This is a game of deception and deduction.

The Players:It requires at least 7 players to play including the host; two players play the mafioso and  detective the rest are citizens (note that at the minimum players the game will only last two rounds, which can still be fun). If there are more players: for every three citizens beyond four add a mafioso, then a detective and so on.

Objective of the Game

The objective of the is to eliminate the opposing faction. As a mafioso it is to kill all remaining opponents down to one. As citizen it is to survive and eliminate the mafioso, and as detectives it is to help the citizens eliminate the mafia.

How to Play

First, by lot, the host chooses who will play the role of mafioso and detective. The game then proceeds in several three stage rounds. The first stage of a round is the mafia stage where everyone closes their eyes and the host asks the mafia members and only the mafia members to open their eyes. At which point they silently confer and choose a person to eliminate. Making note of who they've chosen the host then has the mafia close their eyes, and, starting stage two, asks the detectives to open theirs. The detectives then confer silently and select a person they think is a mafioso; the host silently signals yes or no. Having been informed they close their eyes and, starting stage three, the host asks everyone to open their eyes. The host informs the whole group who has been eliminated and the eliminated person informs the group of their role. The host then initiates and manages some mob justice: two people are accused and brought before the group, often with mafia and detectives subtly manipulating the process. There really is no formal process of choosing; often the impartial host makes sure any nomination is seconded and that if a mafioso has been nominated and seconded that they are brought before the group. The two nominees are given a chance to defend themselves and then a vote is taken, whoever gets the most votes is then eliminated (those eliminated in this way also inform the group of their role). This ends the first round and play continues in the same manner until the victory conditions for either party are met.

The game can be spiced up in several ways. For example instead of mafioso one could play with witches and inquisitors or Bounty Hunters and Bandits. Also, the host can add flair with some appropriate dramatic narrative regarding the deaths and setting.

Games: Minister's Cat