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Mafia
Classic social deduction — pass the phone
Players
6
Options
Narrator / Moderator
Choose the moderator together before starting; the app will not pick them for you.
Custom player names
Type names instead of "Player 1, 2…"
Role breakdown

Player 1 of 6
Player 1
🙈

Everyone else: look away.
Pass the phone to this player.

Hold to reveal your role
Player 1
🔪
Mafia

🌙
Roles are dealt
The phone runs each night and the secret vote. Look away unless it is your turn.
Mafia confirm one target. The Detective gets a private answer. The Doctor can protect anyone alive, including themselves. Morning names a victim and that role, or says the night was quiet. Then every living player locks one vote. A tie eliminates nobody.
Night
Your action

Mafia is the classic social deduction party game where hidden Mafia members try to eliminate villagers one by one while the town debates who to vote out. Perfect for 4–16 players at house parties, team events or family gatherings — the only equipment you need is a single phone passed between players. With roles including Detective and Doctor alongside Mafia and Villagers, every round delivers bluffing, betrayal and unforgettable moments.

Guide last updated

👥Players:3–16
🎂Age:13+
⏱️Duration:20–40 min
🎯Difficulty:Medium
📋 How to play
  1. 1Before opening the app, agree who will moderate. Set the total player count between 3 and 16, turn Narrator on, and select the chosen person. Names are optional; when names are off, choose their Player number.
  2. 2The app keeps the chosen Narrator out of the playing roles and shuffles the remaining deal. Mafia count is one for every four playing roles (at least one). Detective appears at five playing roles, Doctor at seven. You do not toggle those two by hand.
  3. 3Pass the phone. Each player holds the button to read their own card, then hides the screen before the next person.
  4. 4Night starts on the phone. It visits every living player in seat order. Mafia confirm a target, the Detective gets a private Mafia or not-Mafia answer, the Doctor protects one living player including themselves, and everyone else just passes the phone on. Actions resolve together at the end of the night.
  5. 5The morning screen names anyone who died and that player's role, or says nobody was eliminated. It does not announce whether a Doctor save happened. Each living player then holds the phone and locks one secret vote. You cannot vote for yourself. The player with strictly the most votes is eliminated and their role is shown. A tie eliminates nobody. Town wins when no Mafia remain. Mafia win when they equal or outnumber the living town.
Example, hosting notes and questions
Worked example

Eight players, Narrator off. The deal is two Mafia, one Detective, one Doctor and four Villagers, because eight divided by four is two, and both special roles have unlocked. If the same eight include a Narrator, only seven cards are playing roles: one Mafia, one Detective, one Doctor and four Villagers.

Variations in this app

No moderatorLeave Narrator off. Everyone is dealt a playing role. The phone still runs the night passes and the day vote.

With a moderatorTick Narrator. That seat is not dealt a playing role and does not appear in the night queue or the vote. Use three extra players at least: three people plus a narrator is blocked, because one Mafia would already equal one Villager.

Hosting it
  • Sit everyone where they can pass one phone without showing the screen. Hold-to-reveal covers the deal, every night action and every vote.
  • Discuss out loud during the day, then vote on the phone one player at a time. The tally stays hidden until the last vote is locked.
  • A group of three with the narrator switch on cannot start. Add a player so the Mafia begin outnumbered.
💡 Tips for more fun
  • 🎭Mafia players should volunteer questions and act surprised during Day discussions — silence is suspicious.
  • 🔍If you are the Detective, share your findings strategically. Revealing too early can make you a Mafia target.
  • 💉Doctors: protect yourself on the first night, then switch to guarding the player you think is the Detective.
  • 📣Encourage players to give specific reasons when nominating someone — vague accusations are easy to deflect.
🎮 You might also like
🎭ImpostorSpot the odd one out🔍AlibiCatch the lying game🤔Would You RatherImpossible dilemmas
❓ Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for Mafia?
The stepper runs from 3 to 16. A Detective is added once five people are playing roles, and a Doctor once seven are. With a Narrator chosen, that person sits out and is not dealt a playing role, so the role maths uses everyone else. Six to ten is the comfortable range.
Do you need a narrator to play Mafia?
No. The Narrator switch is off by default, and the game can run the night sequence without a moderator. If you want one, agree who it will be together before using the app, turn on Narrator, and select that person. The app excludes the chosen person from the shuffled playing roles; they do not vote, get targeted, or take night actions.
What are the different roles in Mafia?
The core roles are Mafia (hidden criminals), Villagers (innocent townspeople), Detective (investigates one player per night), and Doctor (protects one player per night). The Narrator is an optional moderator who is not a game participant.
How long does a game of Mafia take?
A typical round lasts 20 to 40 minutes depending on player count and how quickly the group discusses and votes. Larger games with 10+ players can run longer.
Can Mafia be played without this app?
Yes — Mafia is traditionally played with cards or slips of paper to assign roles. This app replaces the physical cards and handles the role-reveal sequence digitally. If your group wants a moderator, choose that person together before assigning roles.