
- BGG rank
- BGG #2,874
- BGG rating
- 6.4
Werewolf
- 8–24 players
- 60 min
- Complexity 1.4/5
- 1986

2007
Rules assistance for Mafia
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
For 7 players

What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mafia is a board game released in 2007 for 7–22 players, 30–60 minutes per game, and ages 8 and up. It was designed by Dimitry Davidoff and its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Memory.
There's a mafia loose in Spytown. Bandits terrorize the city and its inhabitants. They are perfectly prepared and operate in complete secrecy. The police launch a counterattack. He sends his best officers to Spytown and introduces a secret agent into the ranks of the mafia. Will the law enforcement officers manage to break up the gang? Will the mafiosi manage to eliminate all the policemen? An extremely dangerous game begins. Mafia is an addictive psychological game based on the pattern of a popular party game. It can be played by adults and children, and is perfect for all kinds of events, integration trips, camps, community centers, etc. Its unique formula allows a large group of players to play together at the same time. The set includes tokens used in the basic version of the game, as well as cards that allow advanced players to intriguingly expand the rules and enriching the gameplay.
Mafia supports 7–22 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Mafia is 30–60 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Mafia for ages 8 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Mafia has a complexity rating of 1.3 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Mafia belongs to these categories: Party Game, Deduction, and Mafia. Its main mechanics are Variable Player Powers, Player Elimination, and Memory. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Mafia are: Dimitry Davidoff. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Mafia as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.