Welcome to the ultimate guide to hosting a Traitors-themed game night! If you’re looking for a thrilling, strategy-filled evening where deception, cunning, and teamwork collide, then Traitors is the perfect game to bring your guests together.
This isn’t your average sit-down game night—Traitors is a high-energy, immersive mingle experience where players compete, eliminate, and deceive to become the last ones standing. As the Host, your role is crucial in keeping the night flowing smoothly, setting the mood, and delivering an unforgettable event.
From customizing your game setup to game challenges, decorations, and themed food & drinks, this guide will walk you through everything you need to host an EPIC Traitors party.
What is Traitors?
Imagine a reality game show brought to life at your party. Traitors is a mingle-style competition that blends strategy, teamwork, and deception. It’s an interactive, movement-based game where players form alliances, complete challenges, and eliminate threats—all while trying to figure out who the Traitors are before it’s too late.
The Faithful work together to identify and eliminate the Traitors, while the Traitors work to deceive and outlast everyone else.
It’s a battle of wit, persuasion, and betrayal, making it one of the most exciting party games you’ll ever play!
How is Traitors Played?
Here’s a quick breakdown of how the game unfolds:
Role Assignment: Players receive a secret role—either Faithful or Traitor. The Host knows who the Traitors are but keeps it secret from other players.
Mingle & Strategy: Players interact, form alliances, and begin making accusations.
Challenges & Competitions: Players compete in challenges to earn shields (immunity) and power-ups like Double Vote or Vote Blocker.
Round Table Elimination: Players discuss and vote out someone they suspect is a Traitor.
Murder Phase: The Traitors secretly "murder" a Faithful, removing them from the game.
Repeat Until the Final Decision: The game continues until only a few players remain. If the Faithful successfully eliminate all Traitors, they win. If any Traitors remain, they claim victory!
The key to victory? Observation, persuasion, and social strategy.
Why Play Traitors?
If you love games with mind games, betrayals, and intense competition, Traitors will be an instant hit at your party. Here’s why:
Interactive & Social: Guests aren’t stuck sitting around. They’re actively mingling, forming alliances, and competing.
Full of Suspense: With secret murders, eliminations, and twists, every round keeps players on edge.
Perfect for Any Group Size: Whether you have 6 or 20+ players, Traitors scales to fit your event. It even works for last minute changes!
Unpredictable & Replayable: No two games play the same—your friends will beg for a rematch after every game.
Ways to Customize Traitors
Want to add a personal touch to your Traitors game night? Here are some creative ways to customize the experience:
You can pre-assign guests their role, or have them blindly pick right before the game begins, or you can blindfold everyone and tap them on the shoulder to start the game.
The host can alter the timing of every phase in every round, as needed. If a game needs more time, or less, or if the players need more Round Table time, you can control everything. A game can last anywhere from a few hours to a few days (Make it a Traitor Weekend!).
Recruitment: In some games, the host may want to implement the Recruitment card.
Challenges: The host can pick ANY challenge that works for their group!
10 Challenge Games for Traitors
Since challenges are a key part of the game, here are 10 fun games to keep things competitive:
Easy & Quick Challenges
Dice Gauntlet: Players roll dice to land on numbers 1-6 in order before time runs out.
High-Low Card Flip: Flip higher or lower than the previous card—one wrong move, and you’re out.
Mystery Puzzle: Teams race to assemble a simple puzzle first.
Silent Charades: Players act out clues without speaking—if the team fails, they lose.
Memory Match: Flip over cards to find pairs—teams with the most matches win.
Longer & Harder Challenges
Obstacle Course: Set up an indoor obstacle course where players must balance, crawl, and jump through obstacles.
Hula Hoop Pass: Players must pass a hula hoop down a line without letting go of hands.
Code Breaker: Players decipher a hidden message using a provided cipher.
Balloon Balance: Keep a balloon in the air using only their head for the longest time.
Escape Room Challenge: Players solve a series of riddles to “escape” within the time limit.
10 Unique Invitation Ideas
Make your invitations as thrilling as the game itself!
Secret Messages: Write the invitation in invisible ink—guests must decode it.
Wax-Sealed Letters: Send old-fashioned letters with wax seals, inviting guests to a Traitors night.
Spy Gadgets: Deliver a small “spy mission” with the invite.
Video Message: Create a mysterious video message with a distorted voice.
Playing Cards: Hand-deliver an invitation attached to a playing card.
Black Envelopes: Mysteriously mark invitations with “CONFIDENTIAL.”
Ransom Note Style: Cut out letters from magazines for a Traitors-themed vibe.
Digital Secret File: Send a password-protected file with game details.
Sealed Scrolls: Roll up parchment paper and deliver it like a medieval decree.
Puzzle Invite: Send a jigsaw puzzle invitation guests must assemble.
10 Decorating Ideas
Set the scene for an immersive Traitors experience:
Candlelit Ambiance – Use candles or lanterns for a mysterious glow.
Black & Gold Theme – Elegant, dramatic, and perfectly deceptive.
Hooded Cloaks for Players – Offer cloaks or masks to hide their expressions.
Secret Passage Entrance – Create a fake bookshelf door as an entrance.
Chalkboard Suspicion Wall – Track who’s accused whom on a visible board.
Locked Chests & Keys – Hide clues and objects in small locked boxes.
Spy Cameras – Set up fake security cameras to add to the paranoia.
Shattered Mirror Centerpieces – Symbolic of betrayal and deception.
Blood-Red Lighting – Perfect for murder reveals.
Golden Goblets – Make guests feel like royalty in a castle setting.
10 Food Ideas
"Backstabber" Bruschetta – Slices of baguette with sharp garlic flavor.
Murderous Meatballs – Spicy meatballs in a blood-red marinara sauce.
Deceptive Deviled Eggs – Classic deviled eggs with a surprise spicy kick.
Sabotage Sliders – Mini cheeseburgers with hidden jalapeños.
Liar’s Cheese Board – Includes deceptively spicy cheese mixed in.
Bloody Berry Tartlets – Mini strawberry tarts with a deep red filling.
Cloak & Dagger Cookies – Black and gold cookies in the shape of daggers.
Secret Poison Punch – A deep red fruit punch with dry ice for effect.
Sneaky Chocolate Truffles – Some are sweet, some are spicy—randomized!
Last Supper Cake – A dark chocolate cake with red berry glaze.
5 Killer Cocktails for Your Traitors Party
1. The Poisoned Chalice
A dark and mysterious cocktail with a smoky finish.Ingredients:
2 oz bourbon
1/2 oz maple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
Smoked rosemary sprig (for garnish)
Instructions:
Stir bourbon, maple syrup, and bitters with ice.
Strain into a glass over ice.
Light a rosemary sprig, blow it out, and place it over the drink for a smoky effect.
2. The Traitor’s Kiss
A deceptively sweet cocktail with a hidden spice.Ingredients:
2 oz vodka
1 oz raspberry liqueur
1/2 oz lime juice
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
Sugar for rim
Instructions:
Rim glass with sugar and a pinch of cayenne.
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a coupe glass.
Garnish with a raspberry.
3. The Faithful’s Revenge
A vibrant cocktail symbolizing victory.Ingredients:
2 oz gin
3/4 oz elderflower liqueur
1 oz lime juice
Club soda
Basil leaves for garnish
Instructions:
Shake gin, elderflower, and lime juice with ice.
Strain into a tall glass with ice.
Top with club soda and garnish with fresh basil.
4. The Murder Martini
A dangerously smooth, blood-red cocktail.Ingredients:
2 oz black cherry vodka
1 oz pomegranate juice
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz lemon juice
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a martini glass.
Garnish with a cherry.
5. The Double-Cross Daiquiri
A classic drink with a dark twist.Ingredients:
2 oz dark rum
1 oz lime juice
1 oz simple syrup
Activated charcoal (for color)
Instructions:
Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a glass.
Serve in a coupe glass with a lime wheel garnish.
The Ultimate Traitors Music Playlist
Set the perfect mood with this suspenseful and dramatic playlist:
Tainted Love – Soft Cell
Somebody’s Watching Me – Rockwell
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) – Eurythmics
Bad Guy – Billie Eilish
Poker Face – Lady Gaga
Smooth Criminal – Michael Jackson
Every Breath You Take – The Police
Secret – The Pierces
I Put a Spell on You – Annie Lennox
Dark Horse – Katy Perry
Dangerous – David Guetta
Sympathy for the Devil – The Rolling Stones
Seven Devils – Florence + The Machine
Villain – K/DA
Thriller – Michael Jackson
The Chain – Fleetwood Mac
Backstabber – Kesha
Rumors – Lizzo & Cardi B
Heathens – Twenty One Pilots
No One Knows – Queens of the Stone Age
I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
Another One Bites the Dust – Queen
Survivor – Destiny’s Child
Bad Reputation – Joan Jett
Lose Yourself – Eminem
10 Tips for the Host to Make the Party EPIC
Make your Traitors night legendary with these pro hosting tips:
Set the Mood Early: Greet guests in character and keep the mystery alive from the start.
Encourage Roleplaying: The more dramatic the guests, the better the experience.
Use Themed Props: Cloaks, masks, and daggers (fake, of course) add atmosphere.
Have a Backup Plan: If guests struggle to strategize, give subtle hints to keep things moving.
Make Eliminations Fun: Don’t just say “you’re out” – make it a theatrical reveal.
Keep Players Engaged: Encourage mingling and strategy discussions to avoid awkward lulls.
Announce Every Phase Dramatically: Use an intense voice and suspenseful pauses.
Use Music Cues for Tension: Play eerie music during murder reveals or eliminations.
Have a Signature Drink & Snack Ready: Give guests something on-theme when they arrive.
Offer a Prize for Best Performance: Give an award for Best Liar, Best Detective, or Most Dramatic Player!
Ready to Host Your Traitors Game Night?
Now that you have everything you need—from challenges and drinks to invitations and décor—it’s time to gather your most cunning friends and put them to the test! Will the Faithful outsmart the Traitors? Or will deception reign supreme?
Download Traitors now from Game Nights Galore and prepare for a night of backstabbing, alliances, and high-stakes competition.
One last question: Do you have what it takes to survive the night? 😈
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