Mafia game rules: how to play Mafia with friends
Mafia is the party game behind Werewolf, Secret Hitler and most social deduction games. A small Mafia team hides among the townspeople; every night they quietly remove someone, and every day the town argues, accuses and votes to eliminate whoever they think is guilty.
You need nothing but people and a narrator. A deck of playing cards works as role cards, which is why Mafia is a staple of college hostels, office parties and game nights.
Teams and roles in Mafia
The classic party game of lying, accusing and voting people out.
Mafia
About one in every four players. They know each other and pick a victim each night.
Townspeople
Everyone else. They don't know who anyone is and must find the Mafia by talking.
Doctor
A townsperson who secretly protects one player each night.
Detective
A townsperson who secretly learns one player's team each night.
Narrator
Not a player. Hands out roles, runs the night and keeps the game moving.
How to play Mafia
The narrator deals one secret role card to each player (for example, aces for Mafia, a king for the Doctor, a queen for the Detective, number cards for townspeople).
Night: everyone closes their eyes. The narrator wakes the Mafia, who silently agree on a victim, then the Doctor (who picks someone to save) and the Detective (who points at someone and is shown a thumbs up or down).
Day: everyone opens their eyes. The narrator announces who was eliminated, unless the Doctor saved them. Eliminated players leave the discussion.
The town discusses, accuses and defends. Anyone can nominate a suspect; the group votes, and a majority eliminates that player. In most groups their role is then revealed.
Night and day repeat until one side wins.
How to win
- The town wins when every Mafia member has been eliminated.
- The Mafia wins when they equal or outnumber the remaining townspeople.
Tips for your first game
First game? Use one Mafia per four players, plus a Doctor and a Detective. Add special roles once everyone knows the basics.
Quiet players get voted out first. Say something every day, even if it's just who you trust.
A good narrator makes the game: tell the night's story with a little drama and keep day discussions to about five minutes.
Play Mafia with people near you
Upcoming SyncTrip board-game and social deduction nights. Most people come alone.
Game cafés and game nights by city
Mafia: questions people ask
How many players do you need for Mafia?
At least six, and it plays best with eight to fifteen. With more than fifteen, add a second Detective or Doctor and an extra Mafia member.
What is the difference between Mafia and Werewolf?
They're the same game with a different theme. Werewolf replaces the Mafia with werewolves and the Detective with a Seer, and commercial versions add many extra roles.
Can you play Mafia with playing cards?
Yes. Pick a card for each role (aces for Mafia, a king for the Doctor, a queen for the Detective) and number cards for townspeople, and deal them face down.
Where can I play Mafia with new people?
SyncTrip clubs host board-game and social deduction nights at cafés; see the upcoming ones on this page, or post your own Mafia night on the app. Most people come alone.
If you like Mafia, try
Werewolf6–20 players · 20–45 minHunt the werewolves in your village before they eat everyone.
Secret Hitler5–10 players · ~45 minA tense game of elections, policies and a hidden leader, set in 1930s Germany.
Blood on the Clocktower5–20 players · 60–120 minThe deepest social deduction game there is, run by a Storyteller.