Feign, developed by Teneke Kafalar Studios, is a refreshingly sharp and minimalist take on the social deduction genre. Set in a quiet little village where not everything is as peaceful as it seems, Feign throws players into a fast-paced and paranoid game of survival, trust, and deception. Unlike titles that rely on complex visuals or long matches, this game thrives on quick decision-making, layered role dynamics, and a tense social atmosphere where anyone could be lying. It strips the genre down to its essence and uses that focus to create an experience that’s both accessible and endlessly replayable.

Each round consists of four to twelve players, each randomly assigned a hidden role that falls into one of several categories: Innocents, Impostors, or Neutrals. These roles determine your goals, abilities, and win conditions, which might align with the group—or might put you at odds with everyone else. Innocents must work together to identify and eliminate the Impostors before it's too late, while Impostors try to eliminate the Innocents without exposing themselves. Neutrals can complicate matters further by having personal objectives, like the Jester who wins only by getting voted out. These roles inject a fascinating level of complexity into the game, ensuring that no two matches play out the same way.

The game’s day-night cycle fuels its tension. At night, players with special roles perform their actions in secret, whether it’s eliminating a target, protecting an ally, or gathering information. When day breaks, players discuss what happened and vote to eliminate someone they suspect of wrongdoing. The pressure during the discussion phase is palpable, especially when accusations fly and players scramble to defend themselves or cast suspicion elsewhere. This mechanic is where Feign shines most—moments of panic, bluffing, and deduction are where players’ personalities come through, and a good liar can easily sway an entire village with just a few well-placed words.

Visually, Feign is simple, opting for a clean top-down 2D aesthetic. The pixel art and minimalist UI aren't flashy, but they serve the gameplay well by keeping attention on what matters: communication and deduction. The game runs smoothly on virtually any machine, including Linux and Steam Deck, and supports a wide range of languages. This accessibility has helped the game find a dedicated global audience, and it’s become especially popular among players looking for a quick but strategic party game. Despite its plain appearance, the game’s design is smart, and its performance is solid across all platforms.

The role system is one of the most appealing features, offering a wide array of characters beyond the standard good-versus-evil setup. There are bodyguards, doctors, detectives, witches, and several other roles with special abilities that interact in interesting ways. You can customize match settings and mix roles to keep things fresh. One match might be a straightforward deduction contest, while another might be filled with chaos thanks to unpredictable neutral roles or strange alliances. This variety adds immense replay value, and because rounds are short, it’s easy to get a full game going without needing a massive time commitment.

Feign’s community is active and largely positive, and the game has maintained a high rating on Steam since its release. It has been praised for delivering a high-quality social deduction experience at a very affordable price, and many reviews commend its ability to replicate the feel of a classic Werewolf game in a digital space. It has also seen success beyond PC, with a mobile version available on Android that brings the same core gameplay to mobile players, featuring similar design and mechanics adapted for touch controls. It’s not often that a small indie game manages to offer the same compelling gameplay loop across so many platforms, but Feign does so with confidence and efficiency.

That said, the experience can vary depending on how you play. Public lobbies sometimes suffer from inconsistent communication or a lack of understanding of the game’s deeper mechanics. The absence of built-in voice chat also means that players need to rely on text, which can slow the pace and dampen the social energy in public matches. However, when played with friends or in an organized group, Feign becomes significantly more enjoyable. The tension, bluffing, and back-and-forth debates truly come to life when you know your opponents and can read their tells—or fool them completely.

Overall, Feign is a clever, well-designed social deduction game that punches far above its weight. Its minimalistic visuals, fast gameplay loops, and rich role variety make it a standout entry in the genre. It strips away unnecessary complexity and instead leans into what makes these games exciting—human psychology, deception, and deduction. Whether you're gathering a group of friends for a few chaotic rounds or joining strangers in public lobbies, Feign provides a deeply satisfying experience that can be as light or intense as you want it to be. It may not have the polish or recognition of larger titles, but it offers something that many of them miss: the pure, unfiltered thrill of not knowing who to trust.

Rating: 8/10

Needs ai at least, there was no open lobbys at all, was able to play with my friend so windows and mac work well.