How to Play the Imposter Game

What you need

You need at least 3 players and one phone, tablet or computer with a modern web browser. There is no app to install, no account to create and nothing to print.

In Pass & Play, one device is enough for 3 to 20 players. In an online room, each player uses their own phone, and a room holds 3 to 16 players.

Setting up

Choose Pass & Play or an online room and add your players. Pick one or more word packs, or type in your own custom word list. Then choose how many imposters to play with, how long the discussion lasts and how many clue rounds to play. Good starting points:

• 1 imposter for 3 to 6 players
• 2 imposters for 7 to 12 players
• 3 imposters for 13 or more players
• Discussion timer: off, 1, 2, 3 or 5 minutes, with 2 minutes as the default
• Clue rounds: 1, 2 or 3, with 2 as the default

Getting your role

The app picks a secret word from your packs. Every player sees it except the imposter, who is told that they are the imposter. Similar word mode changes this, as explained under Variants.

In Pass & Play, hand the phone to each player in turn. They tap to reveal their role, check it without letting anyone else see, then pass the phone on. In an online room, everyone sees their role on their own screen.

Giving clues

A random player starts, and clues go around in order. On your turn, give one word or a short phrase linked to the secret word. You cannot say the word itself.

The trick is balance. A clue that is too obvious hands the word to the imposter, and a clue that is too vague makes you look suspicious. With 2 clue rounds, everyone gives two clues before the discussion. Online rooms can play with spoken clues or with clues typed into the app.

Discussion

When the clues are done, talk it over. Which clue did not quite fit? Who took a long time to answer? Who is pushing hardest to blame someone else?

The discussion timer keeps things moving. The default is 2 minutes, and you can set it to 1, 3 or 5 minutes or switch it off.

Voting

When the discussion ends, everyone votes for the player they think is the imposter. You cannot vote for yourself.

The player with the most votes is accused. If the top spot is a tie, nobody is accused and the imposters win the round.

The imposter's last chance

If the accused player is an imposter, they get one last chance to guess the secret word. Every clue they heard can help.

A correct guess wins the round for the imposters, and a wrong guess wins it for the crew. If the accused player was innocent, there is no guess and the imposters win.

Scoring

Play as many rounds as you like. Scores add up until you start a new game.

• The crew wins when it accuses an imposter and that imposter guesses the word wrong. Every crewmate scores 1 point.
• The imposters win when the crew accuses an innocent player, when the vote is a tie, or when the caught imposter guesses the word. Every imposter scores 2 points.

Variants

Mix these options to change how a round feels.

• Imposter hint: the imposter is told the pack or category name, such as Animals. It gives new players something to bluff with.
• Similar word mode: instead of no word, the imposter gets a different word from the same pack and is not told they are the imposter. If the crew has Pizza, the imposter might get Taco, and nobody knows who is out of step.
• Multiple imposters: use 2 imposters for 7 to 12 players and 3 for 13 or more. More imposters means more bluffing and tougher votes.
• Custom words: type your own word list for inside jokes, a class topic or a party theme.
• Speed round: set the discussion timer to 1 minute and play a single clue round for quick, lively games.

Tips for the crew

Every clue has two jobs: prove you know the word and keep it hidden from the imposter.

• Give a clue that only someone who knows the word would think of, without spelling it out.
• Listen for clues that are vague, slow or that repeat an earlier idea.
• Watch who changes their story during the discussion.
• Try to agree on one suspect. A tie means nobody is accused, and the imposters win.
• Keep your clues subtle from the start. A caught imposter can still win by guessing the word.

Tips for the imposter

You do not know the word, so your job is to listen closely and blend in.

• If your turn comes late, use the earlier clues to narrow down the word.
• Give a clue that fits many possible words, like a color, a feeling or a place.
• If you are new, ask the group to switch on the imposter hint so you start with the pack name.
• Stay active in the discussion. Ask questions and gently point at someone else.
• If you get caught, you still have one guess. Think back over every clue before you answer.

Playing over a video call

Imposter works on Zoom, FaceTime, Discord or any other voice or video call. Start the call, then have the host create an online room and share the code or link in the chat.

Everyone joins on their own phone and sees their role privately. Say your clues out loud on the call, or type them in the app if the audio is patchy.

Need words?

Every built-in list is on the word lists page, from easy kids' words to Thanksgiving and Christmas packs.