Ultimate Traitors is a game of wit and deduction for two teams: Faithfuls and Traitors. If you’ve played Werewolf, Mafia, or seen the Traitors TV show, you have a good idea of what this game is. The rules included here are and adaptation of games which have been played for decades, with a thematic flavor heavily influenced by The Traitors.
The game is designed to be played without need to purchase much equipment. The standard game can be played with a simple set of playing cards and some pen and paper.
In this game, players take on the role of inhabitants of an grand castle estate. They may be nobility, butlers, or skilled trades-folk. But something is amiss. Around every corner, suspicion and intrigue. And now people are disappearing, one by one. The players of each faction work against each other to see who can be victorious in this extravagant and cutthroat castle.
The game takes place over a series of “days” and “nights”. During the Day, players will talk amongst themselves, sharing information they deem prudent and looking for Traitors. At the end of the day, players will vote on who they think is a Traitor and if any player receives a majority of votes, they are Banished.
At Night the Traitors select one player to eliminate from the game, while the Seer chooses another player to discover if they are secretly a Traitor.
Create a deck of cards using the steps below as a starting point. Red cards represent players on the side of the Faithfuls, while Black cards represent those on the side of the Traitors.
Choose someone to be the Host or Game Master. This person will keep track of the consequences of player actions and will provide information to the players throughout the game.
The Host gathers the players into a circle. Then, they shuffle and deal one card to each player, which players must keep secret. All discussions should end and the Host calls for the First Night.
| Player Count | Traitors in Play |
|---|---|
| 6-8 | 2 |
| 9-11 | 3 |
| 12-15 | 4 |
| 16-19 | 5 |
| 20-23 | 6 |
| 24-28 | 7 |
| 29-33 | 8 |
| 34-38 | 9 |
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*It is recommended to break up into groups when you have 18 or more players, but the game supports up to 38.
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The Host sets the stage by calling for all players to close their eyes. They then call out to the Traitors, who open their eyes and see each other for the first time. The host asks them to close their eyes, then asks the Seer to open theirs. The Seer may point or indicate one other player, and the Host shows a thumb up if that player is a Traitor and a thumbs down if they are a Faithful. The Seer is instructed to close their eyes, and the First Night is over.
All players open their eyes. Players should make introductions and discuss anything they may know. The strategy is up to the players, how much they want to reveal about themselves and any information they have.
With little to go on, the players must still try to Banish someone from the castle. Players will openly discuss who they think should be on the chopping block. Players accused may defend themselves, but after 5-10 minutes the Host should call for a vote.
Players will secretly write down the name of one player who they think should be Banished. If any player receives a majority vote, the player is Banished from the game permanently.
A Banished player may offer their last words and then reveals their role card to the rest of the castle. They may no longer interact with the other players in any way, but they are invited to spectate the rest of the game and see how it all plays out.
If no player receives a majority vote, no banishment takes place that day.
Immediately after banishment, the Host will direct all players to close their eyes once more. Once again, the Host will call for the Traitors to open their eyes, identify their mark, and go back to sleep. The Seer will also get a chance to learn if another player is a Traitor, and also goes back to sleep.