Mafia party game: rules, roles and tips
Also known as: Werewolf
How to play Mafia, also known as Werewolf: secret roles, night and day rounds, discussion and voting. Clear rules for a moderator, common roles and tips.
- Type
- Party game
- First released
- 1986
- Designed by
- Dimitry Davidoff
Mafia is a hidden role game for a large group. Most players are ordinary citizens, but a few are secretly members of the mafia. During the night the mafia chooses a victim; during the day everyone discusses and votes to remove a suspect. The citizens must find the mafia using only conversation, behaviour and logic, while the mafia tries to blend in. The game was created in 1986 by Dimitry Davidoff in Moscow, and it spread around the world, including in a popular version called Werewolf. It needs no board, only a moderator and some way to give secret roles, such as playing cards. It is very popular in Iran, where many groups play it with additional special roles.
Our verdict
Mafia is about people, not pieces. Players read faces, defend themselves, build alliances and sometimes bluff convincingly. A single game can produce dramatic speeches and surprising reveals. It scales to very large groups, needs no equipment and can be adapted with roles to suit the group. It is especially good for classes, camps and gatherings of teenagers and adults who enjoy talking, and it trains persuasive speaking and careful listening in a playful way.
What works
- Works with very large groups
- No equipment required
- Strong social drama and memorable moments
What does not
- Players removed early may wait a long time
- Needs a reliable moderator
How to play Mafia
One person acts as moderator and gives each player a secret role, for example with cards. A common setup uses about one mafia member for every three or four players, plus special roles such as a detective who may check one player each night and a doctor who may protect one player. At night, the moderator asks everyone to close their eyes. The mafia members open their eyes, recognise each other and silently choose a victim. Then the detective and doctor act when called. In the morning, the moderator announces who was removed, unless the doctor saved them. During the day, everyone discusses who might be mafia, and players vote to remove one person, who reveals their role or not, depending on the agreed rules. Removed players stay silent for the rest of the game. The citizens win when all mafia members are removed. The mafia wins when its members equal or outnumber the citizens.
Tips for new players
- As a citizen, look at voting patterns; mafia members often protect each other quietly.
- As mafia, take part in discussion normally; silence attracts suspicion.
- As moderator, keep a fixed routine for night calls so nobody gains hints from timing.
- Agree on rules for revealing roles before the first game to avoid arguments.
Good for
Mafia: common questions
How many players do you need for Mafia?
The game works best with about eight or more players plus a moderator. Smaller groups can play with fewer special roles.
Is Mafia the same as Werewolf?
Werewolf is a well-known version of the same idea, with villagers and werewolves instead of citizens and mafia.
Is Mafia suitable for children?
Older children and teenagers often enjoy it. The theme can be changed to something friendlier, and the moderator can keep the night descriptions gentle.
Mafia belongs to its owners. Playdonya is not connected to them and does not sell this game; the cover is our own illustration.
