Insider Card Game

You Know the Answer — But Can You Hide That You Know?

Someone at the table knows the secret word. They've known it the whole time. And while everyone else asks clever yes-or-no questions trying to figure it out, that person is quietly steering the conversation away from the truth — right under everyone's noses. Insider is a deduction game with a twist that reframes every round the moment it ends: the real mystery wasn't the word at all.

A Hidden Role Game Disguised as a Quiz

From Oink Games, the Japanese publisher celebrated for clever designs packed into tiny boxes, Insider layers a social deduction game on top of a familiar question-and-answer format. One player knows the secret word and answers questions. Everyone else asks them — except for the Insider, a hidden traitor in the group whose job is to guide others toward the correct answer without getting caught. When the word is finally guessed, a second game begins: who was the Insider? Players discuss, debate, and vote — and if the Insider escapes suspicion, they win. It's a game that makes you second-guess every question that was asked and every helpful hint that seemed a little too convenient.

Insider won the Spiel des Jahres in 2018, one of the most respected awards in tabletop gaming, recognizing it as an outstanding game of the year. That recognition speaks to what makes it work — it's immediately accessible, plays fast, and generates exactly the kind of laughter, accusation, and dramatic revelation that defines a great game night.

Who It's For

Insider plays with four to eight people and is at its best with five or six — enough players to create real cover for the Insider, but focused enough that everyone stays engaged. It's recommended for ages nine and up and runs about fifteen minutes per round, making it a strong opener or closer to a game night, a go-to for mixed groups, and a genuinely fun option for older kids and adults in the same room. It's light in the best way: easy to explain in under two minutes, impossible to fully master.

Compact, Clever, and Built to Travel

True to Oink Games' philosophy, Insider comes in a small, beautifully designed tin that fits in a jacket pocket. The components are clean and purposeful — role cards, topic cards, and a sand timer — with nothing wasted. The art direction is minimal and sharp. If you've ever dismissed a small box game as a lesser experience, Insider is the game that changes that assumption.

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