Social deduction video games grow in popularity, but which are the best?

The investigative nature of multiplayer social deduction titles makes them so addictive. Depending on the group of players playing, each playthrough looks different. In a game like this, available tools and visuals are just one of the features defining the entire experience – the people themselves are a much more influential factor. So let’s see which genre representatives best cater to their fans’ needs!

GameReleaseGenreDeveloper
First Class Trouble 2021-04-08 Indie Invisible Walls
Deceive Inc 2023-03-21 Social Deduction Sweet Bandits Studios
The Jackbox Party Pack 6 2019-10-17 Casual Jackbox Games
Project Winter 2019-02-07 Adventure Other Ocean Interactive
Town Of Salem 2014-12-15 Indie BlankMediaGames
Deceit 2 2023-09-14 Cooperation World Makers
Among Us 2018-11-16 Cooperation Innersloth
Lockdown Protocol 2024-07-22 Cooperation Mirage Creative Lab

Among Us

Release date:2018-11-16
Genre:Cooperation
Developer:Innersloth

This genre classic lets 4 to 15 players play as Crewmates preparing their spaceship for departure. However, there are Impostors ready to sabotage the plan!

Cooperate with others or execute your evil plan to achieve the goal. Whether you play as a Crewmate or Impostor, everything in the game depends on communication and detecting liars. It’s a classic – a must-play for anyone considering making their debut in the genre!

Key features
  • Play as Crewmate or Impostor
  • Gain the trust of others and achieve your goals
  • Enjoy multiple maps and roles
  • Play in multiplayer for 4 to 15 players

LOCKDOWN Protocol

Release date:2024-07-22
Genre:Cooperation
Developer:Mirage Creative Lab

This year’s LOCKDOWN Protocol takes everything the genre offers to improve it with a 3D environment and much more intense gameplay.

Play in a group of 3 to 8 players to complete hilarious tasks and identify potential dissidents. In this game, anyone can kill anyone, and every move or action directly affects the gameplay outcome.

Key features
  • Cooperate with others to complete tasks or sabotage their efforts as the Dissident
  • Enjoy a fully 3D environment and proximity chat
  • Communicate with others to spot liars
  • Play in multiplayer for 3 to 8 players

Goose Goose Duck

Release date:2021-03-10
Genre:Indie
Developer:Gaggle Studios, Inc.

Enter the cartoonish world of birds to experience the most chaotic gameplay in the genre!

Image credit: Gaggle Studios, Inc.

Pick from multiple game modes to have fun as a goose or an evil duck. Your job is to complete tasks and uncover the traitor or sabotage everything. Players determine who’s saboteur by exchanging information in meetings, and proximity chat makes everything even more tense.

Key features
  • Play as a goose or a duck
  • Try optional roles for more fun
  • Choose from multiple exciting game modes
  • Play in multiplayer for up to 16 players

Deceit 2

Release date:2023-09-14
Genre:Cooperation
Developer:World Makers

Fancy a multiplayer shooter with horror features? Play this game!

You are one of six individuals waking up in a mental hospital. But two are sick and can transform into bloodthirsty monsters at any moment. Will you find your way out of this cursed place?

Key features
  • Play as Innocent or Infected
  • Use a vast range of weapons and tools to survive
  • Enjoy the survival horror atmosphere
  • Play in multiplayer for 6 to 9 players

Project Winter

Release date:2019-02-07
Genre:Adventure
Developer:Other Ocean Interactive

You and your friends are stuck in a frozen wasteland – but the unforgiving environment and omnipresent threats aren’t the only factors that can prevent your survival.

Play as one of the Survivors or Traitors and cooperate with others to achieve your goal. Whichever role you take, communication is crucial for a successful outcome of this adventure, even if it requires betraying your friends!

Key features
  • Play as one of the Survivors or Traitors
  • Work together to escape the situation or betray everyone
  • Survive extremely hostile circumstances
  • Play in 8-player multiplayer

Conclusion

Become a goose, survive an unforgiving winter trap, escape a mental facility, and more! These titles allow you to role-play anyone – only your skills decide the adventure outcome. Cooperate, betray, and have the fun of your life!