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6 player setup

How to play Mafia with 6 players

The balanced 6-player Mafia setup is 1 Mafia, 1 Doctor, 1 Detective, and 3 Villagers. It's ideal for a small group with players new to Mafia and takes about 12–18 minutes per round.

12–18 min 6 roles total

Recommended role distribution

RoleCountShare of table
Mafia117%
Doctor117%
Detective117%
Villagers350%

Hosting notes

Six is the smallest balanced setup with breathing room. Beginners learn the rhythm here before scaling up.

6-player tips

  • Encourage the Detective to share gentle hints rather than full reveals.
  • Doctor should self-protect at least once in the game.
  • Run a short tutorial round before scoring matters.

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