Mafia (2019) Rulebook

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

• Special Characters
  • Judge
  • Detective
  • Doctor
  • Good Informant
  • Bad Informant
  • Old Lady with a Shotgun
• Game Development
  • The Judge's Responsibilities
• Game Phases
• Victory Conditions
• Accusations
• Level 1
  • Night
  • Day
• Level 2
  • Night
  • Day
• Level 3
  • Night
  • Day
• Strategy
• Additional Optional Characters
  • Warring Mafia Gangs
  • Lawyer
  • Drag Queen
  • Firefighter
  • Yakuza
  • The Godfather

Special Characters

Judge

The Judge acts as moderator of the whole game. It is their job to control the flow of play, keep track of who the special characters are, note their night actions, announce killings and witness the lynchings.

Our honourable representative has spent decades fighting organised crime. They have taken part in countless trials under the RICO laws, and although they may not have managed to jail every boss of the Five Families, they have done enough that they no longer accept packages at home and always travel under a false name.

Detective

This exhausted investigator has spent too long in the sewers of organised crime. They are surrounded by corruption, and the dirt is starting to stick. Divorced, with a son who will not speak to them, they have replaced affection with a glass of bourbon.

Each night they try to uncover a killer, but must act carefully: if the mafia discovers that they are a police officer, they will be eliminated immediately to send a message.

Doctor

The Doctor is on duty each night, with the possibility of saving lives. However, they are already exhausted from treating crime victims: wire strangulations, stab wounds and all kinds of gunshot wounds. In the midst of the chaos, they have only an instant to decide whom to save.

They may choose to save themselves, but if they do so too often, they may raise suspicion and be seen as a ruthless doctor, becoming a target for lynching.

The Judge decides whether the Doctor may save the same person several nights in a row or not.

Good Informant

This police informant has a double role: they must win the mafia's trust while secretly helping the innocent civilians in their mission to bring it down.

They walk a very dangerous tightrope: if the mafia suspects they are an informant, they will put a price on their head faster than you can say "sleep with the fishes".

If they are found dead with a canary in their mouth, it is a sign that their cover has been blown.

Bad Informant

They tried to escape that world, but they keep being dragged back in. They work two jobs, but it is not enough to pay the rent. After serving a sentence for mail fraud, this unlucky waitress was forced to work as a spy for her cousin Paulie's mafia.

Their task is to appear innocent while at the same time deflecting suspicion from the mafia and blaming the civilians. Although they have no power to kill, they are part of the mafia team and win if the mafia wins.

Old Lady with a Shotgun

She shoots first and asks questions later. If a stray bullet kills an innocent… well, what a shame. She has lived her whole life in the neighbourhood, watching the area deteriorate and fear grow. Until one day she said: "Enough is enough!" With the old shotgun inherited from her grandmother, this old woman became a formidable force.

She is invincible: the mafia cannot kill her, but if the police question her… she will die of fright.

Game Development

First, choose one player to be the Judge, who moderates the game. You may choose at random, but for the first games it is better to pick someone with experience of the game, or simply someone who knows the rules and is least likely to confuse the group.

The Judge is the most important figure in the game. The Judge does not take part as a player, but controls the pace, the phases and the order of events. Their goal is to ensure the game is played fairly, clearly and entertainingly.

Before dealing the cards, the Judge correctly selects the cards that will be used in the game, taking the number of players into account.

The Judge's Responsibilities

1. Explain the rules before starting. Everyone must understand the phases of the game, the roles and the victory conditions.
2. Deal the role cards. The Judge shuffles the cards and hands them out face down, without looking at them. Then they ask the players to look at their cards in secret.
3. Run the Night.
   • Indicate who must "wake up" at each point (Mafia, Doctor, Detective, etc.).
   • Record each player's decisions quietly.
   • Always keep a composed manner: no gestures, glances or tones that give information away.
4. Narrate the Day.
   • Describe what happened ("Last night, someone was killed…").
   • Coordinate the nominations and defences.
   • Direct the votes and announce the results with authority.
5. Maintain the dramatic tension. A good Judge does not only apply the rules; they tell a story. They can describe the killings with suspense, add theatrical lines or give the game a cinematic tone. This makes the experience much more enjoyable for everyone.

