
Looking to test your detective skills while trying to save (or secretly sabotage) democracy?
Secret Hitler might be your next favourite party game!
This brilliant social deduction masterpiece raised a whopping £1.2 million from over 34,000 excited backers on Kickstarter – and even made its way to all 100 United States senators’ desks in 2017!
Perfect for game nights with 5-10 people, Secret Hitler packs heart-pounding action into quick 30-60 minute rounds.
The premise?
Liberals must band together to stop sneaky fascists from seizing power. You’ll either help the liberals enact five liberal policies (or take down Hitler directly!) or work with fellow fascists to push through six fascist policies (or cleverly elect Hitler as Chancellor).
Whether you’re new to social deduction games or a seasoned bluffer, you’re about to discover what makes Secret Hitler absolutely addictive!
From mind-bending social dynamics to endless replayability, this guide reveals all the clever mechanics, cunning strategies, and fascinating psychology that make Secret Hitler a must-play party game.

Ready to Learn the Secrets Behind Secret Hitler’s Rules?
Let’s dive into the clever mechanics that make Secret Hitler tick! The game adapts perfectly for any group of 5-10 players, with each player count getting its own special mix of roles.
Starting small?
A 5-player game needs 3 Liberals, 1 Fascist and Hitler, while the full 10-player experience ramps up to 6 Liberals, 3 Fascists and Hitler.
Getting Started: The Basic Bits
Here’s where the magic happens! Each round packs three thrilling phases: picking your government through an Election, passing policies in the Legislative Session, and flexing power with Executive Actions.
You’ll be working with a deck of 17 policy cards – 11 Fascist and 6 Liberal. Every player gets their own secret package of goodies: a Secret Role card, Party Membership card, and those all-important ‘Ja’ and ‘Nein’ voting ballots.
Who’s Who? The Secret Identity Shuffle
This is where things get properly sneaky! Poor Liberals start with the short end of the stick – despite having more players, they’re completely in the dark about everyone’s identity.
Meanwhile, those crafty Fascists know exactly who’s who, including Hitler’s location. But wait – in bigger games with 7+ players, Hitler gets to peek at who the Fascists are, but doesn’t know their specific roles.
How to Win: Your Path to Victory
For the Liberal team:
- Pop five Liberal policies into play
- Or go for the dramatic finish – assassinate Hitler!
Plotting with the Fascists?
- Either sneak six Fascist policies through
- Or pull off the ultimate trick – get Hitler elected Chancellor after three Fascist policies
The real excitement bubbles up in the Legislative Sessions. Your President draws three policy cards, secretly bins one, then passes two to the Chancellor who must enact one. Talk about trust issues – every government formation becomes a delicious mix of strategy and suspicion!

Want to Master the Art of Secret Hitler Strategy?
Ready to become a mastermind of deception and deduction? Let’s unpack the clever tricks that’ll sharpen your Secret Hitler gameplay! Success boils down to your eagle-eyed observation skills, smooth-talking abilities, and talent for building (or breaking!) trust.
Spotting Those Sneaky Tell-Tale Signs
Ever wondered how to spot a Fascist in disguise? Here’s the juicy bit – they often give themselves away without realising!
Fresh-faced Fascists tend to clam up compared to chatty Liberals. Watch out for those nervous newbie Fascists – they’re often caught looking down or dodging eye contact!
Keep your detective hat on and watch for:
- How quickly players react to policy choices
- Those suspicious voting patterns
- Sudden changes in body language
- The way they talk (or don’t!)
- How they handle those spicy accusations
Mastering the Art of Persuasion
Here’s a golden rule – don’t be a wallflower! Staying quiet is a surefire way to tank your team’s chances, no matter which side you’re on. Liberal players, here’s your mission: keep those observations and suspicions flowing freely – it’s your ticket to building a united front!
Playing for Team Fascist? Time to channel your inner mastermind! The best Fascist players jump right into discussions, dropping perfectly logical arguments with just a sprinkle of doubt.
And if you’re Hitler? Keep it cool and Liberal-like – no need to stir up unnecessary drama!
Playing the Trust Game
If you fancy yourself a master of manipulation, trust management is your new best friend! Liberal players, take your time and dig deep into those discussions – those pesky inconsistencies often pop up when you least expect them.
Remember, honesty about policies is your strongest ally – one little lie could send your credibility crashing down!
For our crafty Fascists out there, success lies in stirring up just the right amount of chaos. Mix those honest plays with perfectly timed betrayals. Love a good player dispute? That’s your golden opportunity – there’s always at least one Fascist in the mix!
Information becomes your secret weapon in this thrilling game of cat and mouse. Choose wisely when to share those juicy details – they could make or break your game! It’s all about finding that sweet spot between sharing knowledge and keeping your cards close to your chest.

