One phone deals the secret roles and tells the narrator what to say, so the whole group can play in minutes.
Mafia is a hidden-role party game. A few players are secretly the Mafia, and everyone else is the town. Each night the Mafia quietly picks one player to send out of the game, and each day the town talks and votes on who they think is Mafia. This page deals the roles on one phone and gives the narrator a script to read, so you do not need cards or a rule expert.
How to play
One person is the narrator and does not play a role. Everyone else sits in a circle.
- Deal the roles. Type in the players' names and choose the roles, then press Start. The phone shows "Pass to Jordan." Jordan checks that nobody else can see, taps to see their role, taps again to hide it and passes the phone on. When every player has seen their role, the phone goes to the narrator.
- Night. The narrator says "Everyone, close your eyes." Then the narrator wakes each role in turn. The Mafia open their eyes, silently agree on one player by pointing, and close their eyes. The Doctor wakes and points at one player to protect. The Detective wakes and points at one player, and the narrator answers with a thumbs up (Mafia) or thumbs down (not Mafia).
- Morning. Everyone opens their eyes. The narrator says who the Mafia chose. If the Doctor protected that same player, nobody leaves. Otherwise that player is out of the game. They stay quiet for the rest of the game but can watch.
- Day. The town talks. Who acted strangely? Who is defending whom? The Detective may share what they learned, but that makes them a target for the next night.
- Vote. Someone names a suspect, and players vote with a show of hands. If more than half agree, that player is out of the game and shows their role. Then night falls again.
The phone shows the narrator each line in order, so a first-time narrator does not forget a step.
Sample narrator script
You can read this out loud, or make it your own:
"Night falls on the town. Everyone, close your eyes. Mafia, open your eyes. Look around and point at one player. ... Thank you, Mafia. Close your eyes. Doctor, open your eyes. Who will you protect tonight? ... Doctor, close your eyes. Detective, open your eyes. Point at the player you want to check. ... Here is your answer. Detective, close your eyes. Morning comes. Everyone, open your eyes. Last night, the Mafia visited Alex. Alex is out of the game."
Funny stories help. "Alex was distracted by a giant pancake and missed the town meeting" keeps the game light for younger players.
Roles by player count
| Players (not counting narrator) | Mafia | Doctor | Detective | Town |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5-6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2-3 |
| 7-8 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3-4 |
| 9-11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5-7 |
| 12-15 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7-10 |
| 16-20 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 10-14 |
If the Mafia keeps winning, remove one Mafia player. If the town keeps winning, add one.
Rules and variations
The core rules stay the same in every version: the Mafia acts in secret at night, the town votes in the day, and the game ends when one side wins.
- Werewolf theme. Call the Mafia werewolves, the town villagers and the Detective the Seer. Same rules, spookier story. It is a nice fit for a Halloween party.
- Sheriff. The Sheriff is a town player whose vote counts twice in the day. Reveal the Sheriff at the start, or keep it secret until a close vote.
- Jester. The Jester is on nobody's side. They win alone if the town votes them out, so they try to act suspicious. This adds a lot of laughter in big groups.
- Quick game. Skip the Doctor and the Detective with fewer than seven players. Rounds go faster and the game is easier to learn.
- No reveal. When a player leaves, do not show their role. The town has to guess who was who, which makes the day talks more interesting.
Tips for a good game
For new narrators. Read slowly and use the same words every night. Tap the table or play quiet music while players point, so nobody can hear where the sound comes from. Keep a small note of who is out, who was protected and what the Detective checked. If you make a mistake, say so and fix it. Players forgive a fair narrator.
Mixed ages. Let younger kids be town players or the Doctor in their first game. Adults can be the Mafia so kids learn by watching how the game goes. Keep the stories silly.
Shy players. Give each player a short turn to speak before the vote, so the loudest people do not decide everything. A one-minute timer for the day talk helps.
Players who are out. Ask them to stay at the table, keep their eyes closed at night and say nothing. Watching the rest of the game is fun, and they can play again next round.
How to play without a phone
Use playing cards. Pick one card per player: a black ace for each Mafia player, a red king for the Doctor, a red queen for the Detective and number cards for the town. Shuffle, deal face down and let each player look in secret. The narrator collects the cards after the game to check roles. Read the night script from this page or from memory, and use a piece of paper to keep track of who is out of the game.
FAQ
How many players do you need for Mafia?
Six is the practical minimum: one narrator and five players. The game is at its best with 8 to 15 people. Add one Mafia player for about every four players.
How do you win Mafia?
The town wins when every Mafia player is out of the game. The Mafia wins when they are equal to or more than the number of town players left.
What is the difference between Mafia and Werewolf?
They are the same game with a different story. In Werewolf the Mafia are werewolves, the town are villagers and the Detective is often called the Seer.
What does the narrator do in Mafia?
The narrator runs the game. They tell everyone when to close and open their eyes, wake each role in turn at night, and announce who is out of the game in the morning. The narrator does not vote.
Is Mafia okay for kids?
Yes, with gentle wording. This version says a player is out of the game instead of using scary words, and the narrator can tell the story in a silly way. Ages 10 and up usually follow the rules easily.
Can the Doctor save themselves?
Agree on this before you start. Many groups let the Doctor protect themselves once per game, which keeps the role fair without making it too strong.
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