Mafia game rules
Mafia is a game of lies, trust and logic. Below are the full rules: who does what, how the night unfolds, how the day vote works and when each side wins.
Setting up a game
A room holds 5 to 20 players; it is most fun with 8–12. The host picks the player count and which roles are in play. When the game starts everyone is dealt a secret role that only they can see. The mafia know each other; the town knows nobody. That asymmetry is the whole game.
How the night works
The town falls asleep and the special roles wake in turn. Each step lasts 20–25 seconds. The order is:
- 1The Escort occupies one player — they cannot act that night.
- 2The Lawyer shields one mafioso: if the Detective checks them, they appear innocent.
- 3The Don and the Mafia agree on a target.
- 4The Detective investigates one player (first night: investigation only).
- 5The Doctor saves one player from death; themselves only once per game.
- 6The Serial killer picks their own target — they are allied with nobody.
- 7The Vagrant visits one player and witnesses a murder if one happens there.
If a role is not in play, its step passes quickly — the town simply sleeps on.
Day: discussion and the vote
At dawn the night results are announced: who died, who was saved. Then a two-minute discussion begins. Everyone defends themselves, accuses others and presents reasoning. After the discussion comes the vote: whoever gets the most votes is out and their role is revealed to everyone. That moment is the sharpest in the game.
Win conditions
- The town wins by finding and voting out every mafioso.
- The mafia wins once they equal the townsfolk in number.
- The Serial killer wins only by being the last one standing.
- The Werewolf, when killed, is reborn depending on who killed them.
- A game lasts 20-30 minutes: phases shorten after minute 13, and at minute 25 the mafia is considered to have failed to take the city, so the town wins.
All roles
There are three sides: the town, the mafia and the neutrals. Here is what each role can do.
Town
Goal: identify every mafioso and vote them out.
Townsperson
No special power. Logic and argument are the only weapons. Find the mafia and vote them out.
Detective
The town’s main protector. Investigates one player each night to see if they are mafia. Cannot shoot on the first night without checking.
Sergeant
The Detective’s partner. Knows about his checks and takes his place if he dies.
Doctor
Saves one player from death each night. Can heal themselves only once per game.
Escort
Occupies one player each night, cancelling their action. Cannot block the Detective.
Vagrant
Visits one player at night and witnesses a murder if one happens there.
Sorcerer
If killed at night, takes the killer along. If voted out during the day, kills one player of their choice.
Mafia
Goal: stay hidden until they equal the town in number.
Don
Head of the mafia. Makes the final call on who dies each night.
Mafioso
Picks the target together with the Don at night. Must pass for a townsperson by day.
Lawyer
Shields one player at night. If they pick a mafioso, the Detective’s check shows them as a townsperson.
Neutral
On nobody’s side — each has its own win condition.
Serial killer
On nobody’s side. Kills at night and only wins by being the last one standing.
Werewolf
Reincarnates: killed by the mafia, becomes mafia; shot by the Detective, becomes a Sergeant; killed by the Serial killer, dies.
Tips for new players
- Do not stay silent. The easiest player for the mafia is a quiet one — nobody can read them.
- Remember who voted for whom. Voting patterns say more than speeches.
- If you are the Detective, do not rush: reveal yourself early and you die that same night.
- If you are mafia, do not defend yourself too hard — over-eagerness looks suspicious.
- The Doctor should not heal the same person every night; the mafia will notice fast.
- Accusing without reasoning hurts the town. Ask a question first, conclude second.