If the players become confused, remember: you are the supreme authority of the game. A good Judge turns a simple game into an unforgettable story.

Game Phases

1. The Judge announces the start of the night. All players must close their eyes and remain silent.
2. The Mafia wakes. The members of the mafia open their eyes silently and choose a victim to eliminate. Then they go back to sleep.
3. The Special Characters act.
   • The Detective wakes and points to someone to investigate.
   • The Doctor wakes and chooses someone to protect.
   • Any other special character with night abilities also acts at this point, as the Judge indicates.
4. The Judge announces the dawn. All players open their eyes. The Judge reveals who was killed during the night (unless the Doctor saved them). That player is out of the game.
5. Discussion and vote. The players debate who they believe belongs to the mafia. Then a public vote is held to decide who will be lynched. The player with the most votes is eliminated and must reveal their identity.
6. New night. The cycle repeats until one faction achieves its objective.

Victory Conditions

• The Innocents win when all members of the mafia have been eliminated.
• The Mafia wins when its number is equal to or greater than the number of remaining civilians.
• Some special characters may have alternative victory conditions, according to the rules agreed before the game begins.

Accusations

Any player may nominate another player they consider suspicious. The accused has a few seconds to defend themselves, explaining why they should not be executed. After hearing the defence, all players vote by raising their hands.

If the majority votes to eliminate the accused, the Judge says: "The people have spoken. [Player name] has been executed." The player dies, reveals their card, and the game returns to the night phase.

Level 1

(7–24 players)

Characters: Judge, Mafia, Civilians

• 7–9 players: Judge, 2–3 mafiosi, 4–5 civilians
• 10–12 players: Judge, 3 mafiosi, 6–8 civilians
• 13–24 players: Judge, 4–6 mafiosi, 8–17 civilians

This is the simplest version of the game. Even with a large group, it is best to begin with the basic game before moving on to more advanced versions, since it offers a good introduction to the dynamics and strategy. You may also play with fewer than 7 players (with 1 Judge, 1 mafioso and 3 civilians), although this is not the best version.

The game is divided into two phases: night and day, beginning with the night. During the night it is recommended to play music or ask all players to hum, to disguise any noise that could give something away.

Night

All players (except the Judge) close their eyes. The Judge tells the mafiosi to open their eyes. They recognise each other and must agree silently on which civilian they will kill. They may communicate, but only through gestures or handshakes, and then they must point to the victim they have chosen. The Judge confirms their choice with a nod of the head.

Judge's script:

Mafia, wake up. Identify your victim. Close your eyes. Everyone, wake up.

Day

The Judge tells all players to open their eyes and begins the day. The Judge announces that there has been a murder during the night and identifies the victim by their real name, not by their character name (unless you are playing a version of the game in which identities are revealed only after someone dies). That player is out of the game and takes no further part.

You can make this phase more fun if the Judge invents a story about how the victim was killed (consult the mafia's case files for ideas about weapons and modus operandi).

All remaining players discuss who they believe is responsible for the killing and then nominate one or more suspects. They must give their reasons for their suspicions. The nominees have the chance to defend themselves before the other players vote to lynch whoever they consider guilty. This phase involves a great deal of intrigue, strategy, wild accusations, protestations of innocence and bluffing. Once a majority of votes is reached, that player is eliminated from the game. If there is no majority, the game continues with another night phase.

The cycles of day and night repeat until all the mafiosi or all the civilians have been eliminated (or until the mafiosi outnumber the civilians).

Level 2

(10–24 players)

Characters: Judge, Mafia, Doctor, Detective, Civilians

• 10–12 players: Judge, Doctor, Detective, 3–4 mafiosi, 4–5 civilians
• 13–24 players: Judge, Doctor, Detective, 4–6 mafiosi, 6–15 civilians

The game is the same as Level 1, with the addition of the following special characters:

Doctor. The Doctor is on duty during the small hours and has the ability to potentially save one person each night.

