Betrayal at House on the Hill: 3rd Edition

What Is Betrayal at House on the Hill?

Betrayal at House on the Hill is a board game where players explore a spooky old house. Every room you enter is a surprise. But here’s the twist: halfway through the game, one of the players becomes a traitor and turns against the rest.

Contents

What Is Betrayal at House on the Hill?What’s New in the 3rd Edition?How the Game Works Why Players Love the Game Things That Could Be Better Expert Tips for Playing Personal Stories from Game Nights Final Thoughts and Player Ratings

It’s made for 3 to 6 players and takes about an hour to play. Every time you play, it’s different. That means no two games are the same.

You move your character through the house, build it as you go, collect useful items, and prepare for something bad to happen. It’s part teamwork, part surprise, and part storytelling.

What’s New in the 3rd Edition?

The 3rd Edition came out to improve things from the older versions. Here’s what’s changed:

Updated artwork that makes the game look scarier and cooler
Easier rules, especially for new players
New characters with better backstories
Over 50 haunts (special endings) to keep it exciting

One expert change: The rules are clearer now. Many people struggled with the second edition’s rulebook. This one fixes that with better layout and examples.

How the Game Works

The game starts with everyone working together. You take turns moving your character and placing new rooms. Each room might have:

An event (something strange happens)
An item (you find something useful)
An omen (something creepy that moves the story forward)

After a few turns, one player triggers the “Haunt.” That’s when the game flips. One of the players becomes the villain. The rest become survivors.

Now it’s one vs many. The rules change. The story becomes clear. One side wins if they complete their goal first.

Example Haunts:

The traitor becomes a vampire and tries to turn others
The house starts sinking and players must escape
A ghost possesses one of the characters

These endings are picked randomly and change each time you play.

Why Players Love the Game

Here’s why people keep coming back:

Every game tells a different story
The surprise traitor twist keeps things fun
It mixes luck and strategy
It’s perfect for friends or family game night
It feels like playing in a scary movie

Reviewers also love the storytelling element. It doesn’t feel like just rolling dice—it feels like you’re in a haunted house adventure.

Many fans say this edition is smoother. The game flows better. Players argue less about rules. That means more time for fun.

Things That Could Be Better

Even great games have some weak spots. Here’s what players think could be improved:

Issue	What Players Say
Player elimination	If you die early, you sit out the rest of the game
Long setup time	Takes time to sort the cards, tokens, and minis
Some haunts are unbalanced	Sometimes the villain has a much easier time winning
Component quality	Some tiles feel thin compared to other premium games
Learning curve for new players	First-time players may take longer to get used to rules

Advice: Have someone who knows the game lead the first round. That helps reduce confusion and makes it more fun for everyone.

Expert Tips for Playing

If you want a better game night, try these tips:

Keep the rulebook nearby for quick checks
Use trays or bowls to organize tokens
Choose characters randomly to keep it fair
Don’t rush the Haunt reveal—it’s better if players are ready
Be okay with surprises. This game isn’t about perfect planning

Game designers suggest reading the Haunt separately once it starts. Don’t read it aloud right away. Let the traitor and survivors take a few minutes to prepare.

Personal Stories from Game Nights

Here’s what real players have shared:

“I was playing with my two cousins, and the Haunt turned my little brother into a ghost king. He beat us with one final roll. We were yelling and laughing the whole time.”

“One time, we triggered a haunt that made the house start to fly into space. We had to find parachutes before it exploded. None of us survived, but we still talk about it.”

“After five games, I still haven’t seen the same haunt twice. Every time is a wild ride. It’s like playing a new game over and over.”

Stories like these are why people love Betrayal at House on the Hill. Even if you lose, you remember the laughs, the screams, and the strange things that happen.