Mafia game: rules and printable kit

Secret roles take alternating night and discussion phases. A moderator follows agreed roles, voting and victory conditions.

Suggested group: 8–16
Plan for: A short round; see the steps
Bring: Role cards and moderator

Set up and play

Use one moderator and eight players: two mafia, one detective and five citizens. Shuffle and privately deal the eight role cards. Only mafia know one another.
Night: all close eyes; mafia silently choose one player to remove, then sleep. Detective silently checks one person; moderator indicates mafia or not.
Day: announce the removed player, allow three minutes of discussion, then vote to remove one suspect. Reveal removed roles; ties remove nobody. Eliminated players watch silently.
Only living roles act at night. If the detective is eliminated, skip the check. The moderator uses silent signals.

Finish the game

Citizens win when both mafia are removed. Mafia win when living mafia equal or outnumber all other living players. Check after every removal. This is a fixed eight-player version; change the role balance only with an agreed variant.

Your printable materials

Original starter materials below. Print at 100% scale; turn off browser headers and footers. Select Letter or A4. Review the preview before making a batch.

Paper size

Eight-player secret role cards

MAFIA · You know the other mafia. Choose one player together at night.

DETECTIVE · Check one player each night.

CITIZEN · Discuss and vote during the day.

Moderator sequence

Everyone closes eyes. Mafia choose; then close eyes.
Detective checks; then closes eyes.
Announce the removed player and reveal their role.
Discuss three minutes, vote once. Tie means nobody removed.
Reveal the voted-out role; check victory after each removal.

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Make room for everyone

Invite guests to take a turn or pass. Explain the rules before starting, choose materials that suit your group, and offer a seated or read-aloud option when helpful.