TL;DR
Social deduction games like Among Us and Town of Salem 2 aren't teaching your kids to be pathological liars. They’re actually high-speed lessons in critical thinking, logic, and theory of mind. While the "lying" aspect feels "sus" to parents, these games require kids to analyze data, spot inconsistencies, and build persuasive arguments.
Quick Recommendations:
- Best for Beginners (Ages 7-10): Among Us or Murder Mystery 2 on Roblox.
- Best for Strategic Depth (Ages 12+): Town of Salem 2 or Gnosia.
- Best for Family Night: One Night Ultimate Werewolf or Codenames.
Ask our chatbot for a personalized list of strategy games for your child's age
If you’ve heard your kid screaming "Blue is sus!" or "I saw him vent in Electrical!" you’re looking at a social deduction game. At their core, these games divide players into two groups: the Innocents (who are trying to complete tasks or solve a mystery) and the Imposters (who are trying to sabotage the group without getting caught).
The game isn't won by clicking buttons the fastest; it’s won by talking. Players have to hold meetings, present evidence, and vote someone out. To win as an Imposter, you have to lie effectively. To win as an Innocent, you have to be a human lie detector.
It’s easy to look at the bean-shaped characters in Among Us and think it’s just more "Ohio" content (that’s kid-speak for weird or cringe, for the uninitiated). But social deduction is actually a complex social exercise.
- Theory of Mind: This is the developmental ability to understand that other people have different knowledge and intentions than you do. To be a good "Imposter," a child has to think: "What does Mom think I was doing while she was in the kitchen?"
- The Thrill of the Secret: Kids spend most of their lives being told what to do. Having a "secret identity" in a game gives them a sense of agency and power that is incredibly intoxicating.
- Conflict Resolution (Sort of): These games are basically 10-minute long arguments. Kids learn how to defend themselves, how to point out logical fallacies in others' stories, and how to stay calm under pressure.
Ages 8+ The gold standard. It’s colorful, it’s relatively simple, and the stakes feel low because the rounds are short. The "killing" is cartoonish and not graphic. However, the public lobbies can be a cesspool of "Skibidi Toilet" references and occasionally actual toxic language. Pro-tip: Stick to private lobbies with friends or use the "Quick Chat" only feature for younger kids.
Ages 7+ If your kid is on Roblox, they’ve played this. One person is the murderer, one is the sheriff, and the rest are innocents. It’s less about "deduction" and more about "running away," but it introduces the concept of hidden roles. The Catch: Like most Roblox games, it’s a bit of a bank-account drainer with all the knife skins. It’s not "teaching entrepreneurship" here; it’s just teaching them how to want shiny digital things.
Ages 13+ This is the "pro" version. It’s much more complex, with dozens of different roles (Jester, Executioner, Serial Killer). It requires actual note-taking and deep logical reasoning. If your teen likes Sherlock Holmes, they will love this. It’s text-heavy and requires a higher level of maturity to handle the "prosecution" aspect of the game.
Ages 12+ A fantastic single-player alternative available on Nintendo Switch. If you’re worried about your kid talking to strangers online but they love the "sus" mechanics, Gnosia is a sci-fi RPG where you play against AI characters. It’s brilliant, stylish, and completely safe from online toxicity.
Ages 8+ (Family Night) If you want to bring the "lying" into the living room, this is the best way to do it. It takes 10 minutes, uses a free app to narrate, and is genuinely hilarious. Seeing your 9-year-old successfully convince the family they were the "Seer" when they were actually the "Werewolf" is both impressive and slightly terrifying.
Check out our full guide on the best tabletop games for families
The "lying" in these games is contextual. Just because a child can bluff their way out of a "venting" accusation in Among Us doesn't mean they're going to start lying about finishing their homework. However, there are real things to watch out for:
- Public Lobbies: This is where the real danger lives. Social deduction games require communication. In public lobbies, that means your kid is chatting with strangers. These games can get heated, and "gaslighting" (a term kids use for basically any lie now) can sometimes turn into actual verbal bullying.
- The "Salty" Factor: These games can be frustrating. Being accused of something you didn't do (especially by a sibling) can lead to real-world meltdowns.
- In-App Purchases: Games like Roblox and Among Us love to sell "pets" or "skins." They don't help you win, but they make the kid feel "cool."
Ask our chatbot about setting up parental controls on Roblox
Instead of worrying that these games are turning your kid into a con artist, use them as a springboard for some pretty deep conversations.
1. Strategic vs. Malicious Lying Talk about the difference between a "game mechanic" and "real-life trust." In poker, you bluff. In Among Us, you lie to win the round. In real life, lying breaks relationships. Most kids over the age of 7 can understand this distinction clearly.
2. Evidence-Based Thinking When your kid tells you about a match they played, ask: "How did you know it was the Red player?" Encourage them to explain the logic. "Red said they were in Medbay, but I saw the scan was already done, so they were lying." That is deductive reasoning, and it’s a skill we want them to have in a world full of deepfakes and misinformation.
3. Digital Skepticism Social deduction games teach kids that not everyone on the internet is who they say they are. This is a fundamental lesson in digital safety. If they learn to question the motives of a "crewmate" in a game, they are one step closer to questioning the motives of a random person in a Discord DM or a suspicious ad on YouTube.
Social deduction games are the "Mafia" or "Clue" of the digital age, just with more memes and faster pacing. They aren't "brain rot" if played in moderation and in safe environments. They are actually a workout for the prefrontal cortex, requiring kids to manage information, read social cues, and think several steps ahead.
If your kid is obsessed, don't ban the game—join it. Play a round of Among Us with them or grab Codenames for next Friday night. You might find that your kid is a much better strategist than you gave them credit for.
- Check the Chat: Go into the settings of Among Us or Roblox and ensure the chat filters are on.
- Try a Tabletop Version: Transition the digital skills to the real world with The Resistance or Coup.
- Talk about "Sus": Use the game's vocabulary to talk about real-world logic. "What's your evidence for that?" is a great question for both gaming and why they "definitely didn't" eat the last cookie.