Comparison
Secret Hitler vs Avalon
Both are hidden-team games for 5 to 10 players with public votes and a secret minority. Avalon is about who goes on a mission; Secret Hitler is about which policy gets passed and one role that must stay hidden.
At a glance
| Secret Hitler | The Resistance: Avalon | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 5–10 | 5–10 |
| Length | 30–60 min | About 30 min |
| First published | 2016, Goat, Wolf & Cabbage | 2012, Indie Boards & Cards |
| The two sides | Liberals vs Fascists, with Hitler hidden among them | Good (with Merlin) vs Evil (with the Assassin) |
| What stays secret | The policy cards the elected pair drew and discarded | Who played the Fail cards on a mission |
| Knocked out | Yes: executed players are out | No |
| How it ends | A policy track fills, or Hitler is elected or executed | Three missions, then the Assassin's single guess |
How Secret Hitler plays
Each round a President nominates a Chancellor and the table votes on the pair. If they are elected, the President draws three policy cards, discards one in secret and passes two; the Chancellor enacts one. Everyone sees which kind was passed, never what was thrown away, so the pair can each blame the other.
The deck leans towards the Fascists, so a Liberal government can be forced into passing a Fascist policy. Some Fascist policies hand the President a power, such as investigating a player or executing one. Late in the game, electing Hitler as Chancellor ends it for the Fascists.
How Avalon plays
A leader proposes a team for a mission and everyone votes on it. The chosen players then play Success or Fail in secret; Good must play Success, Evil may play Fail, and only the number of Fails is revealed. Three failed missions win the game for Evil.
Merlin knows who is Evil but must not be obvious about it: if Good wins three missions, the Assassin gets one guess at Merlin and can still steal the game. Nobody is eliminated along the way.
The main differences
What you argue about
Avalon: who should go on the mission. Secret Hitler: who lied about the cards they held.
Hidden information
Avalon hides who played a Fail. Secret Hitler lets two players see the same cards and tell different stories.
The special role
Avalon's Merlin knows too much and must hide it. Secret Hitler's Hitler knows too little (in larger games) and must avoid suspicion.
Elimination
Secret Hitler can execute players, who then sit out. In Avalon everyone plays to the end.
Theme
Avalon is Arthurian legend. Secret Hitler's political theme is part of its humour, and it is also why some groups pass on it.
Which one for your group?
New to hidden-role games
Avalon: fewer rules, no elimination, and the mission votes teach the idea fast.
Love catching liars
Secret Hitler: the card-passing gives every government a story to pick apart.
Exactly 5 or 6 players
Both work; Avalon's small games are quicker.
Mixed company
Avalon's theme travels better. For the policy-deck style without the theme, try Crosscurrent below.
Play either style on your phones
partygame doesn't host Secret Hitler or sell the Avalon box. These are our own phone games for the same table; each player uses their own phone, free in the browser.
Crosscurrent
Row together. Scheme apart.
5–10 players · 30–45 min · TV recommended
Oath & Dagger
Trust the oath. Fear the dagger.
5–10 players · 30–45 min · Voice host or screen guide
Questions
Is Secret Hitler the same game as Avalon?
No. Both are hidden-team games with public votes, but Avalon is about mission teams and a final guess at Merlin, while Secret Hitler is about a policy deck, secret discards and a hidden leader.
Which is better for a first game night?
Avalon is usually easier to teach: one kind of decision per round and nobody is knocked out.
Can I play Secret Hitler on partygame?
No. Crosscurrent is our own game with an original theme and names: a Captain names a Partner, the two pass one of three plans in secret, and a hidden Mastermind must not be elected at the wrong moment.
Everyone in the same room?
partygame is for playing face to face, not online matchmaking: each phone keeps your secret and counts the votes, the talking happens at the table. Open a table in the browser, free, no app.