Detective. The night-time Detective attends the scene of the crime to question a suspect after each killing.

Night

The game begins with a night phase as in the basic game, but after the mafia have made their killing and closed their eyes, the Judge asks the Detective to open theirs. The Detective points to another player and the Judge silently indicates whether that player is innocent or guilty. The Detective closes their eyes, and now has important knowledge that will be carried into the day round.

You may choose to play a version in which, if the Detective correctly identifies a member of the mafia, that mafioso is immediately eliminated from the game. However, this gives the Detective a great deal of power, and it is better to play this way only if the group is especially large and there are many mafiosi in play.

The Judge asks the Doctor to open their eyes and point to someone they wish to save; if it is the same person the mafia attacked, then that person is saved and nobody dies that night.

Judge's script:

Mafia, wake up. Identify your victim. Close your eyes. Detective, wake up. Who will you question? Close your eyes. Doctor, wake up. Who will you save? Close your eyes. Everyone, wake up.

Day

The day round begins as in the basic game, with the Judge announcing the name of the player killed during the night. That player is out of the game, unless they were saved by the Doctor. In that case, the Judge does not reveal who was attacked, but simply announces that there was an attempted murder, but that the victim recovered after receiving emergency medical care.

The players discuss who they think was responsible for the attempted murder. Nominations and defences are made as before, and a voting round is held. Remember that the Detective will know the innocence or guilt of at least one player, but must act with caution: if the mafia discovers who the Detective is, they will certainly kill them at the next opportunity.

If a special character dies (the Doctor or the Detective, and in more advanced versions the informants or the old lady), the Judge may choose to keep the suspense by announcing their name during the night phases, so that the players do not know who is still in the game.

The cycles of day and night repeat until all the mafiosi or all the civilians have been eliminated (or until the mafia outnumbers the civilians).

Level 3

(12–24 players)

Characters: Judge, Mafia, Doctor, Detective, Good Informant, Bad Informant, Old Lady with a Shotgun, Civilians

• 12–16 players: Judge, Doctor, Detective, Good Informant, Bad Informant, Old Lady with a Shotgun, 3–4 mafiosi, 3–6 civilians
• 17–24 players: Judge, Doctor, Detective, Good Informant, Bad Informant, Old Lady with a Shotgun, 4–6 mafiosi, 7–12 civilians

The game is the same as a Level 2 game, with the addition of the following special characters:

Good Informant. The holder of this card pretends to be on the mafia's side, but is in fact a police informant helping the civilians. They know who the mafiosi are, but must be careful when revealing this knowledge for fear of becoming their next victim.

Bad Informant. Pretends to be helping the civilians, but actually works for the mafia. They also know who the mafiosi are, and must work to protect them during the day rounds, but again must be careful not to reveal their identity for fear of being lynched by the civilians.

Old Lady with a Shotgun. An unpredictable and crazy mama! She is essentially innocent, but SHE HAS A GUN! And she is not afraid to use it. She can kill indiscriminately during the night; if the Detective identifies her, she dies of shame, but if the mafia try to kill her, one of them will die in her place! The Judge must select which mafioso is killed.

Night

After the mafia, the Detective and the Doctor have made their moves, the Judge asks the Good Informant to open their eyes, then asks the mafiosi (who keep their eyes closed) to raise their hands to identify themselves. The Good Informant then closes their eyes again.

The Judge asks the Bad Informant to open their eyes and, in the same way, see who the mafiosi are. The Bad Informant closes their eyes.

Then the Judge asks the Old Lady to open their eyes and choose someone to kill. The Old Lady closes their eyes.

Judge's script:

Mafia, wake up. Identify your victim. Close your eyes. Detective, wake up. Who will you question? Close your eyes. Doctor, wake up. Who will you save? Close your eyes. Good Informant, wake up. Mafia, keep your eyes closed and raise your hands. Good Informant, close your eyes. Bad Informant, wake up. [The mafiosi must keep their hands raised. If they have lowered them, ask them to raise them again.] Bad Informant, close your eyes. Mafia, lower your hands. Old Lady, wake up. Fire your gun! Close your eyes. Everyone, wake up.

