The Mafia party game presents a conflict between the Mafia – the informed minority – and the Innocents – the uninformed bulk. Originated by Dmitry Davidoff of the USSR in 1986, this pop game has many variations and can be played by a group of 7 or more people. For very large groups, we propose adding additional characters.

The game has two phases; night, when the Mafia might secretly "murder" an innocent, and "day" when Innocents vote to eliminate a Mafiosi suspect. The game ends when all the Mafia members are eliminated or in that location are more than Mafia members than Innocents.

There are many variations of the game, some of which we have included beneath. Realistically, the minimum number of players needed to play is seven (5 Innocents against ii Mafia). The bones version described here requires a deck of cards and works best with between twelve and twenty-four players.

Table of Contents

  • ane Begin the Game
  • two Nighttime Cycle
  • 3 The Solar day Cycle
  • 4 The Players
  • 5 Variations:
  • half dozen Mafia Game Rules
  • 7 Mafia Game Tips:
    • 7.i Related Posts

Brainstorm the Game

  1. Select a Moderator
    This should be someone who knows the rules and has played the game before if possible.
  2. Cull Players
    The Moderator divides the deck of cards as follows:
    • A king – the Detective
    • A queen – the Doctor
    • Cards of i suit (such as hearts) for Mafia members – one for every 3 Innocents
    • Miscellaneous cards (no hearts) for the Innocents
    • The Moderator may either assign additional roles or take players draw cards designated as being for a detail function, i.east. Jack of Spades for the Sorcerer.
  3. Shuffle and Deal the Cards
    The Moderator shuffles the cards and and so deals them out so that each person has a carte. Players are not to evidence their cards to anyone else.

Nighttime Wheel

Night Cycle - Mafia Game

  1. Time to "Slumber"

The Moderator begins the nighttime cycle by having all players shut their eyes and put down their heads. After everyone is "asleep," the Moderator instructs the Mafia to wake upwardly and choose a victim. At this time, the Mafia members will be able to meet all their young man members. They choice a victim by gesturing silently. Players may gently tap their fingers to disguise any noise made. They tell the Moderator their decision past pointing to him or her. And then the Mafia "sleeps" again until "morning time."

  1. Awaken the Detective

While everyone else is still asleep, the Moderator wakes up the Detective, who points to someone they suspect is a member of the Mafia. If the Detective is right, that Mafia member is eliminated from the game. If not, the Detective at present knows the identity of an innocent. The Detective so goes back to "slumber."

  1. Awaken the Doc

Adjacent, the Moderator wakes up the Md who will cull a person to save past silent pointing. The Dr. tin choose to save himself and thus survive the night. If the Doctor chooses some other player and that individual is chosen by the Mafia to exist killed, nothing will happen to the victim – they are "saved." If the Md is chosen for death by the Mafia, he is out of the game and the townspeople can no longer be saved.

The Day Bike

The Day Cycle - Mafia Game

  1. Time to Awaken

The Moderator tells the players to open their eyes and then announces who "died" the previous dark.

  1. Agree Discussions

The players hash out recent events. Players practice non testify their cards, but try to convince others they have a certain role. If the give-and-take reaches a point where a role player has a suspicion, the game moves on to the allegation.

  1. Brand an Accusation

Whoever has a suspicion may accuse another actor of beingness a member of the Mafia. This allegation must be seconded past some other role player. Additionally, the accuser must explain the reason behind the allegation. Other players may and so tell if they believe the accusation is just.

  1. Defend the Accused

Whatsoever player who feels the accusation is unjust may choose to defend the defendant. If desired, this can be done as a trial, with the accused presenting a fictional excuse and even accusing other players. In some versions of the game, the defence if conducted by a player designated every bit the Lawyer.

  1. The Vote

The Moderator calls for a vote and players indicate whether they believe the defendant is guilty or not. It may be required that the vote be bearding or non.

  1. The Verdict

If it is not decided that the accused is non guilty, accusations brainstorm once again. Once again in that location is a defense force and vote. This continues until a player is declared guilty and leaves the game. If the majority voted the initial defendant thespian guilty, the night round begins again.

The Players

The Players - Mafia Game

Although the merely roles that are absolutely necessary are that of the Moderator and the Mafia, others can be added. The number of roles assigned is dependent on the desire of the group and the number of players.

  • The Mafia

These players determine who will be killed. They also know the identities of their teammates.

  • The Innocents

As well known every bit the "townspeople," these players but know the number of Mafiosi in the game. There are fewer Innocents than Mafia members.

