Rules · 3 to 11 players · 10 minutes

Imposter game rules: how to play

The imposter game is a party word game for 3 or more players. Everyone gets the same secret word except one player, the imposter, who gets a different word or none. Players take turns giving one-word clues, then vote on who they think is the imposter. Catch them to win; if the imposter survives, they win.

Also called Who Is the Spy, the impostor game, or find the fake.

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What is the imposter game?

The crew sees

Guitar

The imposter sees

Violin

It's a social deduction game like Spyfall or Among Us, but played with words: no board, no cards, just one phone or slips of paper. Each player gives a clue about their word. The imposter has to blend in without knowing the real word, and the group votes to find them.

How to play the imposter game, step by step

1. Gather 3 to 11 players
Sit in a circle. One phone is enough: it gets passed from hand to hand. With 3 to 5 players there is one imposter; from 6 players there can be two, and from 8, three.
2. Everyone reads their word in secret
Everyone gets the same word except the imposter, who gets a similar one. For example, the crew has Guitar and the imposter has Violin. In normal mode the imposter knows they are the imposter; in hard mode nobody knows their own role.
3. One clue each, one word long
Going around the circle, each player says one word linked to their secret word. Too vague looks suspicious; too exact gives the word away to the imposter.
4. Talk it over and vote
After the round of clues, argue about who sounded off, then vote together on who goes out. A tie? Talk a bit more and vote again.
5. Who wins
The crew wins when every imposter is voted out. The imposters win when there are as many imposters left as crew. If the player voted out was innocent, start another round of clues.

Three ways to play

Pass & play

One phone, passed around. Everyone reads their word in private. Works in the browser or the app.

Local Wi-Fi

Everyone on their own phone on the same Wi-Fi, in the app. No internet needed.

Online

Create a room, share the code, and play with friends anywhere.

Tips to win

For the crew

Give clues that anyone with your word gets at once, but that don't spell it out.
Notice who hesitates, or who repeats someone else's idea.
Be wary of clues that fit almost anything, like “food” or “fun”.

For the imposter

Listen to the first clues before you speak: they tell you what the others have.
Pick clues that fit both words, like “strings” for Guitar and Violin.
If you're accused, accuse back calmly. Defending too hard looks guilty.

Variations

Hard mode: Nobody knows their own role. Even the imposter has to work out that their word is the odd one.
No word (hint only): The imposter knows they're the imposter but gets no word, only the category as a hint, and has to bluff from the others' clues.
Talk timer: Set a 1 to 5 minute timer for the discussion so it doesn't drag on.
More imposters: With 6 or more players, play with two imposters; with 8 or more, three.
Saved groups: Save your group in the game, and next time tap the group to fill in every name at once.

Frequently asked questions

How many people do you need to play the imposter game?

At least 3. On this site you can play with up to 11 people on one phone. It plays best with 5 to 8.

Does the imposter know they are the imposter?

In normal mode, yes: they see that they are the imposter and have to blend in. In hard mode nobody knows their own role, so the imposter has to work out from the clues that their word is the different one.

How do you play the imposter game on one phone?

Open the free game in your browser, type everyone's name and pass the phone round. Each player taps to see their word, hides it and hands the phone on. After the clues, everyone votes on the same phone.

How do you play the imposter game without an app?

One person who sits the round out picks a word pair, writes the crew's word on slips of paper and the imposter's word on one slip, then shuffles and hands them out. Play the clues and vote as normal. The word generator can pick the pair for you.

Can you play the imposter game online with friends?

Yes. In the app, create an online room and share the code, and everyone plays on their own phone from anywhere. On a video call, the word generator can send each player a private link that shows only their word.

Is there a version where the imposter gets a hint?

Yes. In the no-word version, the imposter gets no word, only the category as a hint, and knows they're the imposter. They have to bluff from the others' clues. Set “Imposter gets” to No word when you set up the game, or use No word in the word generator.

Can the imposter win by guessing the word?

Not in our rules: the imposter wins by surviving the votes until there are as many imposters as crew left. If you like, add a house rule that a voted-out imposter gets one guess at the crew's word.

What is the difference between the imposter game and Spyfall?

In Spyfall the spy gets nothing and tries to work out a location. In the imposter game everyone gets a word and the imposter's is only slightly different, so sometimes even the imposter doesn't know they're wrong.

Where can I find words for the imposter game?

The free game deals them for you, with word packs for your country. You can also use our list of 250+ imposter game words by category and difficulty, the list of imposter game categories, or the word generator.