Log inStart free

Shadow Squad: the hidden role mission game

Shadow Squad is a hidden role mission game for 5 to 10 players, played on the TV with everyone's phone as their controller.

A team of secret agents must pull off 5 missions. But some of them are Informants working against them!

Players
5–10 players
Time
About 15–25 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 Shadow Squad?

A team of secret agents must win three missions, but Informants are hiding among them: vote, then play Success or Sabotage.

46 seconds
Read the video transcript

Arnold: Your phone shows your secret character, and anyone you secretly know about. Most of you are the Cell, but some are Informants working against you!

Lily: The Leader picks who goes on the mission. Talk it over out loud, then everyone taps Yes or No. Five No votes in a row, and the Informants win!

Arnold: The team secretly plays Success or Sabotage. Just one Sabotage and the mission fails, and nobody sees who played what!

Lily: Win three missions and the Cell is nearly there. But then the Hunter gets one guess at who the London Contact is. Guess right, and the Informants win!

How to play

  1. 1. Your secret

    Your phone shows your character and anyone you secretly know about. Keep it to yourself!

  2. 2. Pick a team

    The Leader picks who goes on the mission. Everyone talks about it out loud, then the Leader calls the vote.

  3. 3. Vote

    Everyone taps Yes or No to the team. Most Yes and the team goes. Five No's in a row and the Informants win!

  4. 4. The mission

    The team secretly plays Success or Sabotage. Just one Sabotage and the mission fails. Nobody sees who played what.

  5. 5. The last chance

    If the Cell wins 3 missions, the Hunter gets one guess at who the London Contact is. Right, and the Informants win!

The characters

How to win

The Cell wins with 3 successful missions, if the Hunter then guesses wrong.

The Informants win with 3 failed missions, 5 No votes in a row, or the Hunter's right guess.

What does Shadow Squad look like?

Real screens from a game: the TV, the players' phones and the host's Backstage. The names are made up.

Shadow Squad on a TV in a living room, with the real phone screens in front: The TV shows the team put forward and who has voted so far
The Shadow Squad briefing on the TV, while the agents read their secret roles
Sam's phone: their secret role and who they know aboutPlayer controllerPriya's phone: their secret has arrived, ready to tap when nobody is lookingPlayer controller
The briefing: each agent secretly reads their role. Most are in the Cell, but a few are Informants.
The TV shows Sam as the Leader, with the mission track and the team size
Sam's phone: picking the team for the missionPlayer controllerPriya's phone while the Leader picksPlayer controllerLeo's phone while the Leader picksPlayer controllerThe host's Backstage during Shadow Squad: the step, more talk time, and moving onThe host's Backstage
Sam is the Leader and picks who goes on the mission. Everyone else argues about who to trust.
The TV shows the team put forward and who has voted so far
Sam's phone: voted YesPlayer controllerPriya's phone: voted NoPlayer controllerLeo's phone: Yes or No on the teamPlayer controllerThe host's Backstage during the voteThe host's Backstage
Everyone votes Yes or No on the team, out in the open. More than half must say Yes to send it.
The TV has turned over the mission cards and stamped the mission a success or a failure
Sam's phone: look at the TVPlayer controllerPriya's phone: look at the TVPlayer controllerLeo's phone: look at the TVPlayer controller
The mission cards are shuffled and turned over on the TV. One Sabotage card and the mission fails.

Host options

What is Shadow Squad great for?

Keep reading

Play it tonight

Sign in or create a host account. Your players join on their phones without accounts.

Play it tonight