How to Play

The Resistance

5-10 players 30-30 min 7.2 Board Game Geek Rating

Players secretly assume roles as Resistance fighters or Imperial spies in this social deduction game. Through discussion and voting, teams are selected for missions against the Empire. Chosen players secretly support or sabotage each mission. Resistance wins by succeeding three missions; spies win by sabotaging three missions.

Published 2009

The Resistance

Get Ready

Setup the game with these step-by-step instructions before diving into your turn.

1
Select the tableau
Choose the score tableau matching your player count (5-10 players) and place it in the center of the play area
2
Position game components
Place Score Markers, Team Tokens, and Mission Cards adjacent to the tableau
3
Set the Round Marker
Place the Round Marker on the tableau's 1st Mission space
4
Distribute Vote Tokens
Give each player one Approve and one Reject Vote Token
5
Choose the Leader
Randomly select a starting Leader and give them the Leader Token
6
Determine team composition
Use the player count chart to set Resistance and Spy numbers:
7
Deal Character Cards
Shuffle the appropriate Character cards and deal one face-down to each player
8
Review your role
Each player secretly looks at their assigned Character card
9
Conduct Spies Reveal
The Leader reads the script to allow Spies to identify each other:

On Your Turn

What you can do during your turn.

1
Propose the Mission Team
The Leader selects players for the mission using Team Tokens based on mission requirements:
2
Discuss the proposal
All players may discuss, argue, and debate the proposed team composition
3
Call for a Vote
The Leader announces voting when ready
4
Cast votes secretly
Each player selects either their Approve or Reject token face-down
5
Reveal votes simultaneously
All players flip their Vote Tokens at the same time
6
Determine vote outcome
The team is approved if a majority vote Approve; ties count as rejection
7
Handle rejected teams
If rejected, pass the Leader Token clockwise and repeat Team Building
8
Track failed votes
The Spies win immediately if five consecutive team proposals are rejected in a single round
9
Distribute Mission Cards
The Leader gives each Team member a set of Mission Cards (Success and Fail)
10
Select Mission Card secretly
Each Team member chooses one card and plays it face-down
11
Collect and shuffle
The Leader gathers all played Mission Cards and shuffles them before revealing
12
Reveal Mission results
Flip the Mission Cards to determine outcome
13
Determine Mission success
The Mission succeeds only if all cards are Success cards
14
Determine Mission failure
The Mission fails if one or more Fail cards are played
15
Record the result
Place a Blue Score Marker for success or Red Score Marker for failure
16
Advance the Round Marker
Move to the next Mission space on the tableau
17
Pass Leadership
The Leader Token passes clockwise to begin the next round
18
Resistance operatives must play Success
Resistance players can only play the Success card
19
Spies may choose
Spy players may play either Success or Fail cards

Winning

How to claim victory.

1
Resistance victory condition
The Resistance wins if three Missions are completed successfully
2
Spy victory by failed missions
The Spies win if three Missions fail
3
Spy victory by deadlock
The Spies win if five Mission Team proposals are rejected consecutively in a single round
4
Immediate game end
The game ends immediately when either team achieves their victory condition

watch & Learn

Let the pros teach you with these top videos.

Aprende a Jugar LA RESISTENCIA - Tutorial, Rondas de Ejemplo y Comentarios

Aprende a Jugar LA RESISTENCIA - Tutorial, Rondas de Ejemplo y Comentarios

Instructional

Bit för bit - The Resistance

Bit för bit - The Resistance

Instructional

MORE VIDEOS

FULL rules

Looking for the full details? Grab the complete rulebook as a downloadable PDF.

Play Board Games Online

Explore breakout hits and fan favourites with no downloads, setup or paywalls. Just click and play.

Play Now

more GAMES LIKE THIS