BoardGame Verdict
88

The Resistance: Avalon is a standalone social deduction game set in King Arthur's legendary realm where players take on roles as loyal servants of Arthur or evil minions of Mordred. Players must work together to complete quests while the evil players try to sabotage missions, with the added twist that Merlin knows who the evil players are but must guide the good team without revealing their identity.

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88

The Verdict

based on 20 reviews

Positive 0%
Highly engaging social deduction and deception mechanics that encourage bluffing and accusations.
Excellent replayability, with dynamic player interaction and secret roles ensuring each game feels fresh.
Accommodates larger groups (5-10 players) effectively, fostering lively discussion.
The inclusion of Merlin and other unique character roles adds significant strategic depth and complexity.
Features a relatively quick playtime (20-30 minutes) and is easy to learn, allowing for multiple rounds in one sitting.
Enjoyment is highly dependent on the gaming group's willingness to actively engage in bluffing, deduction, and discussion.
The game can drag and lose its excitement with passive players who do not participate in the social dynamics.
Cards can show wear over time with frequent play, which might potentially compromise hidden identities.
The experience can be less optimal at the extreme ends of its player count range, with very low counts relying too much on luck and very high counts leading to excessive 'noise' in discussion.
95
Board Game Brawl, NickVideo

The reviewer highly recommends "The Resistance: Avalon" as the definitive version of The Resistance, praising its enhancements over the original and calling it a fantastic social deduction game.

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95
Shelfside, ShelfsideVideo

The reviewer considers The Resistance their favorite social deduction game, praising its 5-10 player count with no player elimination and the engaging 'metagame' that develops over multiple plays. They highly recommend the game, finding almost no faults with it.

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95
Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the BoardVideo

The reviewer enthusiastically praises The Resistance: Avalon as the 'Holy Grail' of social deduction games, highlighting its intense emotional engagement, sublime interaction, and constant player involvement. While acknowledging it may not suit those averse to confrontation and noting the Merlin role can sometimes be anticlimactic, the game is highly recommended for its dramatic and paranoid gameplay.

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95
Co-op Board Games, Ronny AlexanderArticle

“Co-op Board Games considers The Resistance: Avalon one of the most celebrated and essential social deduction games, praising its accessible rules, engaging social dynamics, and the unique Merlin mechanic which elevates it above other hidden role games.”

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95
Theology of Games, Firestone and JeremiahArticle

“Well, we've played this a bunch more, and have had no desire to return to the original yet. Still lots to be explored with just the roles, and we're having a great time. I recommend this completely.”

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95
Ryan and Bethany Board Game Reviews, Ryan and BethanyVideo

The reviewers consider 'The Resistance: Avalon' to be an outstanding and highly enjoyable social deduction game, surpassing the original 'Resistance' with its integral theme, customizable character abilities, and consistent replayability, making it one of their all-time favorites.

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95
I Slay the Dragon, WolfieArticle

“In conclusion, Avalon is a brilliant upgrade. While you don’t need both games, I would definitely recommend you consider replacing your original copy of The Resistance with Avalon, and if you don’t own The Resistance at all yet, I would say just get Avalon.”

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95
Zatu Games, Paul BoneArticle

“The Resistance: Avalon is a classic with good reason. It’s quick to pick up and play, and encourages bluffing, lots of debate and arguing.”

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90
Creaking Shelves, Creaking ShelvesVideo

The reviewer highlights The Resistance: Avalon as a robust social deduction game characterized by intense discussions, voting, and accusations around missions, offering a thrilling experience even when compared to games with more explicit thematic depth.

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90
Roll For Crit, Roll For CritVideo

The reviewer highly regards The Resistance, and its successor Avalon, as a quintessential and effective hidden role party game, consistently placing it among their personal favorites for its engaging social deduction gameplay.

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90
Shut Up & Sit Down, Shut Up & Sit DownVideo

Shut Up & Sit Down highly recommends The Resistance: Avalon, positioning it as their top choice among social deduction games, especially for its streamlined design and robust replayability.

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90
Polygon, Polygon (Overboard)Video

The reviewer highlights The Resistance: Avalon as an engaging hidden role game where players enjoy the social deduction and deception, creating chaotic and memorable moments through its unique Arthurian setting and secret roles.

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90
The Discriminating Gamer, The Discriminating GamerVideo

The Resistance: Avalon offers a highly engaging and dramatic social deduction experience, characterized by triumph and betrayal, making it an excellent choice for group play.

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90
All You Can BoardVideo

The reviewer considers "The Resistance: Avalon" a classic social deduction game that is quick to teach and consistently well-received by all who play it, making it a reliable hit for game nights.

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90
GBReviews, Joshua KruegerArticle

“I would say this game deserves a 9 out of 10 so far. But this is one of the most social board games you can play, and what is great is that it can be played in a matter of 20-30 minutes.”

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90
HexaGamers, RyanArticle

“This game jumped to the favourites list for me really quickly. It always has me thinking nonstop, sometimes to the point of just wanting to give up, haha.”

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80
Jesta ThaRogue, Jesta ThaRogueArticle

“This is my favourite social deduction game. It took me a LONG time to get the hang of it but now I know what I’m doing, what to look for etc I like it even more.”

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80
GamingTrendArticle

“Avalon Big Box Edition is the premiere version of a classic social deduction game. While the design does feel its age compared to more recent entries, Avalon is a beloved game for a reason.”

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80
Board Game QuestArticle

“The Resistance: Avalon is a very solid hidden role game that offers quick engagement and enjoyable deduction, though its success heavily depends on the enthusiasm of the gaming group.”

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75
The Dice Tower, Tom VaselVideo

Tom Vasel praises "The Resistance: Avalon" as a great social deduction game, highlighting its accessibility over games like Werewolf by not requiring a moderator and keeping all players engaged since there is no player elimination.

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