Day

Again, the Judge begins by announcing the name of the player killed during the night. The Judge does not say whether the death was caused by the mafia or by the Old Lady.

Remember: if the Detective pointed at the Old Lady during the previous round, she dies of shame, and the Judge counts her among the night's victims.

The discussion of the night's events proceeds as in Level 2, but with additional dimensions, since two players (the informants) know the identity of the mafia and must use that knowledge in secret to influence the game in favour of the mafia or the civilians.

Nominations, defences and votes proceed as before, and the cycles of day and night continue until all the mafiosi or all the civilians have been eliminated (or until the mafia outnumbers the civilians).

Strategy

How you play is up to you, but if you want to maximise your chances of surviving and winning, here are some key strategy tips.

Information only for those who need it. All players — not just the mafiosi — should keep their identity secret. If someone reveals which special card they hold, they automatically become a target, both for the mafia's killings and for civilian executions. The less others know, the longer you will survive.

Stay alert. Especially in the first round, watch the behaviour of the others closely. Look at those who seem to have an immediate connection or who defend each other: they could be mafiosi. Pay attention to accusations, passionate defences or suspicious actions. All these details will help you draw your own conclusions.

Keep your friends close… but your enemies closer. It is not wise to constantly provoke other players by nominating them all the time. If they turn out to be innocent, they will probably tire of you and nominate you in the next round. And if they are mafiosi… well, you know how that ends: with some nice cement shoes.

Deception and counter-deception. During nomination rounds, guilty mafiosi often feign innocence, claiming to be another character. If the player who holds that card hears this, they will know the speaker is lying, but cannot reveal their real identity, since that would also put them at risk. This creates a game of deceit in which nobody knows who is telling the truth.

Any character may attempt to bluff. For example, a player may pretend to be the Doctor or the Detective to confuse the mafia. But this is a high-risk strategy: if the mafia believes them, they may try to eliminate them; and if the real Doctor or Detective becomes suspicious, they may doubt their loyalty.

Additional Optional Characters

For large groups (16+), you may want to assign some special roles to players to add more depth and excitement to the game.

The Judge must explain at the start of the game that additional powers have been granted to certain characters, and describe what they are before dealing the cards. The Judge will then ask those players to open their eyes one by one during the night phase so that they can act according to their role.

Warring Mafia Gangs

In games where all the mafia characters are used, you may want to pit two mafia gangs against each other. The game proceeds as usual, but the Judge must make clear that there are two distinct mafia gangs and who belongs to each (the easiest way to divide them is between male mafiosi and female mafiosi, since this makes confusion less likely).

The Judge will then ask each mafia gang to open their eyes separately during the night to carry out its killing. You can make it more fun by inventing mafia gang names for each group.

Lawyer

During the night, the Lawyer chooses someone to defend. That person cannot be tried or executed if nominated the following day.

The Judge decides whether the Lawyer may defend the same person every night or not.

Drag Queen

During the night phase, the Drag Queen may be asked to randomly swap the cards of two players, thereby changing their identities.

Players must continue playing with their new identities.

The Judge decides whether the Drag Queen wakes every night or only from time to time.

Firefighter

When woken during the night, the Firefighter may fulfil the same rescuing role as the Doctor.

Yakuza

This female mafioso may receive a secondary power from the second night onwards. She may sacrifice herself and recruit an innocent to join the mafia. For example, she may do this if she suspects she knows the identity of the Detective or the Doctor, and decides to sacrifice herself to turn one of those special characters into a mafioso.

After using this power, the Yakuza must leave the game.

The Godfather

The Godfather returns from retirement! They come back as the leader of the International Mafia, but are so well protected that nobody knows their identity.

During the night, the Godfather wakes and acts together with the other mafiosi, but if the Detective questions them, they will appear to be an innocent civilian.

However, if the Godfather is killed, the mafia automatically loses the game.