Chaos & Confetti

In Bot or Not, the robot uprising is happening now! It’s up to your group to figure out the shutdown code and save humanity.  However, there is a robot among you trying to prevent your success.  The only way to succeed is by communicating through robot-proof prompts.

This an all-versus-one style party game that combines social deduction with targeted clue giving. Players will have to creatively answer prompts to let the guesser know exactly what they mean without saying it directly.  Meanwhile the robot will need to lead the group astray without revealing themselves.

Can you stop the robots from seizing power, or will the machines reign supreme?

Player Count: 2-8

Ages: 10+

Playtime: 20 minutes

GAME PLAY:

First players will choose a guesser from among their group. The decision can be random or made using some other criteria like whose phone has the most open apps.  

All players who are not the guesser will receive a random prompt card.

Then, enough role cards should be shuffled to equal the number of players. Most games will only include one robot card, unless the player count is high enough that players want to include a second robot role card. Every player should be given one role card including the guesser.

Finally, the guesser will reveal a shutdown code card to all players, without seeing it themselves. This is the number that human players will be trying to get the guesser to choose.

Now the game is ready to begin.

Going clockwise, each player will share their prompt with the guesser (they may choose either side of their card) and answer it. Humans should be trying to give an answer that will make the guesser think of their shutdown code number. Every prompt is a scale, so clue givers will want to give an answer that should help the guesser focus on the right number.

Robots clue givers will try to mislead the guesser. A robot guess will listen to the clues carefully so they can avoid guessing the correct number.

Once all clues have been given, the guesser will give their one guess at the shutdown code. If they get it right, the humans win.  If they get it wrong, the humans will try to guess who the robot is among the group.  After a brief discussion, the group will vote on who the robot will be. If they deduce the robot correctly, the humans win.  If they fail to uncover the robot, the robot wins.

OUR THOUGHTS:

Bot or Not is a quick game to teach and start playing immediately. It’s also a fast playthrough, so groups should be able to knock out many rounds in a single play session.  

The game shines most as it gets players to creatively answer wacky prompts. During our playthroughs, many answers got good laughs and nods of “impressive answer” as we found ways to say what we meant without saying it directly. Also, while the true discussions might not happen until after the guessing is done, the prompts do act as solid conversation starters. 

Bot or Not works best when the secret shutdown code isn’t 1 or 10. When the number is on the extreme ends, it becomes a bit too easy to give a clue that leaves no room for doubt. Otherwise, there is a lot of fun within the nuance of the middle numbers. It takes careful and precise clues to get the guesser on the right track, but there are no guarantees that everyone thinks the same. In fact, it’s interesting to see what people’s clues reveal about themselves as they try to nail down the perfect rating. Players’ ideas of interesting, evil, difficult, believable, etc. may have you nodding along or questioning whether they’re a robot or just a little strange themselves.

We definitely recommend throwing in the second robot if playing with a larger group.  This helps create a little more difficulty for the guesser. This is good because the role of the robot is definitely harder than that of the  humans. The robot has to seed misinformation without being obvious, which is a very fine line.  

Each round feels unpredictable, with players never knowing whether everyone’s clues will be perfectly delivered or if the game will transform into a debate on who isn’t quite human.

FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS:

Bot or Not is a great party game for those looking for a quick and wacky game that can lead to some fun considerations and interesting conversations. This is a light game that focuses more on social dynamics than deeper strategic play. Those who love party games should get a kick out of Bot or Not. 

Disclaimer: we received a free copy of Bot or Not from rabble, but all thoughts and opinions are our own.