how does the traitors work

The "traitor" mechanic in games works by secretly assigning one or more players the role of traitors who work against the rest of the group, often called the faithful or teammates. The traitors' goal is to deceive, sabotage, or eliminate the faithful to ultimately win alone or share a prize if they survive. The faithful players must cooperate to achieve collective goals while trying to identify and banish the traitors. In more detail, traitors are typically chosen secretly before the game begins, and their identity is hidden from the other players. They coordinate secretly to decide whom to deceive or "murder," creating mistrust and paranoia among players. For example, in the game show "The Traitors," traitors secretly select a player to be "murdered" each round, and the other players try to figure out who the traitors are in roundtable discussions and votes. Players eliminated reveal their true role after banishment, which can either expose a traitor or confirm a faithful player. Sometimes, if traitors are eliminated early, they may get to recruit other players to their side. Traitor mechanics add tension and intrigue, as players must balance cooperation with suspicion. This mechanism exists in various board games, video games, and reality game shows, often enhancing social interaction and strategic gameplay by introducing hidden roles and goals that conflict with the group's success.