  • The Moderator

This individual plays an extremely important and significant role in the game. They may cull role player roles, create stories about how victims were killed, and moderate the game play, making sure rules are followed.

  • The Detective – an Innocent who learns the team of one role player every night
  • The Doctor – an Innocent may protect a player or him/herself from being killed each night
  • The Barman – a Mafia member who may cancel the result of another player's ability every dark
  • The Vigilante – an Innocent who may kill a player every night
  • The Magician – on the side of the Innocents; can choose to kill ane person who they doubtable is Mafia each night or can save one person from being lynched by signaling to the Moderator; tin do each of things only once
  • The Lycan – an Innocent or a Mafioso; appear to be Mafia during the night; this role helps the Mafia; if killed, they are revealed to exist a Mafia fellow member.
  • The Peeping-Tom – allowed to open their eyes at whatsoever moment; knows who is who in the game; very likely to be killed for this knowledge
  • The Grandma with a Shotgun – an innocent who visits during the nighttime and kills whatsoever actor they wish; if investigated by the Detective, they die, merely if the Mafia attempts to kill her, a random Mafia is killed; cannot be killed by the Mafia; no one knows if deaths are caused by her or another player
  • Cupid and the Lovers – Cupid is on the innocent team and picks two people to be the Lovers the first night, ane of whom dies immediately; the other dies of a cleaved eye. Alternatively, the Lovers can be awakened past the Moderator during the first nighttime and told of their roles. If one is a victim, the other dies also.
  • The Informant – gets to know who the Mafia is but their identity remains unknown. During the first night wheel, the Moderator lets the Informant see who the Mafia members. The Mafia members continue their eyes airtight and raise their hands. The Informant helps the Innocents, but need to do then secretively or is probable to be killed.
  • The Armor – this player cannot exist killed by Mafia and merely exist voted off
  • The Brigand – has non voting power; knows who the Mafia is; works to aid the Mafia
  • The Lawyer – chooses someone to defend; that person cannot be voted out the post-obit morning
  • Rambo – able to throw a "grenade" at someone and impale that person and the two people sitting on either side
  • The Bus Commuter – can blindly alter two player'due south roles
  • The Other (Alien) – Looks like an innocent. Awakens after the Doctor and Mafia have finished their parts. If the Alien is picked for killing, the Moderator advises the Other secretly. At this point, the Other attempts to be hung. If successful, the Other stays in the game (or wins). If hung before activation, the other is out of the game.

Variations:

  • A variation that provides fun and creativity, instead of accusations and discussions taking identify during the 24-hour interval cycle, the Moderator tells a made-upwardly story. If the innocent was killed, the story tells who was killed and how without (of course) revealing the killer. If the innocent was saved, the Moderator tells how and the extent of their injuries.
  • At Halloween, you can play the games with Vampires or Werewolves instead of Mafia members.
  • For very large groups, endeavour having 2 teams of Mafiosi that compete.

Make the game more difficult by non allowing the Mafia to communicate at night. During the night bike, the Mafia all close their eyes and the Moderator says the names of the Innocents. Mafia members raise their hands if an innocent's proper noun is mentions who they wish to have killed. If half or more than of the Mafia members vote for the same person, that innocent becomes the victim. If not, so no i is killed that night.

Mafia Game Rules

Mafia Game Rules

  • Avert random accusations in the first circular, but use this round to appraise players' behavior.
  • Watch for players who seen to know other players as they may be Mafia members. Remember: They accept seen each other's faces.
  • Increase the number of characters if you have many players.
  • The Moderator should keep a written record of the game play to go along track of characters and activity.
  • Mafia members tin use the strategy of voting off other Mafia embers to avoid suspicion.
  • Give a certain amount of time – 5 to 15 minutes – for players to antipodal secretly before the word. Players cannot prove cards, but tin try to convince others of their innocence.

Mafia Game Tips:

  • Try sitting in a circle around a tabular array in a totally tranquility room to add together a touch of realism to the game. Remember: Getting into the game is what makes it fun.
  • Players should attempt to recollect accusations, supportive deportment, etc. so when it comes fourth dimension to decide who is Mafia, they will have some information to depict upon.
  • The "days" are usually longer than the "nights" because of discussions, trials, and voting.
  • For a more balanced game, take the Moderator pick out the Mafia members and other roles based upon the age and experience level of the players.

Add excitement by non having players show their cards when they die, but only at the end of the game. This way, Innocents do not know how many Mafia members are all the same in the game.

When the game has ended, it is run to talk about strategies used. Additionally, those who are eliminated will find watching the game is fun. Side by side time you have a political party, try the Mafia Game for an entertaining evening.