With nearly 20 years under its belt, Betrayal is a stalwart of many a gaming shelf – so how does the most recent version – House on the Hill – stack up? Well I’m pleased to say that whether you’re an old hand like me, or new to the game like my teenagers, it’s a creepy delight!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SCARY MOVIE?
Taking its cue from classic horror tropes, you and your friends are off to explore a creepy old house. There’s 13 characters to choose from (6 double sided cards with Miniatures to match) each with different levels of Might, Speed, Knowledge and Sanity – these trickle down as you explore the house and encounter various events, objects and Omens. The house is randomly generated as you explore with some rooms having secret passages, lifts, collapsed floors and more eldritch anomalies that can transom you elsewhere within its walls.
I AIN’T AFRAID OF NO GHOST
But the real joy of Betrayal is the Haunt. At the start of the game, you choose one of basic scenarios which explain WHY you’ve gone to the house: perhaps a friend is missing, or you’re just nosey and it’s up for sale, and so on. When you encounter an Omen, you roll dice – if the total is 5 or higher, you consult the back of the scenario card which will specify a number between 1-50 – and the Haunt begins!
LIBERA TUTAME
This is where things get interesting. The player that rolled the Haunt, and the remaining players, take separate, secret instruction booklets which detail their new situation – the Haunting player is often (but not always) revealed to be the villain, and the grisly fun begins! Are they a demon stuck in human form, seeking a new host? A ghost trapped in the shifting walls, hoping for release – or vengeance? Or are YOU the sole survivor, the final girl racing to escape the OTHER players?
WE ALL FLOAT DOWN HERE
The art style is really evocative, and you certainly get plenty of tokens in the game. The little swords that clip onto character boards, to indicate current status levels, are great, and the tokens are all clearly labelled and different sizes – though some baggies would’ve been a good touch. The tiles are great, though a little prone to warping; it’s not major, but is a wee niggle. Also, the writing on the cards is tiny , although I appreciate the amount of flavour text on them.
KEEP RUNNING UP THAT HILL
Betrayal is evocative, fast and great fun. It really captures the tropes of the genre and stays fun without being too dark or silly – it hits that Stranger Things vibe. My teenagers, and I, loved it – in fact the younger one is already planning to get his friends over to explore the House… just watch your back!
