A board game box with a red background displaying various illustrated objects such as a skull, magnifying glass, books, a pigeon, voting ballot, and other themed imagery related to mystery or investigation, resting against a grey couch on a carpeted floor.
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Secret Hitler (2016)

ByMichail

Secret Hitler

Secret Hitler is a hidden identity social deduction party game developed by Goat, Wolf, & Cabbage LLC, manufactured by Breaking Games and distributed by Blackbox. The board game was designed by Max Temkin, Mike Boxleiter, and Tommy Maranges, with artwork created by Mackenzie Schubert, and first released on August 25, 2016.

Why is Secret Hitler Popular?

Secret Hitler has become a hit due to its unique Gameplay Mechanics of Secret Hitler and the surge in interest in fascism around the 2016 election. The game is a social deduction game, where players try to identify a traitor in their midst. It has been praised for its pure shenanigans and has caught on quickly since it began to ship to players. The game has a potentially offensive theme, and a board game review in The Wirecutter stated that the game, while fun, has a difficult learning curve because of its complex rules.

Game Components of Secret Hitler

  • Role cards (Liberals, Fascists, and Secret Hitler)
  • Policy cards (Liberal and Fascist)
  • Boards with metallic embossing
  • Wooden President and Chancellor plaques
  • Envelopes and cards of good stock quality
  • Rule summaries on the back of the plaques for new players

    How To Setup Secret Hitler

    To set up the game, players start by shuffling and distributing role cards to determine each player’s role. In a typical game of seven players, there are four Liberals, two Fascists, and one Secret Hitler. Players close their eyes, and the Fascists open their eyes to identify each other and the Secret Hitler, who keeps their eyes closed but shows their card to the Fascists. The game then proceeds with the election of a President and a Chancellor, where the President chooses a candidate for Chancellor, and all players vote to approve or reject the pair.

    Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

  • Election Phase: Players vote to elect a President and a Chancellor.
  • Policy Enactment: The President draws three policy cards, discards one, and gives the remaining two to the Chancellor, who enacts one.
  • Liberal Win: Liberals win by enacting five Liberal policy cards or by assassinating the Secret Hitler.
  • Fascist Win: Fascists win by enacting six Fascist policy cards or by electing the Secret Hitler as Chancellor after three Fascist policies are in play.
  • Emergency Powers: As Fascist policies are enacted, the President gains special abilities like inspecting players’ roles or assassinating players.

    Player Experience

    Playing **Secret Hitler** is a dynamic and intense experience, particularly with the right group of people. The game revolves around distrust, deception, and strategic bluffing. Each game is relatively short, lasting about 15-20 minutes, but it packs a significant amount of tension and intrigue. The artwork and components are of high quality, with meticulous attention to detail.

    Pros

  • High Replayability: Each game is unique due to the varied player roles and strategies.
  • Engaging Mechanics: The game focuses heavily on social interaction, bluffing, and strategic deduction.
  • Tension and Suspense: The game becomes increasingly tense as Fascist policies are enacted, leading to emergency powers and potential assassinations.
  • Good Quality Components: The game includes well-made cards, boards, and wooden plaques.

    Cons

  • Historical Accuracy: The game has been criticized for its ahistorical portrayal of Hitler and fascist strategies, which can feel misleading or insensitive.
  • Player Sensitivity: The game’s theme can be dark and may not be suitable for all audiences, especially those sensitive to political or historical themes.
  • Strategic Complexity: While the game is not overly complex, it can be challenging to formulate a consistent strategy due to the unpredictability of player actions.

    Personal Thoughts on Secret Hitler

    **Secret Hitler** is ideal for groups who enjoy social deduction games and are not easily offended by the game’s theme. It is a game that thrives on player interaction, bluffing, and strategic thinking. However, it is crucial to ensure that all players are comfortable with the game’s historical and political themes to avoid any discomfort. For those who appreciate the blend of humor and intensity in a game, **Secret Hitler** can be a highly engaging and memorable experience.

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    • Michail, a seasoned tabletop enthusiast, dives headfirst into worlds of fantasy and strategy. Whether commanding a party of adventurers through perilous dungeons or engaging in tactical showdowns on the board, Michail is the maestro of the tabletop realm. Michail's gaming table is a realm where the clatter of dice and the shuffle of cards create a symphony of strategic chaos.

    Hobby: Miniature painting guru, turning pewter into masterpieces
    Preferred Game: Dungeons & Dragons, but always up for a board game brawl