Game Requirements
The Mafia game is played with a standard deck of cards. Depending on the number of players, different amounts of cards are used. There are many variations of this game, especially when playing with a large group of people, where new characters and special rules are invented.
There must always be at least one game moderator who does not hold any cards. Choosing a great orator will add new dimensions to the game, as you will not only play but also immerse yourself in an interesting story in which you will participate and create its course!
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Mafia Player Characters
Aces – mafia characters (the bad guys who commit crimes and “kill” the innocents)
Kings – sheriffs (the good players who influence other players as they learn at least one role during the game)
Queens – doctors (the good ones who can protect the innocents and themselves. They can protect themselves only every other round, as doctors might abuse their position to stay in the game until the end)
All remaining cards – civilians (not completely neutral players as they have the right to vote)
If a lot of players are playing, additional characters are possible. This will add even more surprises to the game, for example:
- Bartender – a mafia member who has the right to cancel the action of any character during the night, e.g., if a doctor is protecting a member, he can cancel the protection.
- Lyncher – considered innocent, can kill one player each night.
- Wizard – on the side of the innocents. Can choose to either kill one of the mafia characters or save someone who is facing death. Appears in the game only once.
- Werewolf – considered innocent, belongs to the mafia at night. If killed, his identity is revealed.
- Curious Tom – has the right to open his eyes at any moment to learn the characters of the players. Often killed because he knows “too much.”
- Grandma with a Shotgun – considered innocent, can kill anyone she wants each night. If she chooses the sheriff, both die. If she chooses a mafia member, she does not die, but one of the mafia members does. No one ever knows who caused the death.
- Cupid and Lovers – Cupid belongs to the innocents and can choose 2 players for the “first night.” One of them dies immediately, the other due to a “broken heart.” Lovers can be revived by the moderator and learn their roles.
- Informer – knows who the mafia is but cannot reveal it to anyone. During the night, the moderator allows them to open their eyes after telling the mafia characters to close their eyes and raise their hands. The informer helps the good players, but if they reveal themselves, they are killed.
- Armored – cannot be killed by the mafia. Can only vote in the game.
- Bandit – helps the mafia, has no voting rights.
- Lawyer – chooses whom to defend. After defending a chosen person, they cannot vote the next day.
- Rambo – can throw a “grenade” at a player, taking the lives of two other players sitting next to them.
- Bus Driver – can secretly switch the roles of two players.
- Outsiders – appear to be innocents, wake up after the mafia and doctors make their choices. If an outsider is chosen for killing, the moderator can secretly hint this to them.
How Many Players Play?
“Mafia” can be played by 5 or more players, so it's best to gather a large group of friends and acquaintances. This way, the game won't get boring, and you'll have a fun evening.
It is said that the most interesting game starts when at least a double-digit number of players are playing.
Playing Mafia with 5-8 players. The cards are distributed as follows:
1 moderator, 2 mafia characters, 1 sheriff, 1 doctor, 0-3 civilians
Playing with 9-12 players
1 moderator, 3 mafia characters, 2 sheriffs, 1 doctor, 2-5 civilians
Playing with 13-16 players
1 moderator, 4 mafia characters, 3 sheriffs, 1 doctor, 4-7 civilians
Objective of the Mafia Game
If you get the mafia cards – aces – your goal is to eliminate all remaining players – sheriffs, doctor, and civilians.
If you get other, non-mafia cards, your goal is to eliminate all mafia characters from the game.
How to Play Mafia?
The game has two phases – day and night. At night, the mafia chooses to “kill” the innocents, and during the day, the good players try to eliminate the mafia characters from the game.
For example, if there are 10 players, the game is played with only 9 cards (the moderator does not receive a card). The game is played with the following cards:
- Ace of Diamonds, Hearts, and Spades – 3 mafia members
- Queen of Hearts – 1 doctor
- King of Spades and Clubs – 2 sheriffs
- Seven of Diamonds, Four of Clubs, Ten of Hearts – 3 civilians
NIGHT
The moderator shuffles the cards and deals one to each player, which they can secretly look at. Once the game starts, all players' cards must be face down and arranged in a circle on the table.
The game begins with the moderator asking all players to close their eyes. Then, at his command, the players with mafia cards open their eyes – this way they find out they are accomplices.
The next task for the mafia is to decide which player they want to eliminate first. They decide this secretly, so the opponents do not understand – by moving their eyes, heads, or showing special agreed hand signals. In this case, the mafia chooses to eliminate the player with the Seven of Diamonds – one of the civilians. Then the mafia members close their eyes again.
Next, the moderator asks the doctor to open their eyes. Again, the doctor secretly shows the moderator which player they want to protect in this round. In this case, the doctor chooses to save the King of Clubs – one of the sheriffs. After choosing a player, the doctor also closes their eyes.
