You’re trapped inside a haunted house. Explore room by room, find items and omens — until someone triggers the Haunt, one player may turn traitor, and the game completely transforms.
Our full review: Betrayal at House on the Hill Review
Note: These simplified rules help you get started quickly. Read the full rulebook before your first play — there are 50 different Haunts, each with unique objectives.
The Big Picture
Betrayal has two phases:
Phase 1 — Exploration: Everyone cooperates, exploring the house tile by tile, collecting items, and surviving Event and Omen cards.
Phase 2 — The Haunt: When triggered, the game reveals which player (if any) is the Traitor. Traitor and Survivors read separate rulebooks with secret, usually opposing objectives.
Setup
Exploration Phase
If your stat reaches the skull-and-crossbones, you die and are out of the game.
Starting the Haunt
When the Haunt is triggered:
Tips for New Players
- Track stats on paper — the card markers slip easily.
- The Haunt Rolls start low-risk but become likely after the fourth or fifth Omen card.
- Each of the 50 Haunts has completely different objectives. Read yours carefully before the battle phase begins.
Is there always a Traitor?
Not always. Some Haunts have no Traitor — the Survivors face a monster or scenario without anyone going evil.
Can dead players still participate?
No — if your stat reaches the skull, you're out. Some players use dead characters to observe and offer neutral commentary.
Can the Traitor lie to the group before the Haunt?
Yes — the Haunt assignment is secret until the roll, but there's nothing stopping you from being a suspicious character during exploration.
