Avalon Board Game Review
The Resistance: Avalon, designed by Don Eskridge and published by Indie Boards & Cards in 2012, stands as one of the most celebrated social deduction games in the hobby. This hidden identity game pits Good against Evil in King Arthur’s legendary realm. Avalon supports 5-10 players, plays in about 30 minutes, and carries an age recommendation of 13+. This review examines whether Avalon deserves its reputation as a party game essential.
The Resistance: Avalon Overview
Avalon transports players to the court of King Arthur. The forces of Good must complete three Quests to secure victory for Britain. Hidden among Arthur’s knights are Mordred’s minions, who work secretly to sabotage these noble efforts.
What separates Avalon from basic hidden role games is the Merlin mechanic. One Good player knows the identities of all Evil players but must communicate this knowledge through subtle hints. If Good completes three Quests, Evil gets one final chance to win by correctly identifying Merlin.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Designer | Don Eskridge |
| Publisher | Indie Boards & Cards |
| Year Released | 2012 |
| Players | 5-10 |
| Age Range | 13+ |
| Playing Time | 30 Minutes |
| Game Type | Social Deduction, Bluffing, Party Game |
| Complexity Rating | 1.74 / 5 |
What’s in the Avalon Board Game Box
The Resistance: Avalon comes with everything needed for immediate play. The component quality is functional rather than premium, with thin cardboard tokens and standard card stock.
| Component | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Character Cards | 14 |
| Quest Cards (Success/Fail) | 10 |
| Team Tokens | 5 |
| Vote Tokens (Approve/Reject) | 20 |
| Score Markers | 5 |
| Score Tableaus | 3 |
| Loyalty Cards | 2 |
| Lady of the Lake Token | 1 |
| Leader/Round/Vote Track Tokens | 3 |
The character cards feature distinctive artwork separating Good (blue background with Arthur’s sigil) from Evil (red background with Mordred’s sigil). Special characters include Merlin and the Assassin in the base game, with optional roles like Percival, Mordred, Oberon, and Morgana.
Avalon Board Game Pros and Cons
Pros
- The Merlin mechanic adds strategic depth beyond basic werewolf-style games
- Scales well from 5 to 10 players with adjusted team compositions
- Quick 30-minute playtime encourages multiple sessions
- Optional character cards allow customizable difficulty
- Minimal components make Avalon highly portable
- No player elimination keeps everyone engaged throughout
Cons
- Component quality feels basic for the price point
- Requires exactly 5+ players with no solo or two-player option
- Quiet players may struggle with the discussion-heavy format
- The night phase script takes practice to execute smoothly
- Some character combinations unbalance the game significantly
How to Play The Resistance: Avalon
Avalon plays over multiple rounds, each containing a Team Building Phase and a Quest Phase. The game ends when either side achieves three Quest victories, or when Evil successfully assassinates Merlin.
Setup
Select the score tableau matching your player count. Distribute character cards based on the chart: 5 players use 3 Good and 2 Evil, scaling up to 6 Good and 4 Evil at 10 players. Each player receives two vote tokens. Randomly select a starting Leader.
| Players | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Evil | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
The Night Phase
Before play begins, the Leader reads a script aloud. All players close their eyes and extend a fist in front of them. Evil players open their eyes to identify each other, then close them again.
Evil players then extend their thumbs while Merlin opens his eyes to see them. This gives Merlin secret knowledge of all Evil players. After Merlin closes his eyes, everyone opens their eyes and the game begins.
Team Building Phase
The Leader proposes a Quest team by assigning team tokens to players. Team sizes vary by round and player count, ranging from 2 to 5 members. Discussion among all players is encouraged before voting.
| Quest | 5 Players | 6 Players | 7 Players | 8 Players | 9 Players | 10 Players |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Quest | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 2nd Quest | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 3rd Quest | 2 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 4th Quest | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 5th Quest | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Everyone simultaneously reveals their vote token. Majority approval sends the team on the Quest. Rejection passes leadership clockwise for a new proposal. Five consecutive rejections result in an immediate Evil victory.
Quest Phase
Team members secretly play a Quest card face down. Good players must play Success. Evil players choose between Success or Fail. Cards are shuffled and revealed.
One Fail card causes the Quest to fail, except the fourth Quest in 7+ player games, which requires two Fails. Indicate a successful Quest by placing a blue score marker. A failed Quest uses a red score marker.
Assassinating Merlin
If Good completes three Quests, Evil players confer and the Assassin names one Good player as Merlin. Correct identification wins the game for Evil. This endgame twist forces Merlin to guide subtly rather than openly accusing Evil players.
Where to Buy Avalon Board Game
| Retailer | Availability |
|---|---|
| Amazon | New and Used |
| BoardGameBliss | New |
| Cardhaus Games | New |
| Miniature Market | New |
| Zatu Games | New |
| eBay | New and Used |
Avalon Board Game Mechanics Explained
Avalon combines hidden roles with team-based voting and simultaneous action selection. The core tension comes from asymmetric information. Evil knows their allies. Merlin knows Evil. Everyone else operates on deduction and trust.
The voting mechanism creates accountability. Every approve or reject becomes public knowledge, building evidence for future accusations. Skilled players track voting patterns across multiple rounds to identify inconsistencies.
Quest card selection uses simultaneous reveal to maintain secrecy. Evil players face genuine decisions about when to sabotage versus when to build trust by passing Quests. Playing too many Fails early exposes Evil players through process of elimination.
Who Should Play Avalon
Avalon excels with groups who enjoy verbal sparring and reading people. The game rewards players comfortable with accusation, defense, and strategic misdirection. Newer gamers often find the rules simple enough to grasp within one practice round.
Groups preferring strategic optimization over social manipulation may find Avalon frustrating. The game has no hidden information puzzles to solve through logic alone. Success depends entirely on human interaction and persuasion.
Avalon works best at 7-8 players where team compositions create maximum uncertainty. Five-player games feel solvable. Ten-player games can become chaotic with too many voices competing for attention.
FAQ
Is Avalon good for beginners?
Avalon works well for beginners due to its simple rules. Players learn the core mechanics within one game. The real learning curve involves reading social cues and developing deception skills, which improve naturally through repeated play.
How long does Avalon take to play?
Most games finish within 30 minutes. Setup takes under 5 minutes once players know the night phase script. Groups often play multiple games in succession, with full sessions lasting 1-2 hours.
What is the best player count for Avalon?
Seven or eight players provides the optimal experience. This count balances team size uncertainty with manageable discussion. Five players feels too predictable, while ten players can become overwhelming for new groups.
Is Avalon worth buying?
At roughly $20, Avalon offers excellent value for groups meeting the 5+ player requirement. The game has remained popular since 2012, suggesting strong replayability. Component quality is the main compromise at this price point.
What games are similar to Avalon?
The original Resistance provides a similar experience without the Merlin role. Secret Hitler adds mechanical complexity with policy cards. Blood on the Clocktower expands the formula significantly with more roles and player elimination.
