Your Best Alternative Games Like Mafia

/Getting ready for some game night fun with a crowd? Then you may want to look into some of these amazingly fun and similar games like Mafia, the old-school social deduction game for groups ranging from 3 to 21. The games below have similar game mechanics but the themes and gameplay styles vary. You’ll also find some include roles for a storyteller, while others include everyone actively – no moderator needed – and some have player elimination while others don’t. You choose which one will best suit your game night crowd.

The Best 10 Games Like Mafia

One Night Ultimate Werewolf

Age: 8+ (Community 10+) Players: 3-10 Time: 10 minutes

One of the quickest games like Mafia you’ll find is One Night Ultimate Werewolf. The game mechanics are also completely the same, except there’s no moderator and no elimination of players. Plus, instead of taking up to an hour, this one only lasts 10 minutes per game. Repeat as often as you like to keep the game night moving or use it as a crowd-pleasing filler game. The game also incorporates elements of gang wars, where players engage in territorial conflicts among factions.

One Night Ultimate Werewolf drops between 3 and 10 players into a world where werewolves and villagers are at war. Villagers are out to save each other’s lives, while the werewolves want to take them out. Toss in the Troublemaker and the Seer for some unique character actions, and you’ve got yourself a game. Every player type has its own unique abilities to use during play to take out villagers or the werewolves. The game plays out over one morning, in which the village must decide who will be destroyed…and hope they’ve figured out the actual werewolf instead of taking out another innocent life.

For additional gameplay, grab a copy of One Night Ultimate Werewolf: Daybreak.

The Resistance

Age: 13+ (Community 12+) Players: 5-10 Time: 30 minutes

Another party game for a smaller crowd, The Resistance takes on a more meaningful storyline. You can play it casually, of course, but for those needing a little catharsis, too, this game inspired by Mafia puts players into roles fighting against an evil empire. The core mechanics of The Resistance are similar to Mafia’s but enough different that it really changes things up for your game night.

In this narrative, players might feel like a crime boss, orchestrating strategic moves to outwit the empire and dominate the resistance.

The premise for the game: The evil empire must fall and you, the players, must destroy their key bases which will tumble their reign and liberate the people. Spies infiltrate the ranks of The Resistance, though, looking to sabotage the efforts of freedom fighters. During five nights, players must unmask these saboteurs, complete their missions, and save the fight.

The game usually lasts about 30 minutes and works for 5 to 10 players, divided into teams, with no player elimination. Player resources provide more informed decisions and intensify player interactions, making it a highly engaging, fast-paced game. The Resistance plays out over 3 to 5 rounds, with missions against the Empire to carry out. When a team completes three missions, they win the game.

The Castle of the Devil

Age: 10+ Players: 4-8 Time: 20-40 minutes

For a dark turn in social deduction games like Mafia, grab a copy of the classic Castle of the Devil. The card game works for 4 to 8 players and typically lasts between 20 and 40 minutes. The premise: players take on the role of passengers in a carriage that’s rushing to the Devil’s castle. Each player becomes a member of a secret society, but no one knows who each other is – or where their loyalties lie. Two secret societies, or associations, exist within the game, and players receive assignment to one of these at the start of the game, along with a secret profession and special ability. Your mission: collectively, as an association, gather three defined artifacts before reaching the castle. The ultimate goal is to become the most powerful crime boss within the secret societies by outsmarting your opponents and securing the artifacts.

Throughout the game, players must determine who is in their association and which professions the other players hold. These deductions will help the association discover the necessary artifacts for victory. The objects are within the possessions of players already, but each association must manipulate circumstances through deductions to claim the necessary artifacts. During gameplay, too, these artifacts give players abilities, such as looking at each other’s cards, and ultimately, these abilities help players discover identities.

The game is played out in turns, in which certain actions may be taken:

• Trade cards

• Duel

• Spy

• Declare victory

To declare (and claim!) victory, a player must accurately name their association and who has the three artifacts their association needs.

