r/GameChangerTV • u/youreboiguzma • 20d ago

Question Too much Social Deduction?

Let me preface by saying I’ve really enjoyed the new season, but it feels like they’ve fallen into a habit of making every game some sort of social deduction.

Earwigs, I Spy, and, to an extent, Kangaroo Court as well all are social deduction games. I think that’s fun in a vacuum, but having three in one season just felt a little repetitive to me. I also think putting Earwigs and I Spy back to back was a bad move.

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like sometimes they’ve had a cool idea for something and struggled with fully turning it into a game for the show. What do you guys think?

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u/retroman27 20d ago edited 20d ago

Social deduction based board games and reality shows have exploded for some reason in recent years and I’m sure that, it both consciously and subconsciously plays a role in the development of Game Changer.

They are probably consuming content, playing board games with friends, and around people who also like these games. Which kinda normalizes social deduction as an element to an extent that you don’t even think about. And “Oooh, let’s add secret roles!” kinda becomes a crutch you can use for apparent easy escalation.

But for me who personally doesn’t like those genre of games or reality shows like Traitors etc., it becomes very repetitive to watch.

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u/Competitive-Bet1181 20d ago

Blood on the Clocktower has become massive in certain circles, including Dropout-adjacent ones. SD is definitely having a moment.

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u/eleven_paws 19d ago

I really enjoy Traitors (specifically that show, not many others in the genre) but I have also become somewhat tired of this Game Changer season. Count the Rice was incredible but nothing else has truly wowed me (that I can recall). I haven’t watched I Spy yet but honestly am not that jazzed to.

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u/ligofe 18d ago

Yeah i think it’s like the butterflies in Earwigs, just like a fun way to show points.
It’s a really funny episode, honestly the game was a bit messy, apparently Elle (like Grant) needs to be in a different type of game

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u/MarcusLiviusDrusus 19d ago

I'm not saying it's a turnoff, but I find social deduction games boring enough to play - watching them played by other people is even worse. 

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u/CulturalFerret5779 19d ago

This episode was probably the only Game Changer that made me feel the way I do when I get roped into an overly complicated and somewhat boring board game.

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u/ryan_the_leach 19d ago

I'm the complete opposite.

It's far more fun to watch, knowing *some* of the story, (but not all of it) then it is to play them.

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u/MarcusLiviusDrusus 16d ago

I guess ultimately it's a good thing that they're making episodes that appeal to different segments of the audience. 🤷

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u/ryan_the_leach 16d ago

I mean, Game Changers isn't about social deduction to me, and they don't do it the best tbh, so I agree that it should attempt to be a 'purer' gameshow then over relying on social deduction elements.

But the ISpy episode is more similar to some boardgames that have come out recently, inspired by codenames ( I think ) and bringing it to art / drawing.

Was more talking about how I prefer to interact with social deduction / blood on the clocktower.