Hoax (Second Edition)

About this board game

Hoax (Second Edition) is a hidden-identity deduction game for 3–6 players, with games lasting around 20 minutes. When an unscrupulous business magnate dies an undignified death, members of his family and household compete for his estate.

Each player takes on a secret identity and tries to eliminate every competitor by catching them in a lie. The challenge is that a mistaken accusation removes you from the game, so every claim carries serious consequences.

To make informed accusations, you must amass resources and spend them to investigate other players. These investigations help you decide when an opponent’s story can be challenged, while your own survival depends on keeping your lies convincing.

• Play as a secret member of Vargas’ family or household.
• Investigate opponents by gathering and spending resources.
• Accuse rivals of lying, but risk elimination if the accusation is false.
• Outlast every other player to claim victory.

Hoax rewards careful judgment as much as boldness. You must avoid drawing suspicion while deciding when the available information is strong enough to act, encouraging a tense balance between deception and deduction.

At the same time, every player is trying to persuade the table that their false statements are true. The winner is the most devious survivor: the player who successfully avoids accusations and uses them wisely to eliminate all competitors.

With its secret identities, investigations, resource management, and high-stakes accusations, Hoax delivers a compact contest of social deception for groups looking for a quick and confrontational game.