Blood on the Clocktower

Age: 15+ (Community 14+) Players: 6-21 Time: 30-120 minutes

For another dark take on games like Mafia, head to Ravenswood Bluff, where a demon walks amongst the quiet village streets of Blood on the Clocktower. The townsfolk must investigate the murder of the storyteller, whose body is found impaled on the hands of the clocktower, dripping blood to the cobblestone streets below. In the game, you – the players – have varying abilities to gather information and deduce who could be the demon hidden in plain sight, disguised as any other ordinary village human. Players can rise through the ranks, much like a powerful crime boss, as they manipulate and control the narrative to achieve their goals.

Blood on the Clocktower asks 6 to 21 players to put on their best bluffing skills as they take on the roles of Good and Evil or the murdered Storyteller who guides the actions and decisions made by the other players. The town must deduce the identity of the demon during day phases while they socialize openly – and whisper privately – to exchange knowledge and spread lies. One player is executed at the end of each round – whoever is suspected (and voted on) as the demon. During the night phases of the game, players close their eyes and awaken only when the Storyteller calls on their unique characters to gather clues, kill, or spread mischief.

One thing that makes Blood on the Clocktower distinctive from other games like Mafia is that the Storyteller uses intricate playing pieces on the board or table to guide play. And those players who are executed come back to haunt the village instead of being eliminated and still have the chance to win.

Cheese Thief

Age: 8+ Players: 4-8 Time: 10-15 minutes

For a completely different take on the themes for most social dedication games, find yourself a copy of the adorable – and silly – game of Cheese Thief. The fantasy world is populated with sleepyheads full of daydreams about cheese. But among those dreamers, one dastardly thief hides and they mean to take all the cheese for themself!

In Cheese Thief, there is no moderator, no set pattern, and no player elimination. The game uses a die to help create new scenarios each game for a unique twist on game mechanics, as well. This unique twist makes Cheese Thief feel like a definitive edition of social deduction games, offering a fresh and engaging experience. So, whoever the thief is may get away with it on their own, or may need the help of minions (bribed with stolen cheese, of course!) – or the sleepyheads may save the cheese!

Deception: Murder in Hong Kong

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 4-12 Time: 20 minutes

For between 4 and 12 players, lasting about 20 minutes each play, Deception: Murder in Hong Kong has become one of the most favored games like Mafia around. Players take on the roles of investigators trying to discover the murderer, but there’s a twist – among the Investigators, the Murderer and their Accomplice are hiding.

The presence of childhood friends among the Investigators adds an emotional layer, as personal loyalties and professional duties clash. This narrative depth is reminiscent of the character-driven storytelling found in the Mafia Trilogy, which also focuses on crime drama and complex relationships.

Other player characters include the Witness and the Forensic Scientist. These two characters help the Investigators find their way to the truth, but the Murderer and Accomplice are tossing in their monkey wrenches to throw the Investigators off the scent.

The Forensic Scientist has the answers, while the Witness has clues to offer – but they can only communicate through special scene tiles. If the Murderer winds up being successfully arrested, they can identify the Witness, the Witness is then considered “dead”, and the Murderer and their Accomplice could still win the game. It all depends on how well the Investigators interpret clues and deduce who’s bluffing and who’s innocent.

Scape Goat

Age: 14+ (Community 12+) Players: 3-6 Time: 30 minutes

There’s a billy goat crime syndicate in town, and you – the players – are the criminal masterminds leading the way. But before you can pull off your greatest caper, to steal the coveted Golden Hoof from the secure bank vault in Barn City, you’ve got to find a way to keep yourselves covered. Much like navigating the gritty landscape of Liberty City in the Grand Theft Auto series, you must deal with crime, wealth disparity, and personal struggles. That means you’re looking for a Scape Goat.

