Is Betrayal: Deck Of Lost Souls Any Good?
As a lover of traitor games and a co-owner of the full Betrayal At House on the Hill collection, trying Betrayal: Deck of Lost Souls was a no-brainer. Truthfully, I picked this up at the UK Board Games Expo on it having a very pretty box (the shine and the design are just gorgeous) and it being linked into the Betrayal franchise. Whilst the game has elements of the board game original it's not a straightforward card version and there is a variety of different mechanics that may seem convoluted but can play well when landed correctly.
What is the Betrayal Deck of Lost Souls?
In the Betrayal Deck of Lost Souls card game box, you’ll find a gorgeous selection of Tarot cards with different roles, objects, omens, curses and characters. The game, which is best played with 4, involves using objects as a group to defeat and dispel a series of omens as you build towards defeating a larger, more nefarious curse. You need to work together to defeat the curse, collecting and offering up the correct objects to remove omens and avoid punishments (usually involves losing cards or turns being skipped).
The twist? There could be a traitor amongst you! This is a ‘could’ as the traitor card could be the spare role that is left unassigned and face down on the table. The traitor’s job is to ensure the others do not defeat the end curse and do whatever they subtly can without detection. The traitor could secretly discard required objects or not offer to help others defeat their omens. However, if the traitor is not careful enough, other players have the opportunity to accuse them of treachery. Successful accusations do not end the game, but make it harder for the traitor to thwart the others in their attempts to destroy the curse.
The game is definitely a slow burner, with traitor actions having to be subtle and undetectable for a majority of the game. It can mean the game can go on for longer but also requires the traitor to be super attuned to the rules, mechanics and what is happening. I suspect that this is one of the reasons that you see on BoardGameGeek (it sits at 5.6/10 as I write this). Whilst I think the game mechanics are clever and intricate, there does run a risk of it all being ruined by one accidental misstep or slip up (or just one person checking the rules again and again).
Betrayal Deck of Lost Souls Rules
The rulebook is beautifully designed, but perhaps a little too stylised for its own good. It leans heavily into the Tarot theme, which is thematically lovely, but at times can obscure clarity - especially for newer players or anyone not already familiar with the Betrayal universe. There are moments where card interactions or timing windows aren't fully clear. While the FAQ helps a bit, there’s still some reliance on group consensus or house-ruling. This can be fine for casual groups, but for those who like airtight mechanics, it might feel a little frustrating.
That said, once you've got a few plays under your belt, the flow of the game becomes smoother. There’s a strong focus on cooperation and deduction, but it never quite reaches the tension or polish of other traitor-style games like The Resistance or Secret Hitler. Instead, Deck of Lost Souls focuses more on narrative and shared storytelling, which feels very much in keeping with the broader Betrayal series.
Final Thoughts
Betrayal: Deck of Lost Souls is a fascinating entry into the Betrayal franchise. It’s not a direct translation of the original board game, but more of a thematic spin-off aimed at players who enjoy hidden roles and creeping suspicion layered over mysterious card play. It’s a beautiful box with an intriguing concept, and for the right group, it can absolutely shine, particularly if you’re already a fan of the original.
However, it’s not without flaws. The ambiguity of the rules, the occasionally over-complex interactions, and the slow burn style won’t be for everyone. If you’re after quick, high-stakes bluffing, this probably isn’t your pick. But if you love atmosphere, layered strategy, and don’t mind working through a bit of confusion early on, there’s a lot to appreciate here.
In short, it’s not a perfect game, but it’s a compelling and stylish addition to the Betrayal family for those willing to put the time in.