How to Play Mafia

Complete party game rules & moderator guide

Mafia is one of the best party games ever invented — a social deduction game where hidden killers try to outlast an uninformed majority. With Mafia Night as your digital moderator, you can skip the card-shuffling and role whispering and get straight to the drama.

This guide covers everything: what you need, how to set up the game, the night and day phase mechanics, winning conditions, and moderator tips that keep the game running smoothly.

What You Need

  • •5–15 players + 1 moderator — the moderator (called the "God" in traditional Mafia) runs the game and does not receive a role.
  • •Smartphones — each player needs their own phone to receive their secret role.
  • •Mafia Night — open mafiawtf.vercel.app in any browser. No download, no account required.

Setup with Mafia Night

  1. 1
    Create a game: The moderator taps Create Game. A unique 6-character code appears.
  2. 2
    Share the code: Players open Mafia Night, tap Join Game, and type the code. The moderator can also share a QR link directly from the lobby.
  3. 3
    Configure roles: The moderator sets how many Mafia, Doctors, Detectives, and other roles to include. Mafia Night suggests a balanced preset based on player count.
  4. 4
    Assign and reveal: Roles are assigned — randomly or manually — then each player privately taps their card to flip it and see their role, and taps again to hide it.

Night Phase

Everyone closes their eyes (or looks down). The moderator calls each faction in turn:

  • •Mafia wakes: Mafia members open their eyes, silently agree on a target, then close their eyes again.
  • •Doctor wakes: The Doctor points to one player to protect (cannot protect the same player two nights in a row).
  • •Detective wakes: The Detective points to one player; the moderator gives a thumbs up/down for Mafia vs. innocent (the Godfather appears innocent).

The moderator announces who was eliminated (or if the Doctor made a save) and that player is out of the game.

Day Phase

Everyone opens their eyes. The moderator announces the night's result, and discussion begins. Anyone can accuse anyone. After debate, players vote by pointing simultaneously (or raising hands). The player with the most votes is eliminated and reveals their role.

If there's a tie, either hold a run-off vote between the tied players or let the moderator decide — agree on the rule before the game starts.

Winning Conditions

  • •Mafia wins when Mafia players equal or outnumber the remaining Village players.
  • •Village wins when all Mafia members have been eliminated.
  • •Jester wins if voted out by the Village during a day phase.
  • •Serial Killer wins if they are the last player standing.

5 Practical Moderator Tips

  1. 1
    Keep a poker face. Your reactions tell the room everything.
  2. 2
    Set a discussion timer (2–3 min) for the day phase to keep energy high.
  3. 3
    Eliminated players stay silent — they can watch but not speak.
  4. 4
    Agree on tie-break rules before the first night.
  5. 5
    For new players, skip complex neutral roles (Jester, Serial Killer) and start with Mafia + Doctor + Detective + Civilians.
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