The best games with Secret Unit Deployment 🪂 2026

Looking for a really good game with hidden units 🪂? Then we have just the thing for you: the list of the best covert units games 2026.

What are hidden units games?

Covert unit games are games that contain hidden information. Only the player who controls certain game pieces has perfect information about the nature (or even the whereabouts) of those pieces. This mechanic is often used in war games to simulate the "Fog of War" familiar from copmuter games.

There is a strongly related category "Hidden Drawing". In "hidden draw" (e.g. Scotland Yard) the difference is that the units cannot actively influence the opponent (e.g. destroy units).

"Secret Unit Deployment" is also called "covert units".

Examples of games with hidden unit deployment

A good example of a covert unit game is the submarine game Captain Sonar.

List of best covert unit games 2026 🪂

This list was last updated on June 16, 2026. There's also a print version for this list .
  1. Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

    Survive: Escape from Atlantis!

    1982 Edition

    Survive: Escape from Atlantis! is a thrilling and competitive board game where players aim to evacuate their pieces from a sinking island. The game is known for its intense gameplay and strategic decisions.

    All details & rating
    2–4 45–60 min 8+ Easy to learn
  2. Survive The Island
    2–5 45 min 8+ Immediately playable
  3. Captain Sonar

    Captain Sonar

    Embark on an adrenaline-pumping undersea adventure with Captain Sonar, a board game that plunges you into the heart of intense submarine warfare. In this gripping scenario, every move and decision can be the difference between victory and defeat. Form a skilled crew aboard a cutting-edge submarine as you strive to locate and eliminate an enemy sub before they do the same to you. The underwater battlefield is unforgiving, and effective communication and coordination are paramount for success.

    All details & rating
    2–8 45–60 min 14+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  4. Fugitive

    Fugitive

    Fugitive is a tense, fast-paced two-player card game set in the thrilling universe of Burgle Bros. In this game, one player assumes the role of a fugitive on the run, while the other takes on the role of a relentless agent on the fugitive’s trail. The game involves a strategic cat-and-mouse chase where the fugitive must reach their goal without getting caught.

    All details & rating
    2 5–20 min 10+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  5. RIP
    2–5 15 min 10+ Immediately playable
    + 3 € above the best price
    13 € at Amazon*
  6. Fugitive
    2 5–20 min 10+ Easy to learn
  7. Vive le Roi!

    Vive le Roi!

    Long live the king! This is a bluffing and deduction game for 3-6 players aged 8 and up. The weary monarch Vladimir Miritiro is eyeing his subjects to choose a successor, and players assist by advising their favorites in the quest for the throne. With the king's retirement announcement, all subjects from cobblers to duchesses gather, but clever maneuvering and selective positioning are needed to reach the crown.

    All details & rating
    2–8 30 min 8+ Immediately playable
  8. Rumble in the Dungeon

    Rumble in the Dungeon

    There are too many monsters and adventurers in the dungeon. The treasure of the dead king is well-guarded, but the adventurers are fearless! Players must keep their secret character in the dungeon as long as possible or leave with the treasure.

    All details & rating
    3–6 20 min 8+ Immediately playable
  9. Treasure Island

    Treasure Island

    Treasure Island is a thrilling game of bluffing and adventure where players are immersed in a high-stakes treasure hunt. One player takes on the role of Long John Silver, using cunning and misdirection to lead the others astray in their quest to find his hidden treasure. The game builds to an exciting climax as Long John makes his daring escape to reclaim his treasure.

    All details & rating
    2–5 45 min 10+ Easy to learn
  10. Cthulhu in the House

    Cthulhu in the House

    Cthulhu in the House is a game of bluffing and deduction for the whole family. Each player secretly controls two out of twelve characters, starting in different rooms. On their turn, players can either move a character alone to an adjacent room or initiate a fight in a room with at least two characters, eventually collecting points based on the remaining character. The game features two types of game pieces that influence character movement and defeat, and the player with the most points after three rounds wins.

    All details & rating
    3–6 10–20 min 14+ Immediately playable
  11. Polizei-Alarm!

    Polizei-Alarm!

    One player controls a gang of thieves attempting to break into lockers. The other player is the police, trying to catch them before they escape. The thieves roll special dice to crack the locker combinations while the police navigate a city map with a tilted board to uncover the gang's hiding place. If the police find the hiding spot before the thieves succeed, the thieves leave empty-handed.

    All details & rating
    2–4 25 min 6+ Immediately playable
  12. Sonar Family

    Sonar Family

    In the depths of the ocean, two submarine crews are engaged in a silent and eternal war. SONAR Family is a submarine combat game where two teams operate different submarines. Each player takes on the role of a crew member, either the captain or the radio operator, using dry-erase boards to track movements and locate the enemy submarine to sink it. The teams are separated by a screen to block each other's view of their maps. The game ends when one submarine loses its second structural point, leading to an immediate loss for that team. The winning team is the one that successfully sinks the opponent's submarine!

    All details & rating
    2–4 30 min 8+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  13. Good & Bad Ghosts

    Good & Bad Ghosts

    Players each have four good and four evil spirits, but only the player who owns a spirit can see whether it is good or evil. The spirits start in the back rows of a 6x6 board with the corners removed. On their turn, players move one of their spirits one space orthogonally and can eliminate an opponent's spirit by landing on it. To win, a player must either get rid of their own evil spirits, eliminate the good spirits of their opponent, or move one of their good spirits off an opponent's corner space.

    All details & rating
    2 15 min 8+ Immediately playable
    + 6 € above the best price
    19 € at Amazon*
  14. Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space

    Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space

    Escape from the Aliens in Outer Space is a suspenseful card game set in the dark and treacherous confines of a space research ship afflicted by an alien plague. This game uniquely combines strategy, bluffing, and a claustrophobic science fiction theme.

    All details & rating
    2–8 20–45 min 12+ Easy to learn
  15. BattleLore

    BattleLore

    Second Edition

    BattleLore: Second Edition is a deeply immersive and strategically rich board game set in the fantasy realm of Terrinoth. Designed for two players, this game pits the stalwart forces of the Daqan Lords against the malevolent Uthuk Y’llan in epic, squad-based battles. With an emphasis on strategic command and the use of lore to influence battles, BattleLore Second Edition offers a robust and varied wargaming experience.

    All details & rating
    2 45–90 min 14+ Medium complexity
  16. Wildlands

    Wildlands

    Wildlands brings to life a rich, lawless fantasy realm where players vie for dominance, survival, and treasure amidst the ruins of a fallen kingdom. Designed by the acclaimed Martin Wallace, this game combines the thrill of skirmish battles with the depth of strategic card play, offering a dynamic tabletop experience that's accessible yet full of tactical depth.

    All details & rating
    2–4 30–60 min 14+ Easy to learn
    Video reviews 1
  17. Jaws

    Jaws

    JAWS is a suspenseful and strategic board game that captures the essence of the classic film. In this game, players are immersed in the iconic struggle between the monstrous great white shark and the determined crew of the Orca. The game is designed for 2 to 4 players, where one player assumes the role of the shark, while the others take on the characters of Brody, Hooper, and Quint.

    All details & rating
    2–4 60 min 12+ Easy to learn
    + 1 € above the best price
    16 € at Amazon*
  18. Letters from Whitechapel

    Letters from Whitechapel

    Letters from Whitechapel is a thrilling and suspense-filled board game that transports players to the grim streets of London's Whitechapel district in 1888, the setting of the infamous Jack the Ripper murders. The game pits one player, taking on the role of Jack the Ripper, against others who play as police detectives. Their goal is to catch Jack before he claims his fifth victim.

    All details & rating
    2–6 90 min 14+ Medium complexity
    Video reviews 1
  19. Paper Tales

    Paper Tales

    Paper Tales is a dynamic card game that blends elements of drafting and kingdom-building. Set in a mythical world, players guide their realms through centuries, facing challenges and opportunities as they emerge.

    All details & rating
    2–5 30 min 12+ Easy to learn

Frequently asked questions

Which game ranks first on this list?

Survive: Escape from Atlantis! (1982 Edition) currently tops our list. The ranking is derived from player community ratings and is recalculated continuously.

How many players do the games on this list support?

Most games on this list support 2 to 5 players. The exact player count is listed with each game.

What age are these games suitable for?

Publisher age recommendations on this list start at 6 years. Each game carries its own age rating.

How long does a game take?

A typical game takes about 30 minutes. Each game's playing time is listed individually.

Didn't find the game you were looking for?

We're positive that you'll find it in one of our other lists! To make the search easier for you, we split our website into different categories. The following board game categories will help you find the right list: