Board Gaming: One Night Ultimate Werewolf

I love boardgames and they have come a long way since the classics like Monopoly or Sorry!   A new era of boardgames have now arrived and there are so many good ones.  Sometimes you need a game that accommodates a large crowd,  is quick, is easy to learn, and most importantly is fun.  One Night Ultimate Werewolf is that game.


In this game, 3-10 players each take up a role that only they know.  Those roles are either a "Village" role or a "Werewolf" role and are represented by cards.    Players are each dealt a random role card and then 3 other random role cards are placed in a row in the middle of the table.  The game consists of a Night role and a Day role.  Before the game starts, each player looks at their card and places it back in front of them face down.  During the Night phase, all players close their eyes and as the night goes on each player will "wake up" and do or not do an action based on their card.  These actions could be switching one player's card with another, or looking at a center card.  After all players have completed a Night action then the Night phase ends and all players open their eyes.  We are now in the Day phase, and it is up to the players to discuss and figure out who is who with the goal to find out which player(s) are the werewolf.  Players decide on a time limit to deliberate.  We always set a time for 5 minutes and at the end of 5 minutes everyone points to a player.  The player with the most votes dies.  If the voted player was a werewolf then all the villagers win.  If all the players who were werewolves were not chosen and live then the werewolf team wins.

The role cards included in the game

The hardest part of the game is remembering what you need to do at what time for each role.  The game simplifies this by adding an app on your phone or tablet.   You can download the ultimate werewolf app on android or apple app stores.  You simply choose which cards you are using in the game and push play.  The app narrates and gives you directions like when to close your eyes, what you do when your role comes up at night, and when everyone can open their eyes again.  Then a timer starts and the app tells you to vote at the end of the 5 minutes.   The app lets you change narration voice and the timer amount.

Screenshot of the app

The game plays in 5-8 minutes.  You will spend another 5 minutes just talking and laughing about how the game went.  The game relies on some quick thinking and bluffing especially if you are a werewolf.  Information is valuable, but you have to be careful when and what you say.  The kids absolutely love this game as well.  Even my 5 year old thinks its a blast and is better than I imagined keeping his eyes closed during the night phase.

The one and only criticism I have is that some roles involve looking at another player's card or switching two player's cards during the Night phase.  Everyone else may have their eyes closed, but if you are in a squeaky chair or not careful, it can be easy to hear a loud player conducting an action.  Some music or other ambient noise can help out with this.

If you need a game that plays quick for a large group, I highly recommend checking this game out.