How to Play Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd Edition
Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd Edition starts as cooperative exploration and changes mid-game into one of 50 asymmetric haunts. The exact victory condition is therefore unknown until the haunt begins.
Scope: Avalon Hill 3rd Edition base game.
Move up to your Speed
On your turn, move through discovered rooms using your current Speed trait. Entering an unexplored doorway usually requires drawing and placing a matching-floor room tile.
Resolve the room’s symbol
If a newly discovered room has an Event, Item or Omen symbol, draw the corresponding card and resolve it. Many cards call for a Might, Speed, Sanity or Knowledge trait roll.
Traits can rise and fall
Character boards track four traits. Effects can move them up or down. Before the haunt, reaching a skull/death space does not necessarily use the same elimination procedure as after the haunt, so follow the 3rd Edition timing rules.
Omens build toward the haunt
Omen discoveries advance the game’s haunt pressure and trigger the 3rd Edition haunt check procedure. When the haunt begins, use the scenario card/chart to identify the haunt and who—if anyone—is the traitor.
Split and read the haunt books
Heroes read the Secrets of Survival section while the traitor reads the Traitor’s Tome section when applicable. Each side learns only the information their book provides unless the scenario says otherwise.
Scenario text replaces the normal objective
After the haunt, follow its unique rules, monsters, tokens, special actions and victory condition. Scenario text can override normal exploration rules.
Publisher reference: Avalon Hill/Hasbro 3rd Edition. Checked September 21, 2026.