Official Secret Hitler Rules

Last Updated on March 14, 2025 by The Official Game Rules Team

Secret Hitler is a tense social deduction game. Players are secretly Liberals or Fascists, the latter trying to elect Hitler. Each round involves enacting a law, but hidden Fascists manipulate the process. Expect accusations and betrayals as players deduce who’s who. Can Liberals unmask Hitler, or will Fascists seize power?

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Setup:

• Players: (5-10 Players), The game scales well for different group sizes, with the number of Liberals and Fascists (including Hitler) adjusting accordingly. This ensures a balanced and engaging experience regardless of how many people are playing.
• Role Cards: These are crucial and determine team allegiance. The distribution varies by player count (see the rulebook). Crucially, only Hitler knows their role and the identities of the other Fascists (usually). Liberals know only their own role.
• Policy Tiles: These represent the laws enacted. Shuffle the deck of Liberal and Fascist policy tiles and place them face down within reach.
• Government Boards: Each player receives a voting card (Ja!/Nein!) and a player board to track their role (kept secret). The government track board is placed in the center.
• Election Tracker: This tracks how many failed elections have occurred. If it reaches three, chaos ensues (explained later).

Gameplay – Rounds and Phases:

Each round proceeds through these phases:

1. Nomination: The current President nominates a Chancellor. This is a crucial decision, as it forms the government for the round. Liberals will try to nominate another Liberal, while Fascists will try to get a Fascist (or Hitler) into the government.
2. Voting: All players secretly cast their vote (Ja! or Nein!) on the proposed government. Votes are revealed simultaneously.
3. Election: If a majority of players vote Ja!, the nomination is successful, and the nominated players become President and Chancellor. If the vote fails (majority Nein!), the Presidency passes to the next player clockwise, and the nomination process repeats. Failed elections are tracked on the election tracker.
4. Legislative Session:
   • The President draws three policy tiles from the face-down deck.
   • The President discards one tile face down without revealing it.
   • The President passes the remaining two tiles to the Chancellor.
   • The Chancellor discards one tile face down without revealing it.
   • The Chancellor enacts the final remaining policy tile by placing it face up on the appropriate track (Liberal or Fascist).
5. Special Powers (Triggered by Policy Enactment): Certain Fascist policies, when enacted, trigger special powers. These powers vary depending on which policy is enacted and can involve revealing player roles, investigating players, or even executing players. These powers are detailed in the rulebook and are vital to the Fascist strategy. Hitler’s special ability triggers when he becomes Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted.
6. Presidential Power (After enacting two policies): After two policies have been enacted, the President gets a one-time power to investigate another player’s party membership (but not their specific role).

Game End and Victory:

• Liberal Victory: The Liberals win if three Liberal policies are enacted or if Hitler is elected Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted (this is because Hitler’s true identity is revealed at this point).
• Fascist Victory: The Fascists win if three Fascist policies are enacted before Hitler is elected Chancellor after three Fascist policies have been enacted.

Strategic Considerations:

• Reading Body Language: Observing players’ reactions during nominations, votes, and policy enactments is crucial for deducing hidden roles.
• Bluffing and Deception: Fascists must bluff convincingly to avoid suspicion. Liberals must be persuasive in their accusations.
• Manipulating the Vote: Fascists will try to influence nominations and votes to get their members into power.
• Managing Information: Knowing who is on your team (or who you think is on your team) is vital for making informed decisions.
• Risk Assessment: Every vote and policy enactment carries risk. Players must weigh the potential consequences of their actions.

If the election tracker reaches three, a “Chaos” event occurs. The top policy tile from the deck is enacted directly, bypassing the President and Chancellor. This adds an element of unpredictability and can disrupt even the best-laid plans.

Secret Hitler is a game of deduction, deception, and political intrigue. It’s a game that encourages discussion, debate, and a healthy dose of paranoia. The hidden roles and the ever-present threat of Hitler’s rise to power create a tense and exciting atmosphere.