How to Play Mafia Game

The Ultimate Party Game of Deception & Deduction

Overview

Mafia is a social deduction party game where players are secretly assigned roles. The Mafia tries to eliminate villagers without being caught, while the Village tries to identify and vote out the Mafia before it's too late. Players: 6-15 recommended

Time: 15-45 minutes per game

Ages: 10+

Roles

🔴 Mafia Team

Mafia

• Wins by eliminating all villagers

• Wakes up at night to choose a victim

• Must blend in during the day and avoid suspicion

• If multiple Mafia, they work together

🟢 Village Team

Villager

• Basic village role with no special abilities

• Wins when all Mafia are eliminated

• Uses observation and logic to find the Mafia

• Votes during the day to eliminate suspects

Doctor 💚

• Can save one person each night from elimination

• Cannot save the same person two nights in a row

• Can choose to save themselves

• If they save the Mafia's target, that person survives

Officer 💙

• Can investigate one person each night

• Learns if that person is Mafia or not

• Must be careful sharing information (Mafia may target them)

• Key role for gathering evidence

Cupid 💗

• On the first night, chooses two players to be "married"

• If one married player dies, the other dies of heartbreak

• Can create powerful alliances or risky situations

• The married players know each other's identity

Little Child 💜

• Can peek during the night phase

• Risks being caught by the Mafia

• If caught peeking, they are eliminated

• High risk, high reward information gatherer

Game Phases

🌙 Night Phase

1. Everyone closes their eyes (or passes the phone)

2. Roles wake up one at a time:

   • Cupid (first night only): Chooses two players to marry

   • Mafia: Chooses a victim to eliminate

   • Doctor: Chooses someone to protect

   • Officer: Chooses someone to investigate

3. The app announces when each role should wake/sleep

4. Night ends when all roles have acted

☀️ Day Phase

1. News Report: The app reveals what happened overnight

   • Who was killed (if anyone)

   • Who was saved (without revealing by whom)

   • Marriage deaths (if applicable)

2. Discussion: Players discuss who they suspect

   • Share observations and theories

   • Mafia tries to deflect suspicion

   • Officer may reveal information (risky!)

3. Voting: Village votes to eliminate one player

   • Majority vote required

   • Can vote "Nobody" to skip

   • Eliminated player's role is revealed

🔄 Repeat

The game alternates between Night and Day until one team wins.

Winning the Game

🔴 Mafia Wins When:

• Mafia members equal or outnumber the remaining villagers

• Example: 2 Mafia vs 2 Villagers = Mafia wins

🟢 Village Wins When:

• All Mafia members have been eliminated

• Remaining villagers survive

Strategy Tips

For Mafia 🔴

• Blend in: Act like a villager, participate in discussions

• Create doubt: Subtly cast suspicion on innocent players

• Coordinate: If multiple Mafia, don't defend each other too obviously

• Target threats: Eliminate Doctor and Officer early if possible

• Stay calm: Don't overreact when accused

For Village 🟢

• Pay attention: Watch reactions during accusations

• Take notes: Remember who voted for whom

• Trust carefully: Even confirmed villagers might be wrong

• Protect the Officer: They have valuable information

• Vote wisely: A wrong vote helps the Mafia

For Doctor 💚

• Vary your saves: Don't be predictable

• Protect key players: Officer and confirmed villagers

• Self-preservation: Sometimes save yourself

• Stay hidden: Don't reveal your role unless necessary

For Officer 💙

• Investigate wisely: Start with the most suspicious

• Time your reveal: Share info when it matters most

• Be careful: Revealing yourself makes you a target

• Build trust: Work with confirmed villagers

Game Setup

In the App:

1. Enter player names (all players in your group)

2. Configure roles (how many of each role)

3. Start the game

4. Pass the phone to reveal roles secretly

5. Follow audio cues for night phase

6. Use day phase for discussion and voting

Online Play Rules

Creating a Room

1. Tap "Play Online"

2. Enter your display name

3. Tap "Create Room"

4. Share the 4-digit room code with friends

Joining a Room

1. Tap "Play Online"

2. Enter your display name

3. Enter the 4-digit room code

4. Tap "Join Room"

Online Game Flow

• Host configures roles and starts the game

• Each player sees only their own role

• Night actions are done on each player's device

• Day discussion happens in person or via voice chat

• Voting is done in the app

Common Questions

Q: Can the Doctor save themselves? A: Yes, the Doctor can choose to protect themselves. Q: What if the Doctor saves the Mafia's target? A: The target survives! The news will say "No one died" or "[Name] was saved." Q: Can married players be on opposite teams? A: Yes! Cupid doesn't know players' roles. This can create interesting situations. Q: What happens if Little Child is caught? A: They are eliminated by the Mafia for peeking. Q: Can the Officer investigate the same person twice? A: Yes, but it's usually a waste of a turn. Q: What if there's a tie vote? A: No one is eliminated. The game continues to the next night.

House Rules (Optional)

Feel free to add your own rules:

• No talking at night: Complete silence during night phase

• Time limits: Set discussion time limits (5 minutes)

• Last words: Eliminated players get final words before reveal

• No lying about role when eliminated: Must reveal true role

• Mafia can talk at night: Whisper to coordinate (harder mode)

Tips for a Great Game

1. Get into character: React, accuse, defend!

2. No phones during discussion: Focus on the game

3. Keep a poker face: Don't give away your role

4. Have fun: It's just a game - enjoy the chaos!

5. Play multiple rounds: Roles change each game