SOCIAL DEDUCTION GAMES
Social deduction games for your group
Social deduction games are party games where some players hide information and everyone else has to work out who, just by talking. No board, no dice: only questions, answers and a vote. Here are three you can play free in your browser with 3-12 friends.
Choose a social deduction gameWhat makes a good social deduction game
The best ones are short, have one simple secret and give the hidden player a real chance. Rounds of a few minutes mean a bad accusation is funny instead of painful, and a rematch is only a tap away.
They also need to be easy to explain. All three games below fit in a sentence, which matters when half the group has never played before.
Three games, one idea
Each game hides one player among the group. What changes is the secret and how much the hidden player knows.
- Spyfall: a secret location and roles. One spy, players ask each other questions, and a caught spy can still win by guessing the place.
- Secret Words: a secret word. The imposter has no word and bluffs through clue rounds; a final word guess if caught.
- Similar Words: a secret word, but the imposter has a related one and nobody knows their own side. The purest deduction of the three.
Which one should you play first?
New group: start with Spyfall on familiar places. The questions give quiet players something concrete to answer. Groups that like wordplay: Secret Words. Groups that have played a few rounds and want to argue: Similar Words.
All three keep session scores, rotate the starter on rematch and support one phone or a private online room. Read the rules for all three on one page.
Other social deduction games to try
Our three games are the free option you can start right now, but they are not the only ones. These classics use the same idea of hidden roles and a group vote:
- Werewolf: 7 or more players and a moderator. Night and day phases, several hidden werewolves and special roles. Rounds take 20-40 minutes and players are eliminated.
- Mafia: the original version of Werewolf with a town and a hidden mafia. Same group size and moderator; great for large groups with time.
- Wink Murder: 6 or more players sitting in a circle. A secret murderer eliminates people by winking; a detective has to spot them. Good for children.
- Hidden traitor board games: boxed games with secret teams and missions, usually 5-10 players and 30 minutes or more.
- Spyfall, Secret Words and Similar Words: 3-12 players, no moderator and nobody is eliminated, rounds of a few minutes. Free in the browser on this site.
No app, account or cards needed
Everything runs in the browser. One phone deals private cards for the whole table, and the one-phone games work offline once the offline download is ready. For remote groups, online rooms give each player their own screen; bring your own voice call. If you would rather have an app, there is a separate Spyfall app for iPhone, iPad and Android.
Questions
What is a social deduction game?
A game where hidden roles or hidden information split the players, and the group has to find the hidden player through conversation and a vote.
What is the best social deduction game for a small group?
With 3-5 players, Spyfall works well because the questions keep everyone involved. All three games here support 3-12 players.
Can you play social deduction games online with friends?
Yes. Create a private room, send the invitation link, and talk on any voice or video call. Each player sees their own card in their browser.
Free in your browser for 3-12 players, without an account. Full rules: Spyfall, Secret Words and Similar Words rules. Step by step: game guides.