Instructions
Video Instructions
Introduction
Welcome to The Deceivers, a social deduction game where trust is scarce, and lies are abundant.
The game is set inside a mansion surrounded by a dense, fog-covered forest. You and a handful of other guests have each received a mysterious invitation to this old mansion, promising a night of thrills and entertainment. But soon after arriving, you realize that you’ve unwittingly trapped yourself in a twisted game of death and deception. You’re informed that one of the other guests is a killer, and the only way to escape the mansion is by winning the game.
The game is divided into two phases: Night and Day.
During each Night phase, while everyone is sleeping, certain guests perform secret actions, including the killer, who slaughters a victim. During each Day phase, the guests wake up and collectively decide who to trust, who to accuse, and who to banish. Be careful—anyone could be lying, and trusting the wrong person could lead to your downfall. Winning the game might depend on your ability to deceive others, uncover the truth, or achieve your own hidden agenda.
The Characters
Before the game begins, you receive a document listing important details about each of the guests staying at the mansion. Familiarize yourself with this list—it will help you understand who you’re up against…
1. Build your ‘Playing Deck’ based on how many players you have:
4 Players:
Killer, Detective, Thief, Gang Leader + 3 Hotel Guests
5 Players:
4-Player Deck + Defense Lawyer
6 Players:
4-Player Deck + Defense Lawyer + Private Investigator
7 Players:
4-Player Deck + Defense Lawyer + Private Investigator + 1 extra Hotel Guest
8 Players:
4-Player Deck + Defense Lawyer + Private Investigator + 2 extra Hotel Guests
9 Players:
4-Player Deck + Defense Lawyer + Private Investigator + 3 extra Hotel Guests
10 Players:
4-Player Deck + Defense Lawyer + Private Investigator + 4 extra Hotel Guests
2. Prepare the night phase audio
If you’re new to the game, we suggest listening to the night phase audio beforehand to ensure everyone knows what to expect.
3. Separate the Killer card from the playing deck
Remove the Killer card from the Playing Deck, put it to one side, and shuffle the remaining cards in your Playing Deck. Then, place 3 character cards from your Playing Deck face down in the centre of the table.
4. Place 3 Character Cards in the center
Place 3 Character Cards from the Playing Deck face down in the center of the table then place the skull beside them.
5. Mix the Killer Character Card back in
Mix the Killer Character Card into the remaining Playing Deck and reshuffle.
6. Deal the cards
Deal one card face down to each player.
Gameplay
7. View your card
All players must now check their card to see what role they have. Place your card back on the table in front of you (facedown and near to the 3 center cards). You MUST NOT show your card to any other player, and you must not touch your card again until instructed to do so.
Night Phase
8. Play the night phase audio
If you’re new to the game, it’s a good idea to take a quick look at the “Night Phase Script” located on the night-phase audio page, so that everyone knows what to expect when the audio starts. If everyone is ready to play, let’s begin. When the night phase has finished, proceed to instruction number 9.
Stay quiet and discreet during the night phase to avoid revealing your role to others.
Day Phase
9. Murdered Player
The murdered player (the card with the skull on top) is now out and should remain silent and impartial for the rest of the game. They MUST NOT reveal their card until instructed to do so.
10. Discuss
Without looking at their cards, all remaining players should now ask each other questions in an attempt to gather information that will help them win the game. You are not required to be truthful about anything. You do not have to answer questions addressed to your character (you may wish to stay silent, you may wish to remain anonymous, or you may wish to claim that you’re a different character). When the majority of players are ready to vote on who should be banished, move onto instruction 11.
For the Killer, Lawyer, Gang leader, and occasionally the other roles too, you may choose thos lie about your role during this stage as you could be banished or targeted for the next kill if you reveal too much.
Banishment
Prepare for banishment! After the count of 3 (i.e. “1, 2, 3, Point”), everyone must cast a vote either by pointing at the player they wish to banish, or by pointing upwards if they wish to skip banishment. You must stick with your initial choice. In some circumstances, it can be strategically best to point at yourself. Someone must now say aloud, “1, 2, 3, Point!”
This will result in either a split vote or a majority vote – examples of each are provided below.
If there is a split vote:
No one is banished. The murdered player must now place the skull back in the center of the table and reveal their card to show which Character they were. You must now immediately return to instruction number 7 and resume play from there, keeping in mind that the thief may have swapped your card in the night phase.
If there is a majority vote for one particular player:
That player is banished and must now reveal their card to all of the other players. Proceed to instruction number 12.
If there is a majority vote for skipping banishment:
No one is banished. The murdered player must now place the skull back in the center of the table and reveal their card to show which Character they were. You must now immediately return to instruction number 7 and resume play from there, keeping in mind that the thief may have swapped your card in the night phase.
Examples of a majority vote:
•Three fingers are pointing at player X and two fingers are pointing at player Y (player X has the majority).
•Three fingers are pointing at player X, two fingers are pointing upwards, and two fingers are pointing at player Y (player X has the majority).
•Three fingers are pointing upwards, two fingers are pointing at player X, and two fingers are pointing at player Y (skipping banishment has the majority).
Examples of a split vote:
•Three fingers are pointing at player X and three fingers are pointing at player Y
•Three fingers are pointing at player X, three fingers are pointing upwards, and two fingers are pointing at player Y (the votes for player Y become irrelevant in this scenario).
Banishment Procedure
Now find the banished player’s character in the following “Banishment Procedure” table for instructions on how to proceed…
Killer
If the Killer is banished, the Hotel Guests, Detective, Thief, and Private Investigator all win, and the game ends.
Gang Leader
If the Gang Leader is banished, they increase their gang’s reputation by claiming credit for the kill – the Gang Leader wins and the game ends.
Private Investigator
If the Private Investigator is banished, they get one final attempt to bring the Killer down with them before they are officially out of the game.
The Private Investigator must now select a player to be banished with them. The selected player must now reveal their card and follow the banishment procedure for their role.
Defense Lawyer, Hotel Guest, Thief + Detective
If any of these players are banished, they are out of the game and play continues. Proceed to instruction number 13.
13. Role Reveal
After the banishment procedure is complete, the murdered player must now place the skull back in the center of the table and reveal their card to show which Character they were.
14. Post-Banishment
If there are only 2 players remaining, the killer automatically wins (because they would kill the remaining player in the next night phase). If there are more than 2 players remaining, play continues. Head back to instruction 7, keeping in mind that the thief may have swapped your card in the night phase. If your Character has changed since the last round, you must adopt this new role. If you feel familiar enough with the detailed guide, you may wish to jump to no.7 in the following Quick Reference guide.
1. Build your Playing Deck.
2. Prepare the Night Phase audio thedeceiversgame.com/audio
3. Remove the Killer Card then shuffle the Playing Deck.
4. Place 3 Cards face down in the center of the table next to the skull.
5. Mix the Killer Card back into the Playing Deck, then reshuffle.
6. Deal one Card to each player.
7. Players check their Card then place it near the center cards.
8. Night Phase: Complete the Night Phase audio.
9 & 10. Day Phase: The murdered player stays silent. Remaining players should question each other.
11. Vote on who to banish. If banishment is skipped, the murdered player reveals their card and returns the skull to the center, then play reverts to instruction 7. Otherwise, the banished player reveals their card, and play continues to instruction 12.
12. Follow the banishment procedure.
13. The murdered player reveals their Card and returns the skull to the center.
14. If nobody has won, return to instruction 7 and repeat until there is a winner.
