How to Play
The Game
Mafia is a social deduction game. Players are secretly assigned roles — most are innocent Civilians, but hidden among them are Mafia members trying to eliminate everyone.
The game alternates between Night (Mafia acts in secret) and Day (everyone debates and votes). The city wins by eliminating all Mafia. The Mafia wins by outnumbering the city.
Setup
- One person opens this app on a laptop/tablet — this is the Host
- A room code and QR code appear on screen
- Other players scan the QR code or enter the code on their phones
- Host starts the game once everyone has joined
- Roles are secretly dealt to each phone
Roles
The killers. Each night, all Mafia members secretly choose one player to eliminate. During the day, they must blend in. Mafia members know each other.
Aligned with the Mafia but does not wake at night. A sleeper agent. If the Terrorist is voted out during the day, they take one random civilian down with them.
Each night, choose one player to protect. If the Mafia targets that player, they survive. Cannot save the same person two nights in a row.
Each night, investigate one player. Learn if they are aligned with the Mafia or not. Be careful — revealing yourself makes you a target.
Wakes with the Mafia at night — sees their identities and who they target. But appears as Mafia to the Detective. Use your intel carefully without revealing yourself.
No special ability. Your power is your voice and your vote. Pay attention, ask questions, and figure out who the Mafia is.
Game Flow
- ›The host device announces "Night falls" — everyone closes their eyes
- ›Mafia and Spy open their eyes — the Spy sees who the Mafia targets but cannot act
- ›The Healer picks someone to protect
- ›The Detective picks someone to investigate
- ›The host announces what happened overnight
- ›If someone was killed, they are eliminated
- ›If the Healer saved the target, no one dies
- ›Everyone debates who they think is Mafia
- ›Make accusations, defend yourself, share clues
- ›The host device runs a countdown timer
- ›Everyone votes on their phone for who to eliminate
- ›Majority required — ties mean no elimination
- ›If a Terrorist is voted out, they take someone with them
- ›Night falls again and the cycle continues
- ›The game ends when one side wins
Win Conditions
Civilians Win
All Mafia-aligned players (Mafia + Terrorist) are eliminated.
Mafia Wins
Mafia-aligned players equal or outnumber the remaining civilians.
Role Distribution
| Players | M | T | H | D | S | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4–5 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1–2 |
| 6–7 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — | 2–3 |
| 8–9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2–3 |
| 10–12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4–6 |
| 13–15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6–8 |
M = Mafia · T = Terrorist · H = Healer · D = Detective · S = Spy · C = Civilian
Tips
- —Keep the host device visible and volume up — it narrates the game aloud
- —Never show your phone screen to anyone
- —Dead players must stay completely silent — no hints allowed
- —As Detective, be careful about revealing your findings — the Mafia will target you
- —As Spy, cross-reference your intel with the Detective to narrow down suspects
- —As Mafia, act normal. Accuse others. Create doubt and chaos.
- —Voting out a Terrorist is risky — they take an innocent player down with them
- —Minimum 4 players. Best with 8–12.