How To Play: The Possession

How To Play the possession is all about bluffing roles, smart item management, and balancing the ghost versus survivors. My friends and I laughed, yelled, and accused each other the whole night. Master the rules quickly, use strategy, and don’t trust anyone—even your best mate might haunt you!

Overview

So you want to win at The Possession? Well, you’re in luck. After plenty of ghostly shenanigans with my friends (and a few arguments over who was possessed), I’ve cooked up this handy guide. Here, I’ll break down the basics of How To Play the possession and share the sneaky tricks I’ve learned to boost your chances of winning. Read on if you like winning… or pretending you do!

What’s in the box

  • 1 Game Board
  • 6 Player Pawns
  • 12 Role Cards
  • 18 Item Cards
  • 2 Possession Tokens
  • 30 Resource Tokens
  • 6 Reference Cards
  • 1 Rulebook

How To Play The Possession: Rules Summary

Setup
  1. Unfold the board and place it in the middle of the table. Make sure your drink isn’t in the way (learned that the hard way).
  2. Shuffle the role cards and deal one face down to each player. Don’t peek unless you’re feeling especially sneaky.
  3. Place all item tokens in the central supply. Everything will be chaos soon.
  4. Hand out player markers and reference cards, if your group hasn’t lost them already.
  5. Pick the first player randomly. Last time, we arm-wrestled for it. You do you.
Gameplay
  1. Each round, players take turns moving, searching for items, or trying their luck at suspicious doors.
  2. Use action points to perform tasks like picking up items, using special abilities, or throwing accusations.
  3. After everyone acts, the ghost (if revealed) takes their spooky turn.
  4. Swap roles if the rules or chaos demand it. Usually, that’s when things get fun.
  5. Keep bantering, bluffing, and guessing as the tension rises. I once accused my grandma, and she still brings it up at Thanksgiving.
Winning
  1. If the survivors complete all objectives before being possessed or eliminated, they win the game.
  2. If the ghost manages to possess everyone or achieves their secret goals, the ghost wins. Not as fun if you lose, trust me.
Special Rules & Conditions
  1. Certain items let you peek at roles or block nasty ghost moves. Use them wisely, or sell them for cookies.
  2. Role swaps can flip the game in a second—always double-check who you trust.
  3. If you get possessed, don’t pout. You’ve got a new team now and it’s time to haunt.

Now you know how to play The Possession. Don’t forget to look up extra strategies—just search for ‘How To Play the possession’ and get more spooky-winning ideas. Good luck, may your friends not betray you… too soon!

Best The Possession Strategies

Mastering Role Bluffing in The Possession

Start By Setting Doubt
  1. Act confused about your own role at key moments. This makes people second-guess your loyalty.

  2. Point out other players’ suspicious actions, even if you know they aren’t important. The goal: muddy the waters.

Change It Up Often
  1. Switch your strategies mid-game. If you act too steady, someone will catch on fast.

  2. Change your vote patterns. Make it look like you’re not sure who to trust.

How To Play the Possession: Perfect Misdirection
  1. Drop fake clues about your role, but never overdo it. Keep things subtle so your friends start doubting themselves, not just you.

Mastering Item Management in The Possession

Want to win The Possession? Solid item management can turn a losing round upside down. I’ve lost count of the times my greed left me empty-handed. So, here are my hard-learned lessons on keeping your pockets—and your odds—full. If you’re looking up “How To Play the possession” and want an edge, start here.

Prioritizing Essential Items

  1. Always grab keys and clues first—they open up options.
  2. Avoid hoarding junk. It clutters your inventory fast.

Sharing With Caution

  1. Trade only when you gain more than you lose.
  2. Hide valuable items from shady teammates. Trust no one, especially your cousin Steve.

Knowing When To Use Or Save

  1. Use healing items early if you’re nearly toast.
  2. Save powerful items for clutch moments—last rounds can flip the game.

Keeping the Scales Even: Mastering Survivor vs Ghost Balance in The Possession

Stay Aware of the Game State

If you want to win, keep your eyes on which side has momentum. When the ghosts get ahead, survivors must quickly team up. When survivors dominate, ghosts should get sneaky or aggressive. Adapt fast!

Communication Is Key

Talk a lot, but don’t spill the beans! Survivors should share info without revealing too much. Ghosts can use false clues or echo suspicion.

  1. Only share what helps your team.
  2. Avoid giving away your role by accident.
  3. Use coded language or hints.
Play to Your Strengths

Ghosts should scare, stall and confuse. Survivors must keep calm, act fast, and stick together. Both sides will need to adjust as the game changes!

  1. Ghosts: Use tricks to slow survivors.
  2. Survivors: Work in pairs to watch each other’s backs.
  3. Both: Change your plans when needed.

After playing many wild nights of The Possession (and ruining more friendships than Uno), I swear keeping this balance will give you the edge! If you’re wondering How To Play the possession, remember: balance beats brute force every time.

Ready to Outsmart Your Friends?

There you have it—my hard-won wisdom on How To Play the possession and (maybe) survive the night! Whether you’re bluffing your heart out as a ghost or clutching onto your last holy water as a survivor, remember to keep your wits and your poker face handy. Play smart, lie better, and above all, enjoy ruining your friendships—just kidding (sort of)! Now grab your crew, get spooky, and see who makes it out in one piece. I’ll be the one laughing when you trust the wrong person. Again.

Want to know what we think of The Possession? Read our detailed review of The Possession here

Jamie in his proper element: With all of his board games
Jamie Hopkins

With years of dice-rolling, card-flipping, and strategic planning under my belt, I've transformed my passion into expertise. I thrive on dissecting the mechanics and social dynamics of board games, sharing insights from countless game nights with friends. I dive deep into gameplay mechanics, while emphasizing the social joys of gaming. While I appreciate themes and visuals, it's the strategy and camaraderie that truly capture my heart.