Objective

In The Mafia Game, players are divided into two teams: the Mafia and the Townspeople. The Mafia’s goal is to eliminate all Townspeople without revealing their identities. The Townspeople aim to identify and eliminate the Mafia members. The game alternates between Night and Day phases until one team achieves its win condition.

Roles

• Mafia Members: Work together to eliminate Townspeople. They know who each other are.
• Townspeople: Try to identify and vote out Mafia members. They do not know who the Mafia are.

Setup

1. Assign Roles:
   • Use a deck of cards or slips of paper to assign roles randomly.
   • For a 6-player game: 2 Mafia, 4 Townspeople.
   • Adjust the number of Mafia members for larger groups (e.g., 3 Mafia for 10-12 players, 4 Mafia for 13-16 players).
2. Roles are Secret: Each player looks at their role card in private and keeps it hidden from others.

Phases of the Game

1. Night Phase:
   • All players close their eyes.
   • The Mafia members open their eyes and silently choose a Townsperson to eliminate.
   • The chosen victim is marked without revealing the Mafia’s identities.
2. Day Phase:
   • All players open their eyes.
   • The eliminated Townsperson is revealed and removed from the game.
   • Players discuss who they believe the Mafia members are.
   • Players can accuse and defend themselves.
   • A vote is held to eliminate a suspected Mafia member. If a majority vote is reached, the accused player is eliminated.

Game Progression

• The game alternates between Night and Day phases.
• During the Day, discussions, accusations, and voting are key elements.
• The game continues until either all Mafia members are eliminated (Town wins) or the Mafia members outnumber the Townspeople (Mafia wins).

Rules

1. Silence During Night: No talking or signaling is allowed during the Night phase.
2. Majority Vote: A player is only eliminated during the Day if a majority vote is reached.
3. No Revealing Roles: Eliminated players do not reveal their roles until they are out of the game.

Strategy Tips

• For Mafia Members:
  • Blend in with Townspeople.
  • Use deception to mislead others.
  • Coordinate silently during the Night phase.
• For Townspeople:
  • Pay attention to behavior and voting patterns.
  • Form alliances but be wary of betrayal.
  • Use logic and deduction to identify inconsistencies.

Endgame

• The game ends when one team achieves its win condition:
  • Town Wins: All Mafia members are eliminated.
  • Mafia Wins: The number of Mafia members equals or exceeds the number of Townspeople.

Variations

• Additional Roles: Add roles like Detective, Doctor, or Vigilante for more complexity.
• Timed Rounds: Limit the Day phase to a set time for faster gameplay.

Enjoy the game of Mafia, where strategy, deception, and deduction are your greatest tools!