Hitler's Secret Review
Hitler's Secret Review
We can all agree that this game leaves us with one question when listening - "Excuse me, say it again?". But no need to worry! This is a satirical title created by Max Temkin, the creator of the Map Against Humanity . Do you get an idea now? You can be sure that this game will experience very dry fun in World War II Germany.
Who will win? Fascists or liberals? Only you can decide! Read our full Secret Hitler review below.
- A quick game of deception and betrayal
- Beautiful wooden components
- Massive game boards with foil insert
A brief overview of Hitler's Secret
Secret Hitler takes place in the 1930s in Germany, where betrayal and politics are the name of the game. These are the liberals (good guys) against the fascists (think of Mussolini's supporters) - oh, and of course Hitler!
It is a board game of hidden traitors for 5-10 players, in which players are divided into two factions with one person secretly identified as Hitler. Each side will try to implement as many of the policies of its factions as possible and then either assassinate or vote for Hitler. We can agree that you don’t have to guess which side wants what.
If you’ve ever wanted to shake Germany’s political thinking before World War II, this is definitely the game for you! His dry sense of humor and fun is great for everyone.
Discover Hitler's secret
The cover on the box hints at possible ways of betrayal, but it doesn’t really shout much about Hitler. The snake on the skull has a really good visual description of what paranoia would look like! So it fits the theme.
One feature that really stands out and is definitely worth mentioning is the font style on all the pieces. You immediately get the feeling that everything was typed - which was the only thing in the 1930s.
Inside the box you will find the following:
- Presidential poster
- Chancellor's poster
- A deck of political cards for both liberals and fascists
- Players' cards - identity and Ja & no cards
- Liberal and fascist wooden board
How to play Secret Hitler
Setup
So, the first thing you will do in the setting phase is to choose the right initial fascist song that matches the number of people playing. You can see this in the rules - each game varies with the number of players. This is the most important part of the setup!
Each player will then need an envelope containing their secret application card, customer membership card, but a Yes and No card as well. Players are not allowed to disclose their Role Cards!
Once all the cards and envelopes have been dealt, give everyone a few minutes to learn their roles. Then the presidential candidate has to be chosen at random - you can make a fascist rule here!
The last part of the set-up is to allow the fascists and Hitler to make contact with each other while the liberals are in darkness. To do this, everyone must close their eyes and stretch their arms with their fists. Now all fascists must open their eyes and confess to each other. When this is done, Hitler must raise his thumb while keeping his eyes closed. So the fascists know who Hitler is, and they can try to promote their agenda. Liberals don’t know who’s who.
playing
The game progresses in circles. Each round begins with an election, followed by a legislative session and an executive action to exercise government power - that is, 3 phases for each round before they are repeated.
The pre-election phase consists of a new presidential candidate proposing a new chancellor. The presidential candidate's sticker moves clockwise, while the chancellor can be chosen at random. So everyone should be in line for the presidential candidate. Just be careful - there is a limit on the terms of office of the President and the Chancellor!
When a candidate is nominated, players must vote if they want a player to be president. If there is a tie or a majority vote , the move ends and the next person is the candidate. If the candidate votes, they will have the opportunity to work with the Chancellor and adopt a secret policy. There must be no communication between the two! This must be purely business.
The game is won when enough liberal or fascist policies are adopted or Hitler is assassinated or voted. This is the real either-or end! There are a few minor nuances to check, such as what politics does and what happens if nothing is accepted - the policy is super easy for you, check it out!
Advantages disadvantages
Advantages:
- The rules are very easy to understand
- A unique theme expressed in the art of play
- Historically informative
The game looks by name and is surprisingly informative about the history of this period. And what makes it great is that it doesn’t even seem like a history lesson!
Weaknesses:
● You need a large group to play
There are almost no negative aspects to the game - true in every way. It’s a board game, so it makes sense to need quite a few people to play it. So it’s really not in itself, but just something to mention if you’re not aware of the different styles of board games.
Conclusion: a verdict?
This is a game that is a must for any board game collector - whether you are a casual collector or a game connoisseur. Social deductions are simply perfect for any party. It will bring so much life to the party that even those who say they are not interested in history may wonder what actually happened in the 1930s.
In my opinion? Take a look at what the box looks like and see what potential for enjoyment you can get out of it. By the way, it's a lot!
- A quick game of deception and betrayal
- Beautiful wooden components
- Massive game boards with foil insert
We hope you enjoyed our Secret Hitler review! Have you already tried this popular board game Hidden Traitors? Write a comment below to let us know what you think!
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