Mafia
A hidden few eliminate a player each night, and by day the whole group argues over who to vote out.
Also called Werewolf.
- Suit
- Talk
- Players
- 7–20
- Ages
- 12 and up
- Time
- About 30 minutes
- Where
- Indoors, At a table, On a video call
- Energy
- Lively
- Prep
- 2 minutes of prep
- You need
- A deck of playing cards or paper slips
Set up
Choose a moderator, who runs the game and does not play. Count the players and set aside one card each: use face cards for mafia, an ace for the doctor, a joker or a king of a different suit for the detective, and number cards for townspeople. Deal them face down. Players look at their own card and keep it secret.
Roughly one player in four should be mafia.
How to play
Night
- The moderator says, “Everyone close your eyes.” Tapping knees or humming covers small noises.
- “Mafia, open your eyes and silently choose a victim.” The mafia agree by pointing. “Mafia, close your eyes.”
- “Doctor, open your eyes and point to one person to save.” It may be themselves. “Doctor, close your eyes.”
- “Detective, open your eyes and point to someone.” The moderator nods if that person is mafia, shakes their head if not. “Detective, close your eyes.”
Day
- “Everyone open your eyes.” The moderator announces who was attacked. If the doctor chose the same person, nobody dies. Otherwise that player is out and may not speak.
- The living players discuss who they think is mafia. Anyone may accuse, defend and lie.
- The group votes by pointing. The player with the most votes is out and reveals their card.
- Night falls again.
The town wins when every mafia member is out. The mafia win when they equal the townspeople in number.
Running it well
The moderator sets the pace. Give the day a limit of about three minutes of talk, then call the vote. Tell each death as a short story; it keeps eliminated players entertained. Remind players that the detective is safest staying quiet until they have found someone.
Ways to change it
- No special roles: only mafia and townspeople. Simpler for a first game.
- Sheriff’s reveal: an eliminated player’s card stays hidden, which makes the town’s job harder.
- On a video call: the moderator sends roles by private message, and night actions are sent the same way.
Who it suits, and who it doesn’t
Mafia rewards groups who enjoy arguing and can take an accusation lightly. It suits teenagers and adults and needs seven or more. Elimination means some players sit out for a while, so it is a poor choice when guests are restless or young. For a lighter game with the same hidden-role feeling, play Wink Murder.
Questions about Mafia
How many mafia should there be?
Roughly one in every four players. Use two mafia for 7 to 9 players, three for 10 to 13, and four for 14 to 18. Too many and the town cannot win; too few and the game ends in two rounds.
What do eliminated players do?
They stay in the room, keep their eyes open at night and say nothing. Watching the mafia work in silence is half the fun of being out.
Is Mafia the same as Werewolf?
The rules are the same. Werewolf swaps the gangsters for werewolves and the townspeople for villagers, and boxed versions add more special roles.
Good for HalloweenNew Year’s EveGame night
Written October 8, 2026. Last checked October 8, 2026. How we write these.