Mafia

Mafia is a party game for about 7 to 12 players and one moderator. A few players are secretly in the Mafia. Everyone else is an innocent townsperson, and the town has to work out who's in the Mafia before it's too late.

1. Deal. The moderator sets the number of players and taps Deal roles. Pass the phone around: each player types their name, looks at their role in private, and hides it before passing it on.
2. Night. Everyone closes their eyes. The moderator reads each line on the screen. The Mafia wake and silently point at a player to take out. The Doctor wakes and points at someone to protect. The Detective wakes and points at someone. The moderator says "I'll nod if they're in the Mafia and shake my head if they're not", then nods or shakes. The moderator taps each pick.
3. Morning. Everyone opens their eyes and the moderator reads who was taken out in the night, unless the Doctor saved them.
4. Day. Everyone talks it over. Then count down from three and everyone points at one player. The player with the most votes is out, and the moderator reads out their role.
5. Repeat until one side wins. The town wins when the whole Mafia is out. The Mafia wins when there are as many of them as everyone else.

Players who are out stay quiet for the rest of the game. They can keep their eyes open at night and enjoy the show.

🕴️ Mafia

On the Mafia's side. Each night the Mafia wake together and silently agree on one player to take out. By day they act like innocent townspeople and try to steer the vote onto someone else.

🙋 Townsperson

On the town's side, with no power at night. Townspeople win by talking, reading people and voting well.

🕵️ Detective

On the town's side. Each night the Detective points at one player and learns if they are in the Mafia. The Detective's best move is often to stay hidden and steer the vote quietly, because the Mafia will go after a Detective who shows their hand.

🩺 Doctor

On the town's side. Each night the Doctor protects one player, themselves included. If the Mafia go after that player, nobody dies. Some groups don't let the Doctor protect the same player two nights in a row; that's a setting here.

🏹 Hunter

On the town's side, and optional. When the Hunter is taken out, by the Mafia or by the vote, they point at one player and take them down too. Turn it on in Settings.

You need at least 5 players plus a moderator, and the game is best with 7 to 12. This page handles up to 20. When you change the number of players, the game suggests a balanced mix of roles:

• 5 or 6 players: 1 in the Mafia, a Detective, a Doctor, the rest townspeople.
• 7 to 11 players: 2 in the Mafia, a Detective, a Doctor.
• 12 to 15 players: 3 in the Mafia, a Detective, a Doctor.
• 16 to 20 players: 4 in the Mafia, a Detective, a Doctor.

Want a harder game for the town? Add a Mafia member in Settings. Want it easier? Turn on the Hunter.

They are the same game with a different story. Mafia came first, in 1986, set in a town where the Mafia picks people off at night. Werewolf retold it in a village with werewolves, and added roles like the Seer. The rules play the same way: a hidden team strikes at night, everyone votes by day.

The roles line up one to one:

• Werewolf is the Mafia.
• Villager is Townsperson.
• Seer is Detective.
• Doctor and Hunter keep their names.

Rather play it with werewolves? Play Werewolf here: the same moderator, with every line and role card written for the village and the werewolves.

Where can I play the Mafia game?

Right here, free, in your browser. There's no app to download, no cards and no sign-up. One person moderates from a phone, the phone goes around once so everyone sees their secret role, and then the app tells the moderator every line to read.

What is the Mafia game called?

It's usually just called Mafia, and the same game is also known as Werewolf. Mafia came first, in 1986; Werewolf retold it with werewolves and a village. Online games like Town of Salem are built on the same idea.

Is there an online version of the Mafia game?

This version is for playing together in the same room, on one phone. A version where everyone uses their own phone is on the way.

What is the best Mafia game to play?

Start with the classic game on this page. It works for 5 to 20 players plus a moderator, takes about 15 to 30 minutes, and needs nothing but people and one phone. Once your group knows it, add the Hunter in Settings or add a Mafia member for a harder game.

Do we need cards to play?

No. The phone deals the roles. Pass it around once at the start and everyone sees their own role in private.

Does the moderator play too?

Not in this version. The moderator holds the phone, reads the lines and taps what happens. A version where everyone uses their own phone, and the reader can play too, is on the way.

How do I explain Mafia to new players?

Tap New players? Explain the game first on the first screen. It gives the moderator a script to read out loud, about a minute long, or 30 seconds for the quick version. It starts with what kind of game this is, and it's written for the roles in your game, so it never mentions a role you aren't using.

What if the moderator taps the wrong player?

Tap Undo under the game. It steps back one screen at a time.

What if someone forgets their role?

It happens. The moderator taps Someone forgot their role? under the game, then the player's name, and hands them the phone. They hold it close and see their role again. Someone in the Mafia also sees who's on their team, and the Detective sees everyone they've checked so far. Then the phone goes back to the moderator, right where the game left off.

Can the app read the lines out loud?

Yes. Tap the speaker on any line and your phone reads it. The screen stays on while a game is running.

What happens if we close the page?

The game is saved on this phone. Open the page again and it picks up where you left off.

Is it OK for kids?

Yes, from about 8 with a grown-up moderating. Nothing on screen is gory: players are "out", not killed.