In Scape Goat, players must try to pin the crime on someone else – anyone else! – to get away scot-free. But the twist is, you don’t know for sure who’s getting framed. It could be anyone at the table, even you! To pull it off, players trade cards, make deductions and figure out who the Scape Goat is before the coppers catch ‘em.

Secret Hitler

Age: 13+ (Community 14+) Players: 5-10 Time: 45 minutes

A game of political intrigue set in 1930s Germany, Secret Hitler is another social deduction game like Mafia. The setting of Secret Hitler is as immersive as the fictionalized 1980s Miami in Vice City, drawing players into its historical context. Every player in the game is assigned a role: fascist or liberal – and one player is the Secret Hitler. The fascists aim to feed mistrust among the people of Germany and install their evil leader while the liberals seek to stop the fascists from advancing – and stopping Hitler from taking power.

At the start of the game, players see their cards and understand their secret identities. Everyone closes their eyes and the fascists then reveal themselves to each other, though Secret Hitler keeps their eyes closed and puts up their thumb so the fascists know their identity without revealing themselves in return. During each round, players elect a President and a Chancellor who then work together to enact laws from a random deck. If fascist laws are passed, players must decide if they were unlucky or if they were betrayed by the fascists. Ultimately, the goal of the game for the liberals is to pass 5 liberal policies or assassinate Secret Hitler. If the fascists pass 6 of their own laws or elect Secret Hitler to power and pass three fascist policies, they win.

Shadows Over Camelot

Age: 10+ Players: 3-7 Time: 60-90 minutes

For a longer game like Mafia, or if you are looking for similar games that offer thrilling group dynamics, get a copy of the well-beloved game of Shadows Over Camelot. The game works for 3 to 7 players and lasts between 60 and 90 minutes, with each player representing a knight of the Round Table. The cooperative game pits the Knights of the Round Table against evil in the search for the Holy Grail. The problem is, secretly among them, the Black Knight aims to beat out the competition and steal the grail for himself. Players must complete several quests – including defeating the Black Knight – to save Camelot.

On each turn, a knight chooses a heroic action – like starting a new quest, building their hand, or advancing the forces of good – as well as three evil actions. They must then collaborate with other knights to complete their quests. Failed quests result in black swords or siege engines being sent to Camelot. White swords are earned through completing quests successfully.

Locke and Key: Shadow of Doubt

Age: 12+ Players: 3-6 Time: 30-60 minutes

Based on the award-winning graphic novel Locke & Key, this game like Mafia takes players into a new social deduction direction. Locke and Key: Shadow of Doubt takes players into their new home in Lovecraft, MA, where they must explore and discover powerful keys to save the day. This game could be considered the definitive edition of social deduction games due to its unique mechanics and engaging narrative. Powerful allies – and enemies – are gained along the journey, while players work together to bring the pieces of the past into focus. Among players, though, demons may lurk, seeking to destroy their plans for good. Players must race against the clock to keep the Black Door sealed and prevent the horde of demons from unleashing on the innocent world.

Open World Crime Games

Explore expansive worlds with crime elements and dynamic storytelling.

Open-world crime games offer players the freedom to explore vast environments, engage in various criminal activities, and experience dynamic storytelling. These games often feature complex characters, branching narratives, and multiple endings, allowing players to shape the game world through their choices. The Mafia Trilogy stands out in this genre, offering a rich narrative experience set in a historical context with character-driven storytelling and a focus on crime drama.

Some notable open-world crime games include:

• Grand Theft Auto V: An open-world masterpiece set in the fictional city of Los Santos, where players can explore, complete missions, and engage in various criminal activities. The game offers a rich narrative with three playable characters, each with their own storylines that intertwine in unexpected ways.

• Red Dead Redemption 2: An open-world western epic set in the late 1800s, where players take on the role of Arthur Morgan, a member of the Van der Linde gang. The game captures the decline of the American Old West, offering a deeply immersive experience with a compelling story, complex characters, and a richly detailed world.

