Imposter Game
One phone. One secret word. One faker.
Each player gives one word linked to the secret word. Go round once or twice, then point at who you think the imposter is on the count of three.
The secret word was .
Imposter Game
How to play
Set the number of players and imposters, then pass the phone round. Each person taps their card in private: everyone sees the same secret word, except the imposter, who only finds out that they are the imposter.
Starting with the player the game picks, go round the circle and each say one word connected to the secret word. Be specific enough to prove you know it, but vague enough that the imposter cannot work it out. After one or two rounds, everyone points at their suspect. If the group catches the imposter, the imposter gets one guess at the word to steal the win.
What is the Imposter Game?
The Imposter Game is a social deduction party game built on a single secret. Everyone at the table is given the same word — penguin, say — except one player, the imposter, who is given nothing at all. Then everyone has to prove they know the word without actually saying it. The innocent players are trying to spot the one person whose clues do not quite fit; the imposter is listening hard, working out the word from everyone else's clues and bluffing along as if they had known it all along.
It belongs to the same family as Spyfall, Chameleon, Werewolf and Among Us, but it is far quicker to learn than any of them. There are no boards, no cards and no roles to memorise — one phone dealt round the circle is enough. A round takes five minutes, so it is easy to play ten in a row and keep a running score.
How to give a good clue
The whole game lives in the clues. If the word is pizza and you say "cheese", the imposter now has a very short list of guesses. Say "Friday" or "triangle" instead and the other players will nod along while the imposter is left guessing. Good clues are true but sideways. Bad clues are either so obvious they give the word away, or so obscure they make you look like the imposter yourself.
- Go sideways, not direct. Pick a detail only someone who knows the word would think of.
- Listen before you speak. If the clues so far are all about one angle, try a different one so the imposter cannot narrow it down.
- As the imposter, go late and go vague. If you speak early, keep it general. If you speak late, borrow the theme of the clues you have heard.
- Watch for hesitation. The imposter usually pauses a beat longer before their clue. So does anyone who is overthinking it.
Variations to try
- Two imposters. With eight or more players, add a second imposter. They do not know about each other, which makes for some wonderfully confused accusations.
- No hint. Switch off the imposter hint so the imposter does not even know the category. Harder, but much funnier when they pull it off.
- Question round. Instead of clues, players ask each other yes/no questions about the word. Works well for smaller groups of three or four.
- Points league. Innocent players score a point each when the imposter is caught; the imposter scores two for escaping and one for guessing the word after being caught. First to ten wins.
Imposter game word list
These are the words the game deals from. Pick the categories you want on the setup screen — younger players usually do best with Animals, Food and At home.
Food
Pizza, Sushi, Pancakes, Tacos, Spaghetti, Burger, Popcorn, Ice cream, Croissant, Curry, Sandwich, Soup, Chocolate, Cheese, Watermelon, Banana, Donut, Salad, French fries, Hot dog, Avocado, Lasagna, Cereal, Waffles, Birthday cake
Animals
Penguin, Giraffe, Elephant, Kangaroo, Octopus, Shark, Owl, Hamster, Crocodile, Panda, Dolphin, Snail, Flamingo, Camel, Bee, Lion, Sloth, Horse, Frog, Parrot, Tortoise, Wolf, Squirrel, Jellyfish, Bat
Places
Beach, Airport, Hospital, Library, Zoo, Cinema, Supermarket, School, Gym, Museum, Campsite, Bakery, Swimming pool, Train station, Castle, Desert island, Space station, Farm, Restaurant, Theme park, Ski resort, Dentist, Bowling alley, Hotel, Submarine
Jobs
Doctor, Teacher, Firefighter, Chef, Pilot, Astronaut, Farmer, Police officer, Hairdresser, Plumber, Lifeguard, Magician, Scientist, Nurse, Waiter, Detective, Photographer, Builder, Vet, Dentist, Librarian, DJ, Postman, Judge, Clown
At home
Toothbrush, Sofa, Fridge, Pillow, Umbrella, Mirror, Remote control, Toaster, Washing machine, Candle, Doorbell, Bathtub, Vacuum cleaner, Alarm clock, Kettle, Blanket, Lamp, Bookshelf, Microwave, Houseplant, Ladder, Scissors, Towel, Frying pan, Light bulb
Sports & hobbies
Football, Tennis, Chess, Swimming, Skateboarding, Basketball, Yoga, Fishing, Golf, Bowling, Karate, Surfing, Knitting, Gardening, Boxing, Skiing, Painting, Cycling, Baking, Dancing, Climbing, Volleyball, Darts, Photography, Running
Things that go
Bicycle, Helicopter, Rocket, Sailboat, Tractor, Ambulance, Hot air balloon, Scooter, Train, Submarine, Fire engine, Taxi, Skateboard, Canoe, Motorbike, Bus, Jet ski, Rollercoaster, Cable car, Limousine, Ice cream van, Spaceship, Horse and cart, Cruise ship, Shopping trolley
Fantasy & fun
Dragon, Wizard, Mermaid, Vampire, Ