BoardGameArchiveBetrayal at House on the Hill
Betrayal at House on the Hill 3rd Edition explained: exploration, the Haunt, traitor scenarios, movement, checks and key decisions.
Haunted-house exploration and betrayal
Explore a haunted mansion room by room, discovering items, events and omens while the house grows in a different shape each game.
Eventually an omen triggers a Haunt. The scenario then changes the objectives and may turn one explorer into a traitor against the rest of the group.
Why it stands out
Betrayal changes genre halfway through the session: cooperative exploration becomes a scenario-specific conflict. The modular house and large Haunt set make uncertainty part of the experience.
Which edition is covered?
This guide covers Avalon Hill’s 2022 third edition, for three to six players. Hasbro lists 50 haunts, five Scenario cards, 42 room tiles plus three starting tiles, and separate Traitor’s Tome and Secrets of Survival books. Earlier editions and Widow’s Walk use different material; check your box before following an online haunt number or setup.
Most games begin as group exploration and switch to a scenario with new objectives after the Haunt. The rules and exact victory conditions can change with the selected story, so this page keeps scenario surprises out of the introduction.
Game at a Glance
Build the House
Add rooms as explorers move through unexplored doors.
Resolve Discoveries
Rooms can trigger events, items and omens.
Trigger the Haunt
Omen checks eventually select a scenario and new objectives.
Survive the Betrayal
Follow the scenario books once the traitor and heroes receive separate goals.
Who Betrayal at House on the Hill suits
Choose Betrayal for a group that enjoys spooky stories, surprises and different roles in the second half of a session. It suits players happy to read scenario text aloud and accept that some Haunts will feel less balanced than a tightly controlled strategy game. The third-edition box is for three to six players aged 12 and up.
How exploration becomes a Haunt
Players start together in a small part of the house and reveal rooms as they explore. Room text and Event, Item or Omen cards create effects that change the explorers’ traits or equipment. Drawing an Omen can lead to a Haunt check; the third-edition scenario materials then identify the story and which players have which objectives.
Once the Haunt starts, the traitor and the other explorers read their own sections in the two haunt books. Follow those scenario rules for goals and special powers. Do not assume that every story uses the same traitor or victory condition, and avoid reading ahead if your group wants to preserve surprises.
An exploration decision that carries into the Haunt
Suppose the group has found useful equipment but the new rooms form a long, awkward route between explorers. Continuing to split up may reveal more supplies quickly; regrouping gives more flexibility if the Haunt begins on the next Omen. Neither is always right because the scenario is unknown. Track accessible routes, carried items and each explorer’s vulnerable traits as you explore.
After the Haunt, first read both your side’s win condition and the special rules that alter movement, attacks or items. Then decide which objective is time-sensitive. This editorial guidance is about reading priorities and positioning; it does not claim a universal strategy for fifty different stories.
Common questions
Does an Omen always start the Haunt?
No. Follow the third-edition Haunt check when an Omen calls for it. The check and scenario materials determine when the second phase begins.
Is the traitor always the person who revealed the Omen?
No. The selected Haunt determines roles and objectives. Let its instructions resolve the assignment.
Should the traitor see the heroes’ book?
The game includes separate Traitor’s Tome and Secrets of Survival books to provide each side its own instructions. Read the sections indicated by your Haunt and avoid sharing hidden scenario text unless it directs you to.
Third edition, Legacy and expansions
The current third-edition base box contains its own 50 Haunts and can be played without expansions. Betrayal Legacy is a separate campaign product. Expansion packs marked for third edition require that base game; do not assume an earlier edition’s Widow’s Walk material is part of this box.
Related games
Learn Betrayal at House on the Hill in depth
Another Legacy horror game to watch
Nemesis: Legacy is an upcoming persistent sci-fi horror campaign. Unlike Betrayal’s one-session Haunts, its main campaign carries changes forward across multiple sessions and uses Recharge Packs for repeat campaign runs.
Sources and edition notes
- Hasbro: third-edition product contents and downloadable instructions
- Hasbro: separate Betrayal Legacy product
Third-edition contents and broad play sequence checked October 2, 2026. Spoiler-free strategy examples are editorial analysis; the printed scenario text controls each Haunt.