How to Play — LAN Party

A real moderator runs the game on their phone while players see their roles and get eliminated on their own screens — all over local WiFi.

What is LAN Party Mode?

LAN Party is a hybrid between in-person and online play. A real person moderates the game on their phone — calling roles, announcing deaths, running trials — while each player has the app on their own device. Players see their role card privately and get notified when they die. No peeking, no passing the phone.

Everyone must be on the same WiFi network. The moderator's phone hosts the game server directly — no internet connection required.

Players without a phone can still play — the moderator simply adds them as local players. They'll get their role and feedback directly from the moderator, just like in classic in-person mode.

Moderator phone showing Godfather night action with role card and traits

Getting Started

  1. The moderator selects LAN Party from the mode selection screen
  2. A game code appears on screen — share it with your players
  3. Players open the app, tap Join Game, enter the code and their name
  4. Players without the app? No problem — the moderator adds them directly as local players
  5. The moderator adds roles and presses Start — roles are dealt to each phone privately

Player Perspective — Role Reveal

When the moderator calls your name during the role reveal ceremony, your phone lights up. Tap the card to flip it over and discover your secret identity.

Card back Tap to reveal your role 🔮

Spy

Town ✖ Eliminate all hostile factions

Passively observe all mafia activity each night. See who they target.

John
Card back Tap to reveal your role 🔮

Cult Leader

Cult ✖ Eliminate all threats

Convert a player each night. They lose their role and become a Cult Member.

• Immune to night kills • If you die, all cult members die • Appears innocent to Cop
Sarah

Game Phases

Night

The moderator calls each role to wake up. Your phone shows you're in the night phase — close your eyes and wait for your name. When it's your turn, the moderator handles your action. Other players never see your screen.

Day — Discussion

Everyone opens their eyes. The moderator announces what happened during the night. Players discuss and accuse in person — the real social deduction happens face to face.

Day — Trial

The moderator puts a suspect on trial. Players argue their case in person, then the moderator enters the verdict — guilty or innocent.

When You Die

If you're eliminated — whether by the Mafia at night or by a lynch vote during the day — your phone shows you immediately.

You have been eliminated
Unknown role — hooded figure Unknown
Role hidden — mystery preserved
You have been eliminated
Spy role portrait Spy
Role revealed — everyone sees

Depending on the game's role reveal policy, your role may be shown to everyone or kept secret — adding another layer of mystery. The moderator controls this in the game settings.

Why LAN Party?

Real Social Deduction

Talk, argue, and bluff in person — read body language, hear voice cracks, catch liars face to face. No chat bubbles can replace that.

Private Screens

No more passing the phone around. Each player sees their role and death notification privately on their own device.

Human Moderator

A real person runs the game — they set the pace, add drama, and make judgment calls. The app handles the bookkeeping.

No Internet Needed

Everything runs over local WiFi. The moderator's phone is the server. Works at cabins, parties, or anywhere with a router.

Mixed Play

Not everyone has a phone? No problem. The moderator adds phoneless players directly — they get their role and feedback the old-fashioned way, from the moderator.

FAQ

Does everyone need the app?

No! Players with phones get the full LAN experience — private role cards, voting, and death notifications. Players without phones can still play — the moderator adds them as local players and tells them their role directly.

Does it work without internet?

Yes! LAN Party mode works over local WiFi only. The moderator's phone hosts the game server directly — no cloud, no internet required. Everyone just needs to be on the same WiFi network.

How do players join?

The moderator gets a 6-digit game code when they start hosting. Players enter this code in the app to join. Everyone must be on the same WiFi network.

What if a player disconnects?

Players can rejoin with the same name and reclaim their spot. The game state is preserved on the moderator's phone.

How is this different from Online mode?

Online mode is fully automated — no moderator needed, everything runs on servers. LAN Party keeps a human moderator in control while giving players private screens. It's the best of both worlds: real face-to-face social deduction with digital convenience.