Jinkies! What’s that spooky sound coming from the dining room? Why does this house even have a Hall of Mirrors? And what is that moving around in the creepy basement? Could it be a g-g-g-ghost?!
Zoinks, Scoob! What do you mean it’s someone sitting here at the table with us?
Avalon Hill and Hanna-Barbera
Betrayal at Mystery Mansion, coming soon from Avalon Hill, combines all of your favorite things about classic Scooby-Doo cartoons with the now iconic gameplay of Betrayal at House on the Hill and Betrayal Legacy. This incarnation of the critically-acclaimed tabletop game brings Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred, and of course Scooby-Doo to the table for a family game night that’s much more Scooby than spooky.
This Betrayal is for three to five players ages 8 and up. The game starts with two areas to explore, the outside of the house where the Mystery Machine is parked, and the inside rooms of the mansion. Moving through these areas reveals rooms and locations that might hide possible clues to the mystery chosen at the beginning of the game.
Avalon Hill and Hanna-Barbera
Gather enough clues and the next phase of the game called the Haunt begins! If your favorite part of the Scooby-Doo cartoons was the chase between the Mystery Inc. gang and the monster, you’re going to love the Haunt. The gang and the monster, who is one of the players at the table, each have their own objective. Use items and tokens to outsmart the other and you just might make it out of the mansion in one piece.
If you’ve played House on the Hill or Legacy before, you have a good idea of what to expect in gameplay. But there are some welcome differences to encourage younger players. Omens are called Clues, and no one is eliminated from the game. And once the Haunt begins, all players set it up together. Best of all, a player can volunteer to be the monster when the Haunt starts, so no one player is stuck in a role they didn’t want. (Which might otherwise be a dealbreaker for some kids, and even some grownups!)
Players can also be awarded Scooby Snacks from items and clue cards for a chance to re-roll dice. Altogether, these changes make the game fun for players of all ages while still keeping the Betrayal atmosphere and gameplay elements that veteran gamers know and love.
Avalon Hill and Hanna-Barbera
Betrayal at Mystery Mansion is available July 24, 2020 at your favorite local game store. If you’ve never played a Betrayal game before because you might be a bit of a scaredy cat, grab your meddling kids and give this one a try.
Featured Image: Avalon Hill and Hanna-Barbera
Kelly Knox is a freelance entertainment writer in Seattle, WA who writes for Star Wars, DC Comics, and more. Follow her on Twitter.
