[Boomerang]

Recently I've been thinking about popular board games like Secret Hitler, Saboteur, and others, where at least part of the game involves trying to misdirect / deceive others to win. I personally am now trying to avoid games like those, as there are plenty of other wholesome board games around. 

What are other peoples thoughts on playing games like the aforementioned ones?

[ElwinRansom1970]

A game is a game. It is an act of leisure and suspension of reality. You are being far too scrupulous and fail to distinguish fiction from reality.

[AnthonyPadua]

A game is a game. It is an act of leisure and suspension of reality. You are being far too scrupulous and fail to distinguish fiction from reality.

I agree unless it has black magic stuff in it it can be a useful teaching tool. Monopoly for example was made with the intention of showing people how monopolys sucks.

[Mark 79]

Even a card game like poker involves deceit and misdirection ("bluffing").

[Incredulous]

[songbird]

My husband makes aggravation boards.  I say this is a communist/Fɾҽҽmαsσɳɾყ game.  It brings aggravation into the family. 

[St Giles]

A game is a game. It is an act of leisure and suspension of reality. You are being far too scrupulous and fail to distinguish fiction from reality.

No. Whether a sin or not, some things Catholics just should not do or even imagine without very good reason. There are many other games out there, therefore there is no good reason to play games involving otherwise potentially sinful or corrupt practices for the sake of leisure. I'm sure we will be judged to some extent on our choices of games. Your judgement on games leaves the door open for justifying serious offences. Let us always tend toward the better things, and all the more so since we always tend toward corruption.

[SimpleMan]

Even a card game like poker involves deceit and misdirection ("bluffing").

Chess too.  The whole idea is to surprise (and if you want to think of it that way, deceive) your opponent by luring him into a position where he is checkmated.

[St Giles]

It seemed quite clear to me at the time, but my view has changed a little. I still stand by my above statements, but I recognize that in many games it is the challenge of developing and implementing strategies that make the game interesting and fun, strategies that involve a sort of innocent harmless misdirection, as is often used in sports (a false throw of a ball). We just need to be wary of modern games and practices since the modern world hardly blinks an eye at outright lying, and the devil will try to find any means however subtle of getting us heading in the direction of a fall.

[Viva Cristo Rey]

They played dice game to give out our Lord’s clothes….

[Boomerang]

Chess too.  The whole idea is to surprise (and if you want to think of it that way, deceive) your opponent by luring him into a position where he is checkmated.

I would say my initial choice of words was poor at least. In chess everything is on the board, even if your opponent can't envision your strategy. An interesting piece of information is the Guy Lopez opening in Chess is named after a 16th century priest.

The games I mentioned often involve an outright lie (IE In secret Hitler one could be a Fascist and would say they aren't, in order to win the game).

Though as Elwin said I might simply be too scrupulous about all this.

[Mark 79]

Chess too.  The whole idea is to surprise (and if you want to think of it that way, deceive) your opponent by luring him into a position where he is checkmated.

I'd argue that "the whole idea" of chess is to out-think your opponent.

[Mithrandylan]

I once had a discussion about this very topic with a friend. The specific example we used is probably useful for your purposes. In Settlers of Catan, each player holds resource cards like poker cards, and players trade with one another. 

A very common question might be "do you have any iron?" to which you'd reply yes or no. Commonly, you'd reply "no" even if you DID have iron, but you didn't want to trade it. 

We concluded that it is morally lawful to answer "no" because in the context of the game, the real question isn't "do you have any iron?" But "do you have any iron to TRADE?" 

In games there is a context which often makes the SENSE of questions different than what they would be in a different (non-game) context. 

It's like acting. It is lawful for actors to play the parts of a script and say things that are "lies" outside the context of the script. But within the context of a film or stage production, they simply aren't lies. 

[Pax Vobis]

Way too much scrupulosity on here.  And also a misunderstanding of what it means to "tell the truth".  In real life, you are NOT obligated to tell everyone the truth, the whole truth, and whenever they ask.  You're only obligated to tell the truth to your superiors.  You can tell partial truths, or just ignore anyone else.  Especially in games.

If you go to a coffee shop and place an order and they ask you "what's the name on the order?"  You're not obligated to tell them your real name.  And they don't really care what your real name is.  They just want a name to call out.  Making up a name isn't a lie, as they have no moral right to ask you this info.  Get it?

You're not even obligated to tell the POLICE the truth (in many situations, because our current police-state laws allow them to lie to citizens and the legal system is setup to only work in courts and the police aren't on your side or the side of justice).  You shouldn't lie to the police, as that's illegal and will get you in trouble but you can legally not-answer, dodge the question and play word games.

[Everlast22]

Bless me father for I have sinned: 

I juked that guy out of his cleats and scored the game winning touchdown.