- BGG rank
- BGG #17,146
- BGG rating
- 6.9
Mafia the Party Game
- 7–36 players
- 20 min
- Complexity 1.7/5
- 2014
- BGG rank
- BGG #21,765
- BGG rating
- 6.8
Mafia
2019
Rules assistance for Mafia
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 7–24 players
- 30–180 min
- 12+
- Complexity 3.5/5
For 7 players
Rules assistant for Mafia
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Mafia is a board game released in 2019 for 7–24 players, 30–180 minutes per game, and ages 12 and up. It was designed by Angus Hyland and its main mechanics are Traitor Game.
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About the game
Will you survive the game of Mafia? Two teams compete in this delightfully deadly party game. Based on the classic role-playing strategy game, it’s kill or be killed as innocent city folk pit their wits against a mob of ruthless international gangsters. Engage in a tangled web of intrigue, subterfuge, wild accusations, protestations of innocence and bluffing. Includes 24 street character cards, crime-scene notepad and definitive game guide with rules, case files, tactical tips and ideas for advanced play. To begin a judge must be picked and they will take notes of moves. Character cards are dealt face down to each player. There are three levels of game you can play, described in The Ultimate Mafia Bible. In the most basic version of the game the judge asks all players to close their eyes. The mafia are then asked to open their eyes and silently pick a victim. All players then open their eyes and the victim is announced. The living players must then identify a suspect. That suspect is eliminated and this marks the end of round one. The game continues until all mafia or all civilians have been killed. —description from publisher
Categories
Mechanics
Designers
Publishers
- Gameology (Gameology Romania)
- Laurence King Publishing Ltd
Questions and answers
Mafia supports 7–24 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 30–180 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 12 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 3.5 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a medium-weight 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: Mafia. Its main mechanics are Traitor Game. 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: Angus Hyland. 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.