Nightfall: Online Mafia with Friends
Secret roles. The town hunts the Mafia by day; every player makes a move at night.
Social deduction · 4 to 16 players · about 20 minutes · free to host, nothing to download, TV optional
About the game
Nightfall is our version of Mafia, the folk game of secret roles, night kills and loud accusations. It takes 4 to 16 players and a game runs about 20 minutes, longer with a big table. It is at its best with 7 to 12, enough for two Mafia, a Detective and a Doctor to hide among the villagers.
Nobody has to sit out as moderator: the game narrates each night and dawn on the TV, or on everyone's own screen if there is no TV. On a video call, each player opens the room on their own device and picks "Just this screen", then you argue it out over the call.
How to play
- Check your secret role on your own screen, then hide it. The town needs to find the Mafia. The Mafia know each other and need to stay hidden.
- At night, everyone makes a move on their screen, so nobody stands out. Mafia choose a target, the Detective checks a player, and the Doctor protects someone (themselves included). Everyone else records a suspicion. The night ends when all living players have acted or the clock runs out.
- At dawn, see what happened. Talk it through, then vote for the player you suspect, or Skip. A tie, or as many Skips as the top name, means nobody is voted out. A player who is out can watch but cannot vote.
- The town wins when no Mafia remain. The Mafia win when they equal or outnumber the other surviving players.
Open a room for Nightfall. No app, no accounts, free to host.
Tips to play well
- Votes are secret, but whoever pushes hard for a Skip on day one often has a reason to want nobody out.
- Detective, do not reveal too early. Your results are private to you, and the Mafia's first target after you speak up will be you, unless the Doctor guesses right.
- Doctor, protecting yourself is allowed and is often right once you have hinted at a role. Otherwise guard whoever the town trusts most.
- Mafia, agree a target fast. If your votes split, the game takes the most voted name, and a tie goes to whoever sits first in the room order, which may not be the player you wanted.
- Once every living player presses Ready, the discussion ends early. Use it when the room has made up its mind.
Host settings
- Mafia: Defaults to about one per four players, never fewer than one. The lobby caps it so the Mafia always start as a clear minority.
- Detective and Doctor: The Detective is on by default from 5 players, the Doctor from 6. Neither can be added below those numbers.
- Reveal roles of the dead: On by default: a night victim's role is shown. Players voted out are always revealed.
- Night, Discussion, Voting: Night 15 to 120 seconds (45 by default), Discussion 60 to 600 seconds (180 by default, 240 with 10 or more players), Voting 15 to 120 seconds (45 by default).
Questions people ask
How many people do you need?
At least 4, up to 16. With 4 you get one Mafia and no special roles; the Detective joins at 5 and the Doctor at 6.
Do we need a moderator?
No. The game assigns roles, runs the night, counts votes and announces each death, so everyone gets to play.
Can we fill the table with computer players?
Yes, the host can add bots. They take their night move, press Ready and vote, but they pick at random, so they make a game playable rather than clever.
Is it free?
Yes. The host opens a room for free and friends join with the four letter code on any device, no account needed.
Similar games
- Odd One Out: Everyone gets the same secret word, except one. Trade hints, then vote out the bluffer. 4 to 12 players, about 15 minutes.
- Spy Grid: Two handlers, one 5×5 grid, one-word clues. Find your words before the trap. 4 to 16 players, about 15 minutes.
- Two Truths: Write two truths and a lie on your screen. The TV puts one player on the spot; spot the lie or get fooled. 3 to 12 players, about 15 minutes.
- Most Likely To: The TV asks who is most likely to. Everyone points at someone, even themselves. Read the room to score. 3 to 16 players, about 10 minutes.
Guides
- Games Like Among Us: 16 Social Deduction Games Online, Free, in a Browser and in Person: The best games like Among Us compared: free and paid, PC, mobile, browser and in-person social deduction games, with player counts and prices.
- 28 Halloween Party Games for Kids, Adults, the Office and Video Calls (With a Running Order): 28 Halloween party games with players, time and what you need, plus original spooky word lists and a running order for the whole night.
- How to Play Mafia: Rules, Roles by Group Size, a Moderator Script and Strategy: Mafia game rules from setup to the last vote: role counts for 6 to 16 players, a word for word moderator script, strategy, variants and online play.
- Party Games: 62 of the Best Party Games for Any Group, Room and Mood (With a Chooser): 62 of the best party games, sorted by group size, energy, setting and props, each with players, time, what you need and how to play.