Town Of Salem

Online multiplayer games built around the idea of social deduction are all the rage. A few big hitters arrived on the scene a few years ago and, in doing so, developed a massive industry all around this kind of game. The end result is that more and more would-be competitors arrived on the scene, and one game that fits this mould is the Town of Salem.

The game was developed by BlankMediaGames, and it went through an early access phase that was browser-based and free to play. In 2018, though, the game was eventually ported to Android and iOS devices after a Kickstarter fundraiser event. It is believed to be among the largest social deduction games online, with as many as five million registered players at one stage.

Indeed, the Town of Salem has probably helped innovate the industry and inspired other social deduction games to become massive. Is Town of Salem old hat, though? Or does it still have its innovative charms?

A Market Leader In A Huge Niche

Of course, anyone who has looked at Town of Salem will instantly deduce that it is, in many ways, similar to board games such as Mafia or even modern video games like Among Us. While Town of Salem itself has even succeeded with a sequel, the original game still has a pretty strong player base. The gameplay is very simple: much like the game it is based on, Werewolf, you spend your time being assigned a secret role.

A small group of those playing are part of the small group who all know who each other are; the others, though, are the ‘uninformed majority’ who have no idea that you are all part of a group together. The aim is simple: work together to try and take control of the town. The aim of the ‘Mafia group is to wipe out the town, while the ‘Townsfolk group aims to stop the ‘Mafia group before they accomplish their goal. Neutral parties also exist, which might not necessarily get in the way of either the Mafia or Townsfolk.

During day and night, different events can take place; teams can try to conceal their identity, while the Townsfolk try to find ways to deduce who the dangers are. During the night, the Mafia can go on to kill, while all players can add notes to their will. These notes can then be used to help give more insight and evidence to other players.

Excellent Deduction In The Perfect Atmosphere (9/10)

The town of Salem boasts the best possible setting and atmosphere for a social deduction game. The whole idea of witches among the people is a well-worn trope, but it works extremely well in this setting. The day and night cycle, paired with the ease of teamwork and interaction among groups, is a very impressive experience overall. Both sides basically continue taking out other people on the other side, hoping to achieve their win conditions before the game ends.

Pros

• Excellent atmosphere and energy in the game helps to keep things fresh and fun
• A lot of exciting ways to achieve goals, with a great variety from game to game
• Huge player base, so it is easy to find a highly atmospheric and fun experience

Cons

• Lack of face-to-face interaction can kill some of the tension and social fun of it all