Mafia
Who's lying? A secret-role mind game teens will beg to play every week.
7–25 players · about 30 minutes · Calm / mind game · Small room, Big room
What you need
- Playing cards (to give out secret roles)
Setup
Sit in a circle. A leader is the narrator. Secretly assign roles with cards: 2–3 Mafia (aces), one Doctor (king), one Detective (queen), and the rest Townspeople.
How to play
- Night: everyone closes their eyes. The narrator wakes the Mafia, who silently pick someone to "take out."
- The Doctor wakes and chooses someone to save. The Detective wakes and points to one person, and the narrator nods if that person is Mafia.
- Day: everyone wakes up. The narrator tells a dramatic story of who got taken out (unless the Doctor saved them).
- The town debates and votes to accuse someone. The accused is out and reveals their card.
- Repeat until all Mafia are found, or the Mafia outnumber the town.
How to win
The town wins if they find every Mafia member. The Mafia wins if they outnumber the town.
Leader tips
- A funny, dramatic narrator makes or breaks this game.
- Players who are out can stay and watch with their eyes open at night. They love knowing the secret.
Ways to change it up
Werewolf
Same game with a werewolf theme instead. Some groups prefer it.