Food
The classic first category: everyone eats, so everyone can give a clue.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Fried Rice | Paella |
| Hot Dog | Corn Dog |
| Lasagna | Mac and Cheese |
| Omelette | Scrambled Eggs |
Imposter game categories
The best imposter game categories are topics everyone at the table knows: food, animals, movies, video games, places and jobs. Here are 31 categories with example word pairs. The crew gets the first word, the imposter the second.
Need more pairs? See the full imposter game words list or tap the word generator.
Play with these words
One phone, passed around the room. Free, no download.
Players
Everyday
Drinks
Easy for kids if you keep to juice and soda.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Lemonade | Ginger Ale |
| Milkshake | Yogurt Drink |
| Orange Juice | Apple Juice |
| Bubble Tea | Iced Coffee |
Desserts
Sweet pairs that share almost every clue.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Brownie | Blondie |
| Cheesecake | Pavlova |
| Donut | Churro |
| Pudding | Mousse |
Animals
Works for any age. Pick two animals from the same habitat to make it harder.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Lion | Cheetah |
| Penguin | Puffin |
| Camel | Llama |
| Squirrel | Hamster |
Sea Life
Close pairs that even adults mix up.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Octopus | Eel |
| Jellyfish | Sea Anemone |
| Crab | Shrimp |
| Clownfish | Goldfish |
Around the House
Things everyone has at home, good for family games.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Pillow | Cushion |
| Curtain | Blinds |
| Mirror | Picture Frame |
| Doormat | Rug |
Kitchen
Tools and appliances with overlapping uses.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Toaster | Microwave |
| Fork | Chopsticks |
| Blender | Food Processor |
| Frying Pan | Saucepan |
Clothes
Clue by when you wear it, not the color.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Hoodie | Raincoat |
| Sneakers | Sandals |
| Scarf | Bandana |
| Pajamas | Onesie |
Jobs
Players describe what the job does all day.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Firefighter | Paramedic |
| Chef | Baker |
| Pilot | Astronaut |
| Nurse | Pharmacist |
Sports
Clues about the ball, the field or the rules.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Rugby | American Football |
| Golf | Mini Golf |
| Volleyball | Beach Volleyball |
| Ping Pong | Squash |
Hobbies
Good for groups who know each other well.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Knitting | Sewing |
| Gardening | Fishing |
| Camping | Picnic |
| Puzzles | Board Games |
Vehicles
Easy for kids; make it hard with two kinds of the same vehicle.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Motorcycle | Bicycle |
| Taxi | Limo |
| Ambulance | Tow Truck |
| Yacht | Cruise Ship |
Nature & Weather
Big outdoor words with shared clues.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Waterfall | Geyser |
| Thunder | Lightning |
| Rainbow | Aurora |
| Glacier | Avalanche |
Pop Culture
Movies
Use films everyone at the table has seen.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Titanic | The Notebook |
| Toy Story | Finding Nemo |
| Jurassic Park | Godzilla |
| Harry Potter | The Lord of the Rings |
Cartoons
Great with kids, and nostalgic for adults.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Tom and Jerry | Looney Tunes |
| SpongeBob | Patrick |
| Peppa Pig | Paw Patrol |
| Scooby-Doo | The Flintstones |
Video Games
For gamers: clue by how the game plays.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Minecraft | Animal Crossing |
| Fortnite | Fall Guys |
| Mario | Pac-Man |
| Pokémon | Tamagotchi |
Fairy Tales
Everyone grew up with these.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Cinderella | Sleeping Beauty |
| Little Red Riding Hood | Goldilocks |
| Peter Pan | Alice in Wonderland |
| Jack and the Beanstalk | Rapunzel |
Music
Instruments, genres and ways to hear music.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Saxophone | Clarinet |
| Rap | Rock |
| Karaoke | Concert |
| Headphones | Speaker |
Apps & Social Media
Teens and adults: clue by what you do in the app.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Messenger | |
| Snapchat | BeReal |
| Spotify | Radio Station |
| Google Maps | Google Earth |
Brands
Rival brands share almost every clue.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Nike | Adidas |
| Lego | Playmobil |
| Starbucks | Dunkin' |
| Samsung | Apple |
Places
Countries
Clue by food, flags in your head, or famous places.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Italy | Greece |
| Canada | New Zealand |
| Japan | Thailand |
| Egypt | Morocco |
Cities
Big cities with something in common: clue by food, weather or landmarks.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| New York | Chicago |
| Rome | Athens |
| Rio de Janeiro | Buenos Aires |
| Mumbai | Bangkok |
Places in Town
Everyday places with overlapping clues.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Supermarket | Mall |
| Gym | Swimming Pool |
| Bakery | Café |
| Bank | Post Office |
School, Work & Parties
School
Every player has been to school, so clues come fast.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Teacher | Librarian |
| Math | Science |
| Field Trip | Science Fair |
| Backpack | Pencil Case |
Office
For coworkers and team-building games.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Meeting | Interview |
| Boss | CEO |
| Printer | Photocopier |
| Coffee Break | Water Cooler |
Party
Pairs for the party you're already at.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Balloon | Confetti |
| DJ | Playlist |
| Sleepover | Slumber Party |
| Party Games | Dance Floor |
Holidays & Seasons
Halloween
Spooky but kid-friendly.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Ghost | Zombie |
| Vampire | Werewolf |
| Witch | Wizard |
| Pumpkin | Scarecrow |
Summer
Holiday and beach pairs.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Sunscreen | Sunglasses |
| Sandcastle | Seashell |
| Water Park | Splash Pad |
| Ice Pop | Slushie |
Playing in December? See the Christmas imposter game words.
Hard Categories
Science
For groups who like a challenge.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Atom | Molecule |
| Gravity | Magnet |
| Microscope | Magnifying Glass |
| Earthquake | Tsunami |
Space
Big words, close meanings.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Planet | Star |
| Rocket | Space Shuttle |
| Meteor | Comet |
| Moon | Earth |
Mythology
Greek, Norse and more: precise clues only.
| Crew word | Imposter word |
|---|---|
| Zeus | Thor |
| Mermaid | Siren |
| Dragon | Phoenix |
| Unicorn | Centaur |
How to pick a good category
Everyone must know the topic
A category one player knows nothing about makes them look like the imposter. Pick topics the whole table shares: food and animals for families, games and apps for teens.
Narrow beats broad
“Desserts” plays better than “food”: the two words share more clues, so the imposter can hide and the crew has to listen harder.
Say the category out loud
Telling everyone the category before the clues keeps the round fair, and it's the hint the imposter gets in the no-word version.
Switch every few rounds
Clues get repetitive inside one topic. Change category every two or three rounds, or mix several at once.
Frequently asked questions
What are good categories for the imposter game?
Topics everyone at the table knows: food, drinks, animals, movies, cartoons, video games, sports, jobs, countries, places in town and school. For a harder game, try science, space or mythology.
What categories work best for kids?
Animals, food, desserts, cartoons, fairy tales, vehicles and things around the house. Keep pairs far apart, like Lion and Cheetah, so younger players can find the imposter.
What are hard imposter game categories?
Science, space and mythology, plus very close pairs inside any topic: Octopus and Eel, Meteor and Comet, Zeus and Thor. The closer the two words, the harder the round.
Does the imposter know the category?
Usually, yes: everyone hears the category, and each player gets a word from it. In the no-word version the category is all the imposter gets, so they have to bluff from the others' clues.
Can I make my own category?
Yes. Pick a topic your group shares, like a TV show you all watch or your school, and write pairs of two things from it that share most clues. Our guide to imposter game words explains how to pick fair pairs.