Mafia / Werewolf

🕒 Duration: 10–30 minutes
👥 Players: 7+
🎯 Best for: Group bonding, strategic thinking, roleplay, icebreaking with a twist

🎲 How to Play

Mafia (also known as Werewolf) is a classic social deduction game full of suspense, bluffing, and dramatic reveals.

  1. A moderator secretly assigns roles to each player:

    • 👤 Villagers – try to survive and find the Mafia

    • 🕵️ Mafia (or Werewolves) – try to eliminate villagers

    • 🧙 Optional roles: Doctor, Seer, etc.

  2. The game alternates between:

    • Night Phase – everyone closes their eyes; the Mafia wake up and silently choose someone to eliminate

    • Day Phase – everyone opens their eyes and finds out who “died”; then they discuss and vote to eliminate a suspect

  3. Repeat the cycle until either:

    • All Mafia are eliminated (Villagers win)

    • Mafia equal or outnumber villagers (Mafia win)

💬 Example Roles to Include

  • 👤 Villager – no powers, just vote and survive

  • 🕵️ Mafia / Werewolf – eliminate one player each night

  • 🧙 Seer – can ask the moderator about one player’s role each night

  • 🩺 Doctor – can save one person per night from elimination

  • 🎭 Jester (optional) – tries to get voted out on purpose

➡️ Adapt roles based on group size and how complex you want the game to be.

🧠 Why It Works

  • Encourages critical thinking and teamwork

  • Perfect mix of tension, fun, and drama

  • Helps players open up through playful deception

  • Great for larger groups (especially 8–15 people)

  • Works well in classrooms, team retreats, partie

📎 Materials Needed

  • Role cards (paper slips or a mobile app)

  • A moderator to guide the game
    (Optional: use a timer or bell to manage phases)

🎯 Tip for Online Play: Use breakout rooms or chat features to simulate night actions on platforms like Zoom.