{"title":"Mechanic: Hidden Roles","description":"\u003cp\u003eHidden Roles games assign each player a secret identity, faction, or objective that shapes their entire strategy while remaining concealed from others. At the table, this creates constant tension: you're reading body language, tracking voting patterns, and weighing every claim, never quite certain who's telling the truth. The mechanism thrives on deduction, deception, and the thrill of unmasking a traitor—or successfully maintaining your cover until a dramatic reveal. \u003cstrong\u003eCourtisans: Diplomats and Confidants\u003c\/strong\u003e exemplifies this with players navigating courtly intrigue, advancing hidden agendas through careful negotiation while opponents try to deduce loyalties from patterns of alliance and betrayal.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis mechanism appeals strongly to social gamers who enjoy psychological play, bluffing, and group dynamics over pure mechanical optimization. It works best with larger groups (typically 5-10 players) who appreciate accusations, defenses, and the chaotic energy of piecing together fragmentary information. Expect heated debate, sudden betrayals, and moments where a single vote determines whether the hidden saboteur wins or the loyal majority prevails.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"courtisans-diplomats-and-confidants","title":"Courtisans: Diplomats and Confidants","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cstrong\u003eCourtisans: Diplomats and Confidants\u003c\/strong\u003e, designed by Romaric Galonnier, players navigate the intricate politics of Renaissance courts through negotiation and hidden agendas. This expansion introduces new roles and powers that deepen the interplay of influence and deception established in the base game.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOver 30 to 45 minutes, three to five players adopt secret identities, forming temporary alliances and competing for control over key areas of the court. Each turn presents opportunities to broker deals, leverage information, and shift loyalties—mechanics that reward both psychological reading and tactical hand management. The medium-weight complexity (2.1) makes it approachable for players aged 10 and up while offering enough strategic depth to keep seasoned gamers engaged.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePublished by Catch Up Games in 2023, this expansion builds on variable player powers and area majority scoring. Mihajlo Dimitrievski's artwork reinforces the period atmosphere without overwhelming the functional clarity needed for quick negotiations. The result is a compact experience where every conversation matters and allegiances remain uncertain until the final reveal.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Catch Up Games","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58386482626944,"sku":null,"price":5.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/9505\/7536\/files\/COUREXP1-CS_Courtisans_DiplomatsandConfidants_Caseof12.png?v=1783177795"},{"product_id":"hunt-a-killer-death-at-the-dive-bar","title":"Hunt A Killer: Death at the Dive Bar","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHunt a Killer: Death at the Dive Bar\u003c\/strong\u003e is a cooperative murder mystery experience where you and up to five friends become private investigators solving the suspicious death of Nick Webster, owner of a small-town roadside tavern. When Nick's fall from a cliff is ruled an accident, one of his employees suspects something darker—and you must sift through witness statements, photographs, physical evidence, and coded messages to uncover the truth. The game delivers an immersive detective story in a box, complete with realistic documents and clues that make you feel like you're working a real case.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlayers work together across multiple episodes, examining evidence, piecing together timelines, and cracking codes to establish means, motive, and opportunity. The deduction mechanics are accessible (rated 1\/5 difficulty), making this an excellent entry point for groups new to mystery games, while the cooperative storytelling and hidden role elements keep everyone engaged. The campaign structure unfolds gradually, revealing new suspects and twists as you progress through the investigation.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBest for groups of 2–4 investigators who enjoy narrative-driven experiences and logical puzzle-solving. The flexible playtime (30–180 minutes per session) lets you pace the investigation to your schedule, and the game works surprisingly well solo for armchair detectives who want to work the case alone. If you've enjoyed escape room games or detective fiction, this delivers that same satisfying moment when the pieces finally click into place.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hunt A Killer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58443920769408,"sku":null,"price":14.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/9505\/7536\/files\/pic6585386.jpg?v=1783971381"},{"product_id":"saboteur-20th-anniversary-edition","title":"Saboteur: 20th Anniversary Edition","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaboteur: 20th Anniversary Edition\u003c\/strong\u003e is a hidden-role card game where you're either digging for gold or secretly sabotaging the operation. Players work together to lay tunnel cards connecting the start to one of three goal cards—but hidden among the miners are saboteurs trying to block the path and steal the gold for themselves. The twist? You don't know who's on your team until the round ends, so every card played and every accusation carries weight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn your turn, you'll play a tunnel card to extend the network, use an action card to help or hinder other players (breaking their tools, mapping the goals, or collapsing tunnels), or pass. Rounds are quick and tense, with miners racing to reach gold before the deck runs out while saboteurs quietly derail progress. After each round, roles are revealed and gold is divided—but only among the winning team.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis anniversary edition packs in the base game, the \u003cem\u003eSaboteur 2\u003c\/em\u003e expansion, and a raft of mini-expansions and variants from years of World Championships. It scales brilliantly from 2 to 12 players, making it a perfect party game or gateway bluffing experience for families and casual groups. If you enjoy social deduction without heavy rules or love the chaos of hidden traitors, this is a modern classic.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMIGO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58444026446208,"sku":null,"price":16.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/9505\/7536\/files\/pic7947660.jpg?v=1783973137"},{"product_id":"saboteur","title":"Saboteur","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSaboteur\u003c\/strong\u003e is a hidden-role card game where dwarves tunnel through a gold mine—but not everyone is working toward the same goal. Each player is secretly dealt a role: you're either an honest gold miner trying to build a path to the treasure, or a saboteur working to block progress and send your rivals down dead ends. The gold is hidden face-down among three possible goal cards, and as you lay tunnel cards turn by turn, no one knows for sure who to trust.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOn your turn, you play a path card to extend the network, play an action card to help or hinder another player (breaking their pickaxe, collapsing a tunnel, or peeking at a goal card), or pass. Miners win if they complete a path to the gold; saboteurs win if the deck runs out before anyone reaches it. After three rounds of shifting alliances and paranoia, the dwarf with the most gold nuggets claims victory.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for \u003cstrong\u003e3–10 players\u003c\/strong\u003e in around \u003cstrong\u003e30 minutes\u003c\/strong\u003e, Saboteur thrives at higher counts where accusations fly and saboteurs can hide in the chaos. Its light rules and teach-in-two-minutes setup make it a gateway classic for families and casual groups who enjoy bluffing and take-that moments without heavy strategy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AMIGO","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58444038013312,"sku":null,"price":8.5,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1003\/9505\/7536\/files\/pic8679622.jpg?v=1783973369"}],"url":"https:\/\/mpgames.io\/collections\/mechanic-hidden-roles.oembed","provider":"MPGames","version":"1.0","type":"link"}