Tabletop Tuesday - The Resistance

Welcome to another edition of Tabletop Tuesday - Your weekly exploration into games of dice, cards, luck and more of the Tabletop world.

This week's game...the game of spies and lies that is The Resistance.

Players: 5-10
Time: 20-40 minutes
Genre: Social Deduction Game



There are two sides in which players are randomly assigned to in The Resistance.  The Rebels must succeed in 3 of 5 missions to claim victory.  Spies will want to sabotage 3 of 5 missions to ensure defeat for the rebels.  Each player is given their identity in secret, and only the spies get to learn who is on their team of spies.  As such, every rebel is in the dark as to who is an ally, and who is really a spy just posing as rebel.  This is a game that will break friendships, but in the most fun way possible.

Each turn, a player is put in charge of selecting a mission and who should go on that mission.  Depending on the number of players, each mission requires a certain amount of successful and failing votes to succeed and/or fail.  Players can then approve or reject the selection of candidates, in which majority rules for the mission to carry or the next player to select new candidates.  Once on the mission, the candidates then secretly put in votes for success or fail.  Rebels will always vote for success, but a spy may vote either way.  They may try to gain trust, or may be unsure how to vote if another spy is on the mission.  Typically only one fail is needed for the mission to fail.  And once a fail is revealed, players then can begin to narrow down of the candidates who may be a spy.  Questions will be asked.  Reactions will be judged.  And mistrust will grow into a uncontrollable frenzy.  Will the rebels be able to use reasoned logic, or will they rely on their emotional suspicions?

I recommend this game for large groups who enjoy critical thinking and have good poker faces.  There are also various expansions and versions that add additional roles and themes into the mix.  For example, Avalon instead incorporates a medieval theme of knights facing an evil overlord and his minions.  Either way though, you'll enjoy essentially the same game that is wild accusations and crucial decisions to be made.  Just make sure to shake hands and mend your friendships at the conclusion of each game.

If you have any questions about The Resistance, let me know in the comments.  Otherwise, look forward to future installments of Tabletop Tuesday!