Hollowfair: find the Ringmaster

Hollowfair is a secret-role party game for 5 to 15 players, played on the TV with everyone's phone as their controller.

A carnival rolls into the town of Hollowfair at midnight and won't leave. The Ringmaster is hiding among you, helped by the Carnies. Find the Ringmaster and run them out of town!

Players: 5–15 players
Time: About 20–40 minutes
How you play: Everyone for themselves
You need: A TV with a web browser, and a phone each; same room only
Price: In the Trial and Unlimited (plans); players never pay

How do you play Hollowfair?

A carnival comes to town at midnight: use your character’s clues, talk it out, and vote the Ringmaster out of town.

35 seconds

Read the video transcript

Arnold: Tap the card on your phone to see who you are. You can say anything about it out loud, even lie, but you can’t show your phone!

Lily: At night, everyone taps something on their phone. Some characters have a power, and I’ll whisper clues to your phone!

Arnold: At dawn, find out who the carnival took. Then talk it out, nominate someone, hear them out, and vote Yes or No.

Lily: Whoever’s on the block is run out of town, and night falls again. Run out the Ringmaster and the town wins!

How to play

1. Your character
Tap the card on your phone to see who you are. You can say anything about it out loud, even lie. You can't show your phone.
2. Night
Everyone taps something on their phone. Some characters have a power; everyone else picks who they suspect. Lily (the virtual co-host) whispers clues to your phone.
3. Dawn
Arnold (the virtual host) shows who the carnival took in the night. Their character stays a secret. They keep playing as a Ghost of the Fair.
4. Talk
Talk it out, slip off in pairs, or send a 💬 whisper. Whispers sent at night wait until dawn.
5. Nominate and vote
Nominate someone, hear them out, then vote Yes or No. The votes go round the circle on the TV, so everyone sees who voted. Enough Yes votes puts them on the block.
6. Run out of town
When nominations close, whoever is on the block is run out of town. Then night falls again.
Ghosts
Out of the game? You still talk, whisper and win with your side, and you get one ghost vote.

The characters (tap 📜 Script any time)

Ticket Taker
Night one: two players, and one of them is a certain Local.
Usher
Night one: two players, and one of them is a certain Oddball.
Sleuth
Night one: two players, and one of them is a certain Carny.
Gossip
Night one: how many carnival players sit next to each other.
Busybody
Each night: how many of your two neighbours are with the carnival.
Palm Reader
Each night, pick two: is either one the Ringmaster? One town player always reads as one.
Bodyguard
Each night but the first, guard a player: the carnival can't take them.
Cleaner
Each night: the character of whoever was run out today.
Medium
If you are taken, pick anyone and learn their character.
Knife Thrower
Once a game, by day: throw at someone. If they're the Ringmaster, they're taken.
Strongman
The carnival can't take you.
Eavesdropper
Once a game, at night: who someone whispered to today (never what).
Sleepwalker
Thinks they're a Local, but their power doesn't work and Lily may tell them false things.
Shady Character
On the town's side, but might read as a Carny or even the Ringmaster.
Mascot
If the town runs you out, the carnival wins!
Sidekick
Each night pick a hero: tomorrow you can only vote Yes if they do.
Snake Oil Seller
Each night, pick a player: their power fails, and Lily may fib to them.
Snoop
Each night you see the whole Ledger. You might read as town.
Understudy
If the Ringmaster goes while 5 or more are alive, you become the Ringmaster.
Talent Scout
There are two extra Oddballs in this game.
Ringmaster
Each night but the first, pick who the carnival takes. Pick yourself and a Carny takes over.