Trapt was marketed as Kagero II: Dark Illusion in Japan. Traps, when constructed, can be used as often as the player likes, but require a recharge time between uses in any given level. Six secret traps (one of which depicts Suezo, a popular monster from Tecmo's own Monster Rancher titles) can be unlocked in future replays by completing the game and achieving all four endings in the game, as well. Trap improvement is conducted by using the points earned after successfully killing each invader, called Ark, and by following a somewhat logical 'tree'-improving an Arrow Slit after a Lightning Rod was created could make a Laser Arrow, for instance. Instead of using items such as medicinal herbs, healing is accomplished via glowing blue crystals called 'loons' which can only be touched once before breaking, never to be used again in a given chapter.

The change in how traps function give this game a much more strategic edge than its predecessor, with traps able to interact with one another in long strings that could be likened to Rube Goldberg set-ups, just much more lethal and involving other people. Millennia finds herself in the middle of the war between her own race and her captors, with her chosen side dictated by the player. In it, players assume the role of Millennia, a young girl being used as a puppet and guard for a race known as Timenoids (or TMD, as the game abbreviates their race's name), who are like humans except immortal, and whose power is desired by the humans whose lives they govern. Shifting the viewpoint to third-person and the emphasis to trap combos, Kagero: Deception II released as Kagero: Kokumeikan Shinsho (影牢～刻命館真章～) in Japan, formed the foundation of current Deception titles and would be built upon in future titles, coming out two years after its predecessor. Saving requires nine blocks-over half of a memory card. Invitation to Darkness contains six different endings which can be attained by making different choices or accomplishments at key storyline junctions. This game is also the most role-playing-like of the series, with an emphasis on carrying and using items, increasing stats with item upgrades, and gaining character levels by killing or capturing invaders. Finally, each 'family' of traps has only two upgrades, and are merely stronger variations of existing traps. Fourth, the Castle of the Damned can be expanded with more rooms. Third, monsters can be constructed from captured invaders' bodies and summoned using 'Block Orbs' to fight for the player. Secondly, instead of being limited to one wall-, ceiling- and floor-based trap in each castle room, the player can place as many traps as room space and Magic Points allow, although traps are used up after striking an invader once. First, it is played from a first-person viewpoint. The first Deception is home to a number of features that would never be seen again throughout the series' run.

All later Deception titles received ratings of Mature. In addition to the rating of Teen (for 'animated violence' and 'animated blood'), the back of the game's jewel case contains an additional disclaimer which reads: 'WARNING: This game contains demonic references and may be inappropriate for some individuals'. The storyline is about a murdered, nameless prince who makes a pact with the Devil to become the master of the Castle of the Damned, in order to get revenge on his brother Yurias, who framed him for the murder of their father, the king, in order to usurp the throne and claim the fiancée of the player character, Princess Fiana. It uses a first-person perspective similar to the King's Field series. The first game in the series, released in 1996 for the PlayStation, Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness, released as Kokumeikan (刻命館) in Japan and Devil's Deception in Europe, plays unlike its successors in almost every capacity.

Main article: Tecmo's Deception: Invitation to Darkness

Dark deception steam unlocked