KIRA:
TRUE NAME
Variant 2 — Mafia-styled Death Note. Lighter, faster (5-10 players, 25 min). For team-faction variant see KIRA: Shadows.
Kira's biggest enemy is the clue economy. Every clue token traded is a possible name fragment surfacing. L is the threat — but using L's investigation publicly tips off Kira.
Players Required
The Roles
8 archetypes
Light Yagami / Kira
Once per night may attempt one elimination — but ONLY if has both a true-name clue AND a face confirmation on the target. Wins by eliminating enough players or surviving past the final round.
L
Once per day investigates one player. Server returns: "Highly Suspicious / Unclear / Clean." Wins if Kira is voted out and arrested.
Misa Amane
Once every 2 rounds may reveal one player's true name. Loses one vote next day after using it. Wins with Kira.
Ryuk
Neutral chaos role. Once per game may trigger an "Apple Drop" — scrambles clues, swaps two random clue tokens, forces an extra public vote. Wins by maximum chaos at game end.
Student
Commoner class. Once per game may protect one player overnight (blocks Kira's elimination).
Reporter
Commoner class. Once per game may force one public clue reveal.
Police Clerk
Commoner class. Once per game may check whether a player has been investigated before (and by whom).
Witness
Commoner class. If eliminated, gets to publicly name one player they think is guilty as their dying breath.
How a Round Plays
Night Phase
Only special roles act privately: Kira eliminates (if has name+face clues), L investigates, Misa reveals a name, Ryuk may use chaos. Commoner one-shots can also fire here.
Morning Reveal
Eliminated player's ROLE is revealed (not their clues). Survivors learn who died but not the path.
Day Phase — Investigation
Open discussion. Each player may accuse, spend clue tokens to inspect, trade tokens, defend, or stay silent. 5-min discussion timer recommended.
Trial Vote
Vote one player onto trial. Majority wins. Trial player's role is revealed. If Kira → good wins. If not Kira → that player is removed; paranoia tilts toward Kira.
Win Conditions
Kira side
Kira eliminates enough players that the good side can't form a vote majority OR survives past the final round without being correctly arrested.
Good side
Kira is correctly voted out in a Trial.
Ryuk
Game ends with maximum chaos: high body count + at least one wrong arrest + no clear confidence in the result.
Misa
Wins with Kira.
Designer Notes
The Name+Face clue requirement prevents random killing — Kira has to actually invest in scouting targets. This makes Kira's behavior trackable: who has Kira been near? Who has Kira tried to socialize with? L's investigation gives partial info, never full. Misa is canonical sacrifice — using her power makes her a target. Ryuk is pure chaos. The commoner classes (Student/Reporter/Police Clerk/Witness) give every player a one-shot ability, so even non-special players have agency. Casual, party-friendly, 25–40 min.
Strategy
- Kira: bait clue tradesEngage in trades to spread your clues — but never offer face confirmations to targets you intend to kill (creates a reverse-tracking trail).
- L: triangulate from inactivityInvestigate quiet players first. Highly active players are usually NOT Kira (they're building social cover). Quiet players who avoid trades are suspicious.
- Misa: time the revealReveal a name only when Kira is set up to use it. Wasted reveals waste a vote AND signal Misa's identity.
- Commoners: hold one-shots until lateStudent's protect, Reporter's reveal, Police Clerk's check — all one-shots. Save them for round 4-5 when stakes are highest.
Ready to Play?
Pass-and-play offline with friends, or host an online room and play cross-device with anyone.