human players.

7. Obscurio

Escape The Cursed Library

Designer: L’Atelier
Publishers: Libellud
Player Count: 2-8

Obscurio belongs to the same genre as games like Dixit and Mysterium, where participants provide abstract hints through combined artwork. The objective is for a group of players to flee with an evil wizard’s grimoire. In this game, one player assumes the role of the grimoire, providing visual cues to guide the others towards the exit.

Indeed, one character is secretly allied with the wizard and aims to steer the team towards the wrong exit. In contrast to typical betrayal games, the roles of the traitor and the honest players are not significantly distinct. The traitor will actively engage in the game, creating indirect connections and attempting to discredit the correct door whenever other players propose it.

6. Shadows Over Camelot

Knights Of The Round Table

Designer: Bruno Cathala, Serge Laget
Publishers: Days of Wonder
Player Count: 3-7

Previously noted, the game “Shadows Over Camelot” significantly contributed to the rise of the hidden traitor genre. This game was part of Days of Wonder’s esteemed collection, a publisher known for consistently releasing exceptional titles. In this game, players assume the roles of knights, tasked with safeguarding the kingdom from evil forces.

Teams need to work together to complete twelve epic tasks, achieving success in many while also protecting the kingdom from wicked attacks at the same time to emerge victorious. Similar to the game Trailblazers, not all games involve a traitor, so players must figure out who can be relied upon and generally be cautious.

5. Deception: Murder In Hong Kong

A Killer Lurks Among The Investigation

Designer: Tobey Ho
Publishers: Grey Fox
Player Count: 4-12

In “Deception: Murder in Hong Kong,” you’ll find many familiar aspects from typical social deduction games. You’ll assume roles such as forensics expert, investigator, murderer, and optional accomplice or witness. The game then becomes a classic deduction experience, where players collaborate to unravel the mystery of a murder.

In this game setup, the forensic player serves as the game moderator, overseeing the investigators’ progress. At the same time, one of the participants secretly plays the role of the culprit, attempting to deceive the investigation. Additional roles can be introduced, such as a traitor among the players and a witness who knows the identity of the killer but not their motive or method. The challenge for this witness is to identify the killer without revealing their own role, as doing so might lead to becoming the next victim themselves.

4. Dead Of Winter

Classic Zombie Fiction

Designer: Jonathan Glimour-Long, Isaac Vega
Publishers: Plaid Hat Games
Player Count: 2-5

In the game “Dead of Winter,” it’s possible that the well-worn trope in zombie stories where humans turn out to be the real monsters could ring true. The players, collaboratively, are tasked with scavenging resources and defending their settlement from waves of attacking zombies.

In this game, no participant is explicitly aligned with the zombies. Instead, each player pursues individual goals necessary for victory. Some of these objectives involve betrayal, which may harm the overall team effort. While traitors generally support the colony’s survival, they will secretly work against the group’s success until they are ready to act.

3. Battlestar Galactica

Cylons On The Starboard Bow

Designer: Corey Konieczka
Publishers: Fantasy Flight Games
Player Count: 3-6

For many, the definitive hidden traitor game,h but it’s fair to say Battlestar Galactica is starting to show its age a bit, most notably in game length and inaccessibility. It features a lot of the same trappings as The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31 but lacks the streamlined simplicity of that game.

To put it another way, this game is loved by many even today because of its intricate layers. For those fans who enjoy a deep, engaging experience lasting around 3-4 hours, it delivers an epic adventure. Essentially, the players’ goal is to protect their ship, repel attackers, and make it to Earth while staying vigilant against Cylon players who are trying to undermine them by causing sabotage on board.

2. Mansions Of Madness

Battling Eldrichs Horrors

The game titled Mansions of Madness stands out on this list because the traitor aspect serves as a consequence for losses, adding an extra layer of challenge when players are already struggling. Much like many games influenced by H.P Lovecraft’s literature, it requires players to keep track of two well-being indicators, one for their physical and another for their mental state.

If a player’s mental well-being significantly decreases, they may become unhinged and receive an unpredictable game status. This could manifest as peculiar actions or even attempts to sabotage the entire game on behalf of other players. Since the condition is concealed, it will spark suspicion among fellow players as they strive to identify any potential traitors within their ranks.

1. Nemesis

In Space, No One Can Hear Players Scream

The vested interest in backstabbing other players is probably a damning indictment of the state of humanity, and Nemesis runs with that idea, making it rather mean-spirited. Based on Alien but without the license, the game offers a number of missions and iterations as players bid to survive against the Xenomorph-like creatures.

In this game, each participant receives personal goals that can sometimes clash with the team’s overall wellbeing, or specifically target one player. Some objectives are straightforward such as ensuring ‘Player 3 meets an untimely end.’ While it is possible to play a full cooperative mode, it’s hard to tell if everyone is committed until they act against their unsuspecting allies.

2024-12-18 07:34