Saboteur Review – Seven Dwarfs in a China Shop

Before the world shifted to home offices and virtual meetings, our work lunches had a cherished tradition: eat fast, grab a seat, and dive headfirst into a card game. It wasn’t just a pastime. It was a spectacle.

Coworkers passing by couldn’t help but pause, curious to see what all the laughter (and occasional accusations) was about. Soon, they’d pull up a chair and join the chaos. Few games could handle this revolving door of players, but Saboteur was the perfect fit. With its quick rounds, easy rules, and blend of deception and teamwork, it became our go-to for turning a simple lunch break into a hilarious, gold-digging escapade.

How to play

In Saboteur, you and your fellow dwarves are on a frantic gold rush, digging deep into the underground mine. Your goal? Snag more gold than anyone else. But beware, hidden among you could be saboteurs, determined to thwart your efforts and leave you empty-handed.

Even though you can’t always trust the people sitting next to you, you’ll need to work together, at least on the surface. As together, the group builds a tunnel system, card by card, inching closer to the treasure buried seven spaces away… Or so you hope.

At the start of the game, three potential nugget cards are placed facedown at the end of the tunnel. Only one hides the coveted gold; the other two are dead ends. It’s a dwarven game of three-card monte, and you’ll have to gamble on the right path.

On your turn, you’ll either play a card to extend the tunnel or pass. But don’t expect smooth digging, most cards are full of twists, turns, and obstacles, making it nearly impossible to get a straight shot to the treasure. And then, of course, there are the saboteurs.

Before the digging begins, everyone secretly draws a role card. Most players will be miners, trying to unearth the gold. But some unlucky (or perhaps lucky) players might find themselves as saboteurs, whose job is to disrupt the dig. They can lay down misleading paths, hoard critical cards, or break other players’ tools, all while hiding their true identity.

If the miners manage to uncover the gold, the player who placed the winning card gets first pick from a pile of gold rewards, leaving the scraps for their teammates. So even while working together, there’s incentive to outshine your fellow miners. But if the deck runs out and the treasure remains hidden, the saboteurs win, splitting a hefty reward for their treachery.

After three rounds, whoever has the most golden nuggets wins!

Fast, fun and flexible

When it comes to social deduction games, The Resistance is my personal Vietnam. I’ve lost sleep over the fallout of past games. Bad memories of friends with raised voices, trust shattered over accusations, and the unspoken wounds that linger long after the final vote.

Thankfully, that’s never been the case with Saboteur.

It’s a game that refuses to take itself seriously. Where The Resistance is a psychological chess match, Saboteur is more like a dwarf in a china shop. You’re a bunch of bumbling miners who can’t dig a straight tunnel to save your lives. It’s chaos, plain and simple, and that’s exactly what makes it so enjoyable.

Rounds are fast, lasting only 10–15 minutes, leaving little time to dwell on who’s lying or to overanalyze everyone’s moves. At the same time, it’s obvious what a good move looks like, what’s believably bad, and what’s so absurdly terrible it might just be sabotage. This leads to quick accusations and impulsive plays, which keeps things light-hearted and fun.

Of course, Saboteur isn’t flawless. At lower player counts (fewer than five), there’s usually only one saboteur, and their job gets significantly harder. Once they’re identified, it’s easy for the group to gang up, break their tools, and leave them helpless for the rest of the round. That’s no fun if you’re the unlucky saboteur.

However, at five or more players when multiple saboteurs can team up, the game turns into a hilarious mix of mistrust and sabotage. And it gets even better when players realise that the game isn’t just about finding the golden nugget; it’s about being the first to get there. Suddenly, allies start breaking each other’s tools or throwing down useless path cards just to ensure they’re the one uncovering the treasure. For the saboteurs, this is prime time to sow chaos and watch the group turn on itself.

Despite its shortcomings, Saboteur remains a fantastic, goofy little game that thrives when you want something quick, light, and interactive. It’s hard not to grin as you accuse your friends of being the sneakiest dwarf in the mine. Plus, its small box makes it incredibly portable and an excellent stocking stuffer as the holiday season approaches. In fact, it’s one of our top picks in our guide to the 10 best stocking stuffers this year.