It's the sheriffs' turn to open their eyes. They again have to choose one player. If the chosen player is a mafia member, the moderator signals to them by raising or lowering their thumb.
If the thumb is raised, the sheriffs understand they chose a bad guy; if lowered, a good player. In this case, a civilian is chosen – Four of Clubs. The sheriffs close their eyes.
DAY
Then the moderator, telling a story (because it's more interesting that way!), summarizes what happened. He begins: “Last night, the mafia gang was persistently looking for those who stole their money. Due to ‘dirty games,' they eliminated one of the civilians – Seven of Diamonds, because the doctor chose to protect the wrong person.” The Seven of Diamonds card and the player are removed from the game.
If the doctor had chosen to protect the player selected by the mafia, that player remains in the game. Also, if the mafia had chosen not a civilian, not a sheriff, but the doctor – the doctor is the only player who can save their life.
Next, players discuss for about 3-5 minutes who could be the mafia members. After selecting 2 possible mafia members, for example, Ten of Hearts – a civilian and Ace of Spades – a mafia member, players vote again and choose to eliminate one of them from the game.
In this case, the players make a mistake and eliminate Ten of Hearts – a civilian. The card is taken from the table. An important aspect is that none of the players can show their cards, not even those who have already been eliminated from the game.
Again, the moderator tells all players to close their eyes, and the game starts anew – the mafia chooses a new victim.
Who won?
There are 2 possible outcomes of this game – the bad guys and the good players:
The mafia wins if they manage to eliminate all the remaining players throughout the game. If at the end there are at least 2 mafia members left, the mafia is still considered the winner of the game.
The other players win if all the mafia members are eliminated from the game.
Unexpected circumstances
Sometimes you may find yourself in situations where you don't know how to get out and what move to make. These rules will best help the game moderator. Here are some common circumstances and their solutions:
- Sometimes it happens that a player accidentally opens their eyes at the wrong time. The solution is simple – either start the round over or immediately eliminate that player from the game.
For example, when asking the mafia to wake up, the doctor unexpectedly opens their eyes. The moderator announces a new game or secretly eliminates the doctor.
- If you are the moderator and you forget which character is which and what happened in the last round, you have the right to start the game over to avoid violating the players' interests and not to influence the course of the game driven by sympathies.
For example, you forgot which person the mafia wanted to kill, so you tell everyone to close their eyes again, and the mafia to open their eyes, and ask them again which player was unlucky.
Psychology and tips
It has probably become clear that “Mafia” is a psychological game, so pay attention to players' emotions, body language, glances, breathing. Even if in reality you are close friends with the people you are playing with, keep in mind that in the game they can be your opponents and don't let sympathies win.
Some people are very good at hiding or faking emotions, so when you ask them if they are civilians, mafia, or doctors, and they start smiling naively – don't jump to conclusions.
In the practice of the game, there have been cases where players smile and seem to be lying, although they are actually simple civilians.
Don't be too quiet either, as you may give a false impression and later start talking like crazy. In this case, other players may form the opinion that you are talking only because you want to eliminate them from the game.
If you are a member of the mafia, try not to show signs to each other that indicate you are on the same team. On the contrary – act coldly, ignore each other, you can even start accusing each other. This way, you will confuse other players and have a better chance of winning.
Speaking of the mafia, it's important to learn how to fight – not just to try to eliminate others as quickly as possible, but to sacrifice your own for a more interesting game. For example, if there are 8 players and 2 mafia members, and you have already killed 3 people, with 3 more remaining, you can confuse the players' minds and kill one of your own to win.
No one will ever suspect that the mafia can kill another mafia member, so they will start eliminating their own – the good players. You can sow doubt by commenting that you played well and eliminated another opponent. Such and similar comments have a strong effect on people.
If you are the sheriff, you need to learn how to protect others. If you already know who the good players are, try to keep them safe.
For example, if you are playing against 2 mafia members, and one of them is already dead, you can use your authority to loudly tell other players that there is only one mafia member left in the game, so everyone should unite and defeat them. This style of play is considered aggressive.
History of the Mafia Game
The card game “Mafia” originated in the Soviet Union in 1986. It was created by Dmitry Davidoff while studying psychology at Moscow State University. Initially, its purpose was to be used as a teaching method to demonstrate how group behavior and hidden roles work.
The game quickly became popular among students and spread to many schools in Russia.
The Mafia game reached Western audiences in the 1990s and became a favorite party activity in places like schools, camps, and social events. Its flexible rules and fun style allowed for the creation of many different versions of the game, including special themed versions or playing on online platforms.
Overall, the history of the mafia game shows that it started with educational purposes, became beloved by various cultures, and remains very popular as a social guessing game.
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