• Watch Dogs: Legion: An open-world action-adventure game set in a futuristic London, where players can recruit and control a team of resistance fighters to take down a corrupt government. The game features a unique mechanic that allows players to control any character they encounter, each with their own skills and backstory.

These games offer a unique blend of exploration, strategy, and storytelling, allowing players to immerse themselves in the world of crime and deception.

Mafia Games with a Twist

A Third-Person Crime Story With A Pair Of Villainous Protagonists

For those who enjoy a darker, more intense take on the crime genre, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days offers a thrilling experience. This third-person shooter follows the chaotic journey of two notorious criminals, Kane and Lynch, as they navigate the gritty underworld of Shanghai. The game is known for its raw, unfiltered portrayal of violence and its unique visual style, which mimics the look of amateur documentary footage. With its intense action sequences and dark humor, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days provides a fresh and gripping twist on traditional mafia games, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

A Humorous Take On The Open Crime Genre

If you’re looking for a more lighthearted and comedic approach to the open-world crime genre, the Saints Row series is the perfect choice. Unlike the serious tone of many mafia games, Saints Row embraces over-the-top action and wacky characters, delivering a fun and outrageous gaming experience. From battling rival gangs with absurd weapons to engaging in wild, over-the-top missions, Saints Row offers a refreshing and humorous take on the open-world crime genre. It’s a great option for fans of mafia games who want to enjoy a more playful and entertaining experience.

Crime Dramas with Great Storytelling

Dive into gripping narratives that capture the essence of crime and deception.

Crime dramas with great storytelling offer players a chance to experience gripping narratives that explore the complexities of crime and deception. These games often feature complex characters, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists, keeping players engaged and invested in the story. In many of these games, players take on the role of a crime boss, managing rackets and engaging in strategic combat to dominate the city and ascend the criminal hierarchy.

Some notable crime dramas with great storytelling include:

• L.A. Noire: A detective game set in 1940s Los Angeles, where players take on the role of Cole Phelps, a detective tasked with solving a series of crimes and uncovering a conspiracy. The game is known for its detailed facial animations and interrogation mechanics, which add depth to the investigative process.

• Mafia III: A crime drama set in 1960s New Orleans, where players take on the role of Lincoln Clay, a Vietnam veteran seeking revenge against the Italian mafia. The game offers a rich narrative that explores themes of family, betrayal, and revenge, set against the backdrop of a racially charged and turbulent era.

• Sleeping Dogs: An open-world action-adventure game set in Hong Kong, where players take on the role of Wei Shen, an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating the Triads. The game combines intense martial arts combat, thrilling car chases, and a gripping story that delves into the criminal underworld of Hong Kong.

These games offer a unique blend of storytelling, characters, and gameplay, allowing players to experience the world of crime and deception in a more immersive and engaging way.

Classic and Influential Games

A Crime Sim Inspired By The Classic GTA Games On The PS1

For those who have a fondness for the classic Grand Theft Auto games on the PS1, American Fugitive is a nostalgic trip down memory lane. This crime sim captures the essence of the original GTA games with its top-down gameplay style and open-world exploration. Set in a small American town, players take on the role of a fugitive on the run, engaging in various criminal activities to clear their name. With its retro aesthetic and classic gameplay mechanics, American Fugitive offers a perfect blend of nostalgia and excitement, making it a great choice for fans of mafia games and the open-world genre.

Also Read: The Most Playable Games Like Charades

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a bit of change from old-school social deduction games or want a more formalized gameplay, these board games like Mafia will do the trick! If you enjoy the excitement and dynamics of playing Mafia, you might also wonder if there are similar games that can provide an equally thrilling experience for group gatherings. Explore themes of evil versus good, political intrigue, cheese thievery, and wild capers through any of these crowd-pleaser games. Consider the group size you want to host and preferred themes and moods and make sure you’ve got games that accommodate the gathering.

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