HIDDEN IDENTITIES
Words by Sam Desatoff
In most games, everyone plays by the same rules. Whether it’s following directions on a space or meeting the material requirements to build or purchase something, many games force players to use the same mechanics to meet their goals. But what if nobody else even knows what abilities you have, or how you might be able to affect the game? That’s the nature of games about hidden identities. There’s a power dynamic unique to the genre that’s brought to life by the unknown. Speculating what everyone else at the table is capable of becomes a game in itself, and those variables often shape the feel of a session.