Curious About the Mind Games in Secret Hitler?
Want to peek inside the psychological playground that makes Secret Hitler absolutely gripping? This brilliant game showcases the delicate dance of deception, trust, and clever manipulation like no other!
When the Pressure’s On: Group Dynamics
Picture this – every move you make, every word you speak, under the microscope of suspicious eyes! Poor Liberals start with blank slates, forcing them to band together like detective partners solving a mystery.
Talk about pressure!
Here’s where it gets fascinating! Your role shapes how you communicate – those honest-to-goodness Liberals chat away freely (why wouldn’t they?), while our sneaky Fascists must walk a tightrope of careful participation.
One wrong move, and you’ll stick out like a sore thumb!
Tricks of the Trade: Deception at Its Finest
Want to spot a Fascist in action? Watch for these tell-tale signs:
- The Hesitation Game: Those awkward pauses and puzzling answers when questioned
- The Eyes Have It: Downward glances and shifty eye contact – dead giveaways!
- Word Wobbles: Stories that don’t quite add up or mysterious opinion U-turns
Those crafty Fascists need more than just basic fibbing to succeed. One slip in behaviour and those eagle-eyed veterans will spot them! It’s a delicate balancing act – keeping that Liberal mask on while secretly pushing their sinister agenda.
The Trust Tango: Building and Breaking Bonds
Poor Liberals must forge alliances in the dark, while those cunning Fascists play the long game of earning trust before the inevitable backstab!
When should you share that juicy bit of intel? That’s the million-pound question! Just when you think you’ve found a trusted ally, boom – they might be plotting your downfall!
Watch the paranoia spread like wildfire as the game heats up! It’s brilliant really – what starts as mistrust becomes both weapon and weakness. Fascists feed the chaos while Liberals scramble to keep their team united. Now that’s psychological warfare at its finest!

Fancy Playing Secret Hitler from Your Sofa?
Looking to experience the thrill of Secret Hitler without leaving your house? Several brilliant digital platforms bring this masterpiece right to your browser! The most popular spot, secrethitler.io, offers completely free, ad-free gameplay with its smooth animations and room for up to 10 crafty players.
A Different Flavour from the Table Version
While keeping all the juicy bits of the original game, the digital version adds its own special sauce. The clever room system lets you hop into existing games or create your own secret hideout.
As room host, you’ll get to:
- Share special invites with your fellow conspirators
- Keep your game hidden or open to all
- Play bouncer with player access
- Keep an eye on the game’s progress
Gone are the days of shuffling cards and tracking policies by hand – the digital version handles all that boring stuff automatically. Less faff with setup means more time for scheming!
Playing Nice with Others Online
The online Secret Hitler world buzzes with activity in both public lounges and private gatherings. Whether you’re mingling with new faces or plotting with old friends, remember – good manners make for great games!
Chat becomes your voice in the digital realm, so keep those fingers typing! Your fellow players count on your engagement to keep the suspense alive. Oh, and do make sure your internet connection doesn’t abandon you mid-conspiracy!
While newcomers might need a moment to find their feet with both game rules and online controls, the digital playground offers a brilliant chance to sharpen your skills. Before you know it, you’ll be part of the growing global community of digital deceivers and detectives!

Clever Secret Hitler Strategies for Seasoned Players!
Fancy yourself a card counter? Here’s the golden ratio – 17 cards total, with 6 Liberal and 11 Fascist policies. The first round lets you peek at 15 cards through 5 smashing governments, while round two shows its hand with 12 cards across 4 governments.
Ever heard of the ‘1526 meta’? This clever little system gets the most intel from your early games. Seats 1-5 and 2-6 take the first two governments, helping those poor Liberals keep their grip on voting power. No sneaky Fascists hiding those blue cards!
Sharp players keep their eyes on those policy ratios like hawks. Those crafty Fascists in lower seats? They’ll need their wits about them – dodgy timing of Fascist plays sticks out like a sore thumb!
Playing Your Role to Perfection
Each role needs its own special touch:
Playing Hitler? Here’s Your Playbook:
- Keep it Liberal – consistency is key!
- Dodge those drama llamas
- Build trust with honest policy plays
- Sometimes saying no to presidency opens better doors
Regular Fascists, create your chaos with care! Try the old double-dispute trick – force those Chancellor plays while spinning tales about different cards. Feeling extra sneaky?Investigate those Liberals and paint them with the Fascist brush – watch the confusion spread!
Liberal players, stick to your guns with those votes and share everything you know. But watch out – poking your nose into too many conflicts might leave your Liberal chums frozen in place!
Making Those Split-Second Decisions
Here’s a brilliant trick – vote against your own Chancellor pick! Sounds barmy? It’s actually a clever way to gather intel from other players’ votes.
Want the presidency? If you’re within two clockwise spots of the last President since vote reset, try voting down governments. This little gem becomes pure gold game fun when assassination powers are up for grabs!
Team Fascist needs to play it cool around Hitler. No early Chancellor nominations for the big boss! Instead, try pointing fingers at Liberal players as potential Hitlers – now that’s proper misdirection!
The meta-game keeps evolving like a proper chameleon. Some clever clogs mix up their usual patterns to stay mysterious. Might cost you a few quick wins, but watch those success rates soar as your opponents scratch their heads over your tells!

Why Secret Hitler Keeps Players Coming Back for More!
Secret Hitler brilliantly weaves together psychological warfare and clever strategy into an absolute masterpiece of social deduction! While the rules might seem straightforward at first glance, mastering this gem requires eagle eyes, quick thinking, and the social skills of a proper mastermind.
Every game tells its own thrilling story through a delicate dance of trust and trickery. Those poor Liberals must navigate through murky waters, building alliances while watching their backs for Fascist fibbers.
Meanwhile, our crafty Fascists face their own challenge – keeping those poker faces on while sneakily pushing their dastardly plans forward!
Fancy yourself a strategist? Brilliant meta-strategies like the 1526 system and policy tracking add extra spice for experienced players. But don’t worry if you’re new to the game – the fundamental joy of sussing out friends and foes makes every session properly entertaining!
Remember this golden rule – success comes from understanding both the clever mechanics and the fascinating psychology of your fellow players.
Try different roles, watch those crafty veterans, and adapt your strategy to match your group’s style. After all, that’s the beauty of Secret Hitler – every game night brings fresh chances to test your skills at detection and deception!
Frequently asked questions about Secret Hitler.
How does Secret Hitler differ from other social deduction games?
Secret Hitler stands out with its unique gameplay mechanics, including policy enactment and special presidential powers. It also features a tense dynamic between liberals and fascists, with the added challenge of identifying Hitler.
Can Secret Hitler be played without player elimination?
While it’s possible to modify the rules, player elimination is an integral part of Secret Hitler’s design. The elimination usually occurs late in the game and adds to the tension and strategic depth. Removing it may significantly alter the game’s balance and experience.
What is the ideal player count for Secret Hitler?
Secret Hitler is designed for 5-10 players. However, many players find that the game is most enjoyable and balanced with 7-8 players, as this provides a good mix of roles and keeps the gameplay dynamic and a makes for a dramatic game.
How long does a typical game of Secret Hitler last?
A game of Secret Hitler usually takes between 30-60 minutes to play. The duration can vary depending on the number of players and how quickly decisions are made during the game.
Are there any strategies for new players in Secret Hitler?
New players should focus on observing others’ behaviour, participating actively in discussions, and maintaining consistency in their actions. Liberals should strive for open communication, while fascists need to balance deception with appearing trustworthy. It’s also crucial to pay attention to voting patterns and policy enactments in this competitive game.
The board game company and board game designers behind Secret Hitler is Goat, Wolf, & Cabbage LLC and manufactured by Breaking Games and distributed by Blackbox.