The acting mechanic in board games is a game mechanic that allows players to take on the role of a character or character’s actions during gameplay. This mechanic is often used in games that have a strong narrative or storytelling aspect, where players are encouraged to immerse themselves in the game’s world and take on the persona of their chosen character.

In games that use the acting mechanic, players may be required to speak or act out the actions of their character, or they may need to make choices or decisions based on their character’s personality or motivations. The acting mechanic can add a fun and interactive element to gameplay, allowing players to engage with the game’s story and characters in a more meaningful way.

Overall, the acting mechanic is designed to encourage players to become more involved in the game world and to have fun taking on the roles of their favorite characters. It can be found in a variety of games, from role-playing games to party games and everything in between.

Here are 10 popular board games with the acting mechanic:

1. The Resistance: Players are either members of the resistance or spies trying to sabotage the resistance’s missions, and must use acting and deduction to figure out who is on which team.
2. Sheriff of Nottingham: Players take turns being the sheriff and inspecting other players’ goods to collect taxes, while the other players try to smuggle contraband past the sheriff by acting and bluffing.
3. Spyfall: Players take on different roles at a location, and one player is the spy who must figure out where they are while avoiding detection by asking and answering questions.
4. Two Rooms and a Boom: Players are split into two teams and placed in two separate rooms, and must negotiate and communicate through messengers to figure out who on the other team is the president or the bomber.
5. Codenames: Players are split into two teams and take turns giving clues to their team to guess the correct words on a grid, while avoiding guessing the opposing team’s words or the assassin.
6. Mascarade: Players are given a secret role at the beginning of the game, but can switch roles with other players or claim to have a different role in order to gain advantages.
7. A Fake Artist Goes to New York: Players take turns drawing a picture together, but one player is a fake artist who doesn’t know what they’re drawing, and the other players must try to figure out who the fake artist is.
8. Cash ‘n Guns: Players are gangsters trying to split loot after a heist, and must use foam guns to intimidate and bluff each other into giving up their share of the loot.
9. Deception: Murder in Hong Kong: Players take on different roles in an investigation of a murder, and one player is the murderer who must use acting and deception to avoid being caught.
10. Funemployed: Players take on different job interview roles and must use their cards to create a convincing resume and cover letter to convince the hiring manager to hire them.

One popular board game that features the acting mechanic is “The Resistance“. In this game, players are divided into two teams – the Resistance and the Spies. The Resistance must work together to complete missions, while the Spies aim to sabotage the missions.

During the game, players take turns being the Leader, who selects a team of players to go on the mission. Before the mission begins, players participate in a voting round where they approve or reject the proposed team. If the team is approved, the players on the team go on the mission, and each player is given a card that tells them whether they are required to “succeed” or “fail” the mission.

The interesting part comes in during the mission itself. Players must act and bluff their way through the mission, trying to convince others that they are either a Resistance member or a Spy. This often involves lying, misdirection, and trying to read the other players to determine who is telling the truth and who is not. Once the mission is complete, players reveal their cards, and the mission succeeds or fails based on the number of “success” or “fail” cards played.

Overall, the acting mechanic in “The Resistance” adds an exciting element of deception and social deduction to the game, making it a popular choice for game nights and parties.