These games are perfect when shifting the mood can ensure that everyone can be involved in some capacity. Thus, as different games will suit different crowds and environments, game masters should select the perfect game that will bring the party to the next level.
9 Resistance: Avalon
As a social deduction game set in the realm of King Arthur, up to 10 players will roleplay as Arthur’s servants going on quests for the good of the kingdom. However, some of these servants are secretly minions of Mordred who must blend in with the others and sabotage the quests.
The game plays similarly to Mafia or Werewolf where everyone’s identity is a secret. In each round, a player will select up to 3 people to embark on a quest. The chosen 3 will then receive a token and choose the side that says success or failure. If there is one failure, the quest fails. The good guys win if they get 3 successes while the baddy minions need 3 failures to win. There are also additional roles that can spice up the gameplay. The game is fun albeit extremely twisted as friendships have gone up in flames because of the deception at play.
8 Sushi Go Party
Sushi Go Party is a simple card drafting game where up to 8 players have to play matching suits of cute sushi to earn points. Players can also ‘customize’ a menu in which different cards will be up for play.
Reminiscent of Uno, players will play a card from their hand but will then pass their entire hand to the left. This allows players to deny opponents a particular card they wish to play and offers a little bit of strategy. Fun, delightful, and easy to pick up, Sushi Go Party is a solid choice for casual gamers looking for something different for the occasion.
7 Deception: Murder In Hong Kong
A social deduction game where players take on the role of police investigators tasked with solving a crime that has taken place on the blood-soaked streets of Hong Kong. However, one of their own is secretly the murderer and is aided by an accomplice. One player will don the mantle of forensic scientist (knowing who the murderer and accomplice are) and must piece together clues for their fellow investigators.
Played over 3 rounds, every player receives 2 sets of 4 cards. Blue cards denote the murder weapon and cause of death whilst red cards highlight the key evidence left at the scene of the crime. The murderer must select a combination of these cards and survive the 3 rounds. The game employs more logic than most other social deduction games as the investigators must select the exact combination to win the game. The expansion of this game adds additional roles for players and supports up to 14 players.
6 Monikers
Similar to the hit game Celebrity, Monikers is a game where players must take turns describing or imitating well-known figures for their teammates to guess. The twist is that the game comes in 3 rounds and includes all sorts of random subjects. In the first, players can say whatever they want apart from the subject matter. The second only allows players to say one word. Finally, round 3 only allows players to make gestures like in charades.
The team with the most correct guesses wins. Funny, witty, and with no real limit to how many players, the game is an excellent imitation of classic charade-type games.
5 Captain Sonar
Imagine the game battleship, but there is only 1 ship on each side and the ships are simultaneously moving. Captain Sonar is a real-time hidden movement party game where 8 players are split into 2 teams and are crewmembers of a submarine.
The game can be played either in real-time or turn-based, but it truly shines in real-time play as players attempt to sink their opponent’s submarine. Each player is assigned a unique role: captain, chief mate, radio operator, and engineer and must move their submarine on a grid, arm weapons and abilities, and anticipate the enemy’s movements. Though the game does require 8 players to shine, the thrill and intensity of this game are unmatched.
4 Funemployed
A fun party game that focuses on improvisation and using what you’ve got, Funemployed has players spew a nonsensical CV from cards that say random things to convince the manager player why they’re perfect for the job.
Similarly, the manager player can ask follow-up questions to the interviewees and watch their fellow players squirm. An extremely hilarious and silly game, the game shares similarities to games like Cards Against Humanity. Funemployed shines with players who can think on their feet and have a creative imagination.
3 Wavelength
A game that’s different from the rest, Wavelength is a social game that puts things on a spectrum and has players read each other’s minds. Teams will take turns moving a dial where a hidden bullseye is located on the said spectrum.
One player is known as the psychic and will draw a card of opposites (Ethical, nonethical or Fashionable, outdated) and will select where the bullseye is. Once that is done, the psychic will announce a clue to give their side an idea of where to place the dial. If the team gets the dial right on the bullseye, they score points and the game carries on until one team reaches 10 points. Surprisingly deep and poignant, the game encourages players to discuss their opinions on various topics and have good conversations.
2 A Fake Artist Goes To New York
A party game for 5 to 10 players, A Fake Artist Goes To New York has players take turns being the Question Master whose job is to provide a subject on some dry erase cards and hand them out to players. One player however will have an ‘X’ or ‘Fake’ written on their card, meaning that they are the fake artist!
The Question Master will then share the category of the subject, so all players can see. Players will then take turns adding one continuous line that matches the subject established by the Question Master. After two rounds, a vote is called and players must point to who they think the fake is. If there is no majority vote, then the fake player wins! But even if they’re outed, they can win by guessing the prompt. Social deduction at its finest, this game is perfect for those who want to show off their art skills.
1 Blood On The Clocktower
When it comes to social deduction, Blood On The Clocktower takes it to the next level. In this game, everyone has a special ability and role and isn’t just another generic person involved. As a demon hides amongst the villagers of Ravenswood Bluff waiting to strike from the shadows, villagers must deduce the identity of the demon whose purpose is to corrupt and turn the good townsfolk into evil minions. Villagers win if they guess who the demon is whilst the demon wins if the number of evil minions is higher than the townsfolk.
Villagers will have unique roles that give them bonus information or bless them with abilities that can protect or fight evil. However, evil minion players will have similar powers to aid their plight. Latecomers into the game can arrive as travelers whose abilities may aid or hinder the village With multiple special abilities and crazy combinations, players will never play the same game twice.
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