Trick Or Spot

Trick Or Spot is a digital party game released in 2023, developed by the independent studio Ghostlight Games. The game is designed for two to eight players and is categorized as a social deduction and hidden object hybrid. The core premise involves a group of costumed characters attending a Halloween party, where one or more players are secretly designated as "Tricksters" who must sabotage the event without being identified. The remaining players, known as "Spotters," must complete a series of visual search tasks while observing the behavior of others to deduce the saboteurs. The game features a randomized map of a haunted mansion, with multiple rooms and interactive objects. Each round lasts approximately ten minutes, and the game supports both local and online multiplayer modes. The visual style employs a cel-shaded, cartoon aesthetic with a muted color palette of purples, oranges, and blacks. The game received a rating of E10+ from the Entertainment Software Rating Board for mild cartoon violence and suggestive themes.

Gameplay is divided into two phases: the Search Phase and the Deduction Phase. During the Search Phase, all players navigate the mansion using a standard third-person camera controlled by the left analog stick or W, A, S, D keys. The right analog stick or mouse controls the camera view. Players interact with objects by pressing the E key or the A button on a controller. The objective for Spotters is to locate a list of hidden items, such as a specific pumpkin or a missing mask, displayed on a sidebar. Tricksters, however, have a separate objective: they must perform covert actions, such as turning off lights or hiding items, by pressing the F key or the X button. Tricksters can also "tag" a Spotter by pressing the Q key or the Y button, which temporarily freezes that player for five seconds. The Search Phase ends after a timer of five minutes expires or when all hidden items are found. The Deduction Phase then begins. Each player votes for who they believe is a Trickster by selecting a name from a radial menu opened with the Tab key or the Select button. The player with the most votes is eliminated. If all Tricksters are eliminated, the Spotters win. If at least one Trickster remains after three rounds of voting, the Tricksters win. The game provides a tutorial mode accessible from the main menu that demonstrates these controls.