· how-to-play · 4 min read
How to Play Werewolf Online
A step-by-step guide to the classic social deduction game — from joining a room to surviving the night. Covers all six game modes and the full phase flow.
Werewolf is a game of hidden roles, sharp questions, and high-stakes votes. PlayWerewolf brings that experience online: no cards to shuffle, no moderator needed, just a browser and your friends.
Starting a Game
- Open PlayWerewolf in your browser.
- Create a room or join one.
- Choose a game mode from six options (see below).
- Toggle Voice Room (AI-narrated with speech) or Text Room (silent, text-only).
- Invite friends or enable AI bots to fill empty seats.
- Start the game when everyone is ready.
Roles are dealt randomly. Most players are Villagers, but a few will secretly be Werewolves — and a handful will have special powers.
The Full Phase Flow
A match progresses through these phases:
Waiting → Role Assignment → Night → Dawn → Discussion → Vote
→ (next round: back to Night) → Game Over → SettlementNight
When night falls, only active roles can act. The night stage order is:
- Werewolves — Vote on a victim (pack voting with tally). You see your wolf pack members.
- Guard (if present) — Protect one player. Cannot protect the same player on consecutive nights.
- Witch — See who the wolves targeted. Use your Heal (save them) or Poison (kill a different player). One heal + one poison total per game.
Dawn
The village learns who died — or that everyone survived (if the Witch healed or Guard protected). If the Hunter was killed, they choose their target now.
Discussion
Turn-based speaking. In Voice Rooms, compose speech acts via template buttons (Claim Role, Report Check, Accuse, Defend, Call Vote, Pass). In Text Rooms, type freely. A 60-second timer keeps things moving. During discussion, a 60-second timer keeps things moving. You can open the Table Read Drawer to view player dossiers, relationship graphs, and speech history.
Vote
All alive players vote to exile one suspect. Ties result in no exile. The exiled player’s role is revealed. If the Idiot is exiled, they flip their card, survive, but lose speech and voting rights.
Settlement
The game ends when one side wins. Settlement shows confetti, your XP and coin rewards with multiplier breakdowns, and full match analysis. Then vote Rematch or return to the lobby.
Six Game Modes
PlayWerewolf supports six modes. Each has a different role composition and difficulty:
| Mode | Players | Roles | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic 6 | 6 | 2W, 2V, Seer, Hunter | Beginner |
| Classic 9 | 9 | 3W, 3V, Seer, Witch, Hunter | Recommended |
| Classic 12 | 12 | 4W, 4V, Seer, Witch, 2 Hunters | Standard |
| Idiot 9 | 9 | 3W, 2V, Seer, Witch, Hunter, Idiot | Advanced |
| Guard 10 | 10 | 3W, 3V, Seer, Witch, Hunter, Guard | Advanced |
| Guard 12 | 12 | 4W, 3V, Seer, Witch, Hunter, Idiot, Guard | Advanced |
In Classic 6, wolves win by Parity (alive wolves >= alive non-wolves). All other modes use Side Kill — one team wins when the other is completely eliminated.
Win Conditions
- Villagers win when all Werewolves are dead.
- Werewolves win when all civilians OR all power roles are dead (Side Kill), or when wolves equal or outnumber the village (Parity in Classic 6).
The Seven Roles
| Role | Camp | Ability |
|---|---|---|
| Werewolf | Wolf | Kills one player each night. Pack votes. |
| Villager | Village | No special ability — pure deduction. |
| Seer | Village | Check one player’s alignment each night. |
| Witch | Village | One heal + one poison total. |
| Hunter | Village | Kill one player when eliminated (exile or wolf kill). |
| Guard | Village | Protect one player per night (not same target consecutively). |
| Idiot | Village | Survive exile — but lose speech and voting rights. |
Consumable Items
Before a match, equip consumable props from the shop. Activated during the game:
- Dice (150 coins) — Swap your role with a random player after deal
- Crystal Ball (300 coins) — Reveal a random player’s identity before round 4
- Magic Doll (300 coins) — Reveal eliminated players’ roles before round 4
- Resurrection Card (300 coins) — Revive one eliminated player before round 4
These are single-use and add a strategic layer to the standard game.
Quick Tips for Beginners
- Villagers should share information carefully. Revealing too much can make you a target.
- Werewolves should blend in. Accusing another wolf can earn trust — if it works.
- Special roles should use their abilities before the village loses them.
- Watch who changes their story — consistency is a sign of innocence.
- Do not be afraid to vote. Even a wrong vote creates information.
Ready to try it? Play now.
