Step into the thrilling world of Secret Hitler, a social deduction board game set in 1930s Germany. This highly interactive game casts you and your friends as politicians vying for control amidst the rise of fascism. Deception, intrigue, and strategic maneuvering are your tools as you work to either save democracy or install a totalitarian regime. One of you is a Liberal, fighting to preserve freedom. Another is a Fascist, scheming to seize power. And one player? One player is Secret Hitler. This comprehensive guide will teach you everything you need to know to master Secret Hitler, from the basic rules to advanced strategies. Dominate the political landscape. Outwit your opponents. Let the games begin!
Game Setup
Setting up Secret Hitler is quick and easy. Follow these steps to prepare for a riveting game of political intrigue:
Game Components
- 17 Policy Tiles: 11 Fascist and 6 Liberal. These tiles represent the legislation that will shape the future of the nation. (Yes, the Fascists get a head start with more policies!)
- 10 Secret Role Cards: Assign each player a secret identity as a Liberal, Fascist, or Hitler.
- 10 Party Membership Cards: These cards correspond to the secret roles and are used for the Investigate Loyalty power.
- 10 Envelopes: Use these to distribute roles secretly.
- 20 Ballot Cards: 10 “Ja!” (yes) and 10 “Nein!” (no) for dramatic voting sessions.
- Election Tracker: This tracks failed election attempts. Three failed elections trigger a special event.
- Draw Pile and Discard Pile Cards: To organize the policy deck.
- President and Chancellor Placards: These identify the current government leaders.
- Game Boards: One Liberal board and varying Fascist boards for different player counts (see Role Distribution below).
Role Distribution
The balance of power shifts with the number of players:
| Players | Liberals | Fascists | Hitler |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
Dealing Roles
- Place each Secret Role Card and the corresponding Party Membership Card into a separate envelope.
- Thoroughly shuffle the envelopes to randomize role assignments.
- Deal one envelope to each player. Each player also receives one “Ja!” and one “Nein!” Ballot Card.
- Players should secretly look at their Secret Role Card without revealing it to others.
Fascist Reveal
The Fascists and Hitler need to identify their teammates without revealing themselves to the Liberals. This is done through a secret process:
- 5-6 Players: All players close their eyes. The Fascists and Hitler open their eyes and silently acknowledge each other with a subtle gesture. Everyone closes their eyes again.
- 7-10 Players: All players close their eyes and extend a fist. Fascists (excluding Hitler) open their eyes and acknowledge each other. Hitler keeps their eyes closed but extends a thumb. Fascists, you now know who Hitler is! Everyone closes their eyes again and lowers their hands.
Important Note: In games with 7-10 players, Hitler does not initially know the identities of the other Fascists.
Looking for other fun games to play with large groups? Check out our articles on drinking games for large groups and card games for large groups for more ideas!
How to Play Secret Hitler
A game of Secret Hitler unfolds in rounds, each consisting of three main phases: the Election Phase, the Legislative Session, and (sometimes) the Executive Action Phase.
A. Round Structure
Each round progresses through these three phases:
- Election Phase: Players elect a government consisting of a President and a Chancellor.
- Legislative Session: The elected President and Chancellor work together to enact a new policy.
- Executive Action Phase (Conditional): Triggered by certain Fascist policies, this phase grants the President special powers.
B. Election Phase
- Presidential Nomination: The President placard rotates clockwise to the next player, who becomes the Presidential Candidate.
- Chancellor Nomination: The Presidential Candidate nominates another eligible player as the Chancellor Candidate. Eligibility Rules: A player cannot be nominated for Chancellor if they served as President or Chancellor in the immediately preceding round. In 5-player games, only the previous Chancellor is ineligible.
- Voting: All players, including the Presidential and Chancellor Candidates, vote simultaneously using their “Ja!” (yes) or “Nein!” (no) ballot cards.
- Successful Election (Majority “Ja!”): The Presidential and Chancellor Candidates become the President and Chancellor, respectively. If three or more Fascist policies have already been enacted, the Chancellor must reveal if they are Hitler. If so, the Fascist team wins the game immediately.
- Failed Election (Majority “Nein!” or Tie): The Election Tracker advances one space. A new election begins with the President placard rotating clockwise to the next player.
- Three Consecutive Failed Elections: If elections fail three times in a row, the top policy from the draw pile is enacted automatically, regardless of its type. Any associated Executive Action is ignored. The Election Tracker resets, and all players become eligible to be Chancellor. If the draw pile contains fewer than three policy tiles, shuffle the discard pile back into the deck.
C. Legislative Session
- President’s Actions: The President secretly draws three policy tiles from the draw pile. One policy tile is secretly discarded face down into the discard pile. The remaining two policy tiles are passed face down to the Chancellor.
- Chancellor’s Actions: The Chancellor secretly chooses one of the two policy tiles to enact and discards the other face down into the discard pile. The enacted policy tile is placed face up on the corresponding Liberal or Fascist track on the game board.
- Veto Power (Advanced Rule): After five Fascist policies have been enacted, the Chancellor and President gain the ability to veto. The Chancellor may declare their intent to veto. If the President agrees, both policy tiles are discarded, and the Election Tracker advances one space.
D. Executive Action Phase
- Trigger: An Executive Action is triggered when the Chancellor enacts a Fascist policy with a corresponding power printed on the Fascist board.
- Presidential Powers: The President must use the triggered power before the next round begins.
- Investigate Loyalty: The President chooses one player to investigate and secretly views their Party Membership card (not their Secret Role card). The President may then share (or lie about) the investigated player’s affiliation. A player can only be investigated once during the game.
- Call a Special Election: The President chooses any other player to be the next Presidential Candidate, even players who would normally be term-limited. The chosen player receives the President placard, and a standard election takes place.
- Policy Peek: The President secretly examines the top three policy tiles of the draw pile and returns them to the draw pile in the same order.
- Execution: The President chooses one player to execute. If the executed player is Hitler, the Liberals win instantly! If the executed player is not Hitler, the game continues. The executed player’s secret role remains hidden.
Winning the Game
In Secret Hitler, two opposing factions vie for control: the Liberals, striving for democratic governance, and the Fascists, aiming to establish a totalitarian regime. Each team has distinct paths to victory.
A. Liberal Victory
The Liberal team wins by achieving one of the following:
- Enacting Five Liberal Policies: By successfully enacting five Liberal policy tiles, the Liberals demonstrate their ability to govern effectively and secure a democratic victory.
- Executing Hitler: If the President successfully executes Hitler through the Execution Executive Action, the Liberals win instantly. This requires careful deduction and a degree of risk, as executing a Liberal player could cripple their chances of winning.
B. Fascist Victory
The Fascist team triumphs by fulfilling one of these conditions:
- Enacting Six Fascist Policies: The Fascists achieve victory by enacting six Fascist policy tiles, representing a complete takeover of the government.
- Electing Hitler as Chancellor After Three Fascist Policies: If Hitler is elected Chancellor after three Fascist policy tiles have been enacted, the Fascists win immediately. Important Note: Electing Hitler as Chancellor before three Fascist policies are enacted does not trigger a Fascist victory; the game continues as normal. This victory condition demands deception and careful timing on the part of the Fascist team, particularly for Hitler, who must convincingly masquerade as a Liberal to gain the trust of other players.
Strategy Tips
Secret Hitler is a game of deception, deduction, and social manipulation. Mastering the game requires more than just knowing the rules; it demands strategic thinking tailored to your assigned role. Here are some essential Secret Hitler strategy tips for each faction:
Liberals
- ommunication is Essential: As a Liberal, leverage your numerical advantage. Openly discuss voting patterns, analyze policy choices, and voice any suspicions about other players. Transparency and collaboration are your greatest strengths. For example, if a player consistently votes against seemingly Liberal governments, raise the issue and question their motives.
- Trust, But Verify: Don’t take claims of liberalism at face value. Scrutinize player actions and look for inconsistencies. If a player claims to be Liberal but frequently enables the enactment of Fascist policies, their true allegiance may be suspect. Ask pointed questions and look for contradictions in their explanations.
- Control the Tempo: Fascists thrive in chaotic environments. Slow down the game by carefully considering each nomination and vote. Deliberate discussions can help expose Fascist deception.
Fascists
- Deception is Your Weapon: As a Fascist, your primary tool is deceit. Maintain a convincing Liberal facade by occasionally voting for Liberal governments and advocating for seemingly Liberal policies. Feigning outrage at Fascist policies being enacted can also help deflect suspicion.
- Sow Discord: Subtly manipulate the narrative by planting seeds of doubt about the loyalty of key Liberal players. This can create confusion and distrust within the Liberal team, making it easier to advance the Fascist agenda.
- Exploit Chaos: While Liberals benefit from controlled discussion, Fascists can capitalize on confusion. Encourage quick votes and discourage lengthy deliberations. A hasty decision can allow a Fascist policy to slip through unnoticed.
- Focus on Electing Hitler: The ultimate Fascist victory often comes from electing Hitler as Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted. Prioritize actions that move you closer to this objective, even if it means occasionally enacting Liberal policies to maintain your cover.
Hitler
- Maintain a Liberal Persona: Survival as Hitler hinges on convincingly portraying yourself as a Liberal. Vote for Liberal governments, advocate for Liberal policies, and actively participate in discussions to deflect suspicion. Early on, consider “accidentally” enacting a Liberal policy as Chancellor to solidify your Liberal credentials.
- Build Trust, Then Betray It: Your goal is to gain the Liberals’ trust so completely that they will elect you Chancellor. This requires patience, subtle manipulation, and careful observation of other players. Appear genuinely concerned about the rise of Fascism and express frustration when Fascist policies are enacted.
- Exploit Opportunities: Look for situations where you can further your Fascist agenda while maintaining your Liberal disguise. For example, if you are President and draw two Fascist policies, you can claim you had no choice but to pass one to the Chancellor, solidifying your apparent helplessness in the situation.
FAQs
Q: Can I lie about the policy tiles I drew or discarded as President?
A: Yes, deception is a core element of Secret Hitler. You are generally free to lie about any information you obtain secretly, including the policy tiles you draw and discard. The only exception is if you are Hitler and are elected Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted. In this scenario, you must truthfully reveal your identity as Hitler.
Q: If I was President last round, can I be nominated as Chancellor this round?
A: Yes. The term limit in Secret Hitler only prevents a player from serving as Chancellor twice in a row. You can be President one round and Chancellor the next.
Q: What happens if I’m investigated twice using the Investigate Loyalty Presidential Power?
A: This cannot happen. The Investigate Loyalty power can only be used on each player once during a game.
Q: Do I have to use a Presidential Power immediately after enacting a Fascist policy?
A: You must use the Presidential Power before the end of the current round, meaning before the next Presidential nomination. However, you can choose the most strategically advantageous moment to use the power within that timeframe.
Q: I love Secret Hitler! What other guessing and mystery party games might I enjoy?
A: If you enjoy the social deduction and guessing aspects of Secret Hitler, you might also like games such as:
- Social Deduction: The Resistance: Avalon, One Night Ultimate Werewolf, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong. These games feature similar mechanics of hidden roles, deception, and deduction.
- Word Games: Codenames, Hangman, Scattegories, Decrypto, and Concept involve giving and interpreting clues to identify secret words or phrases. These provide a different flavor of deduction and wordplay.
- Party Games with a Mystery Element: Mysterium combines elements of clue-giving and deduction with a spooky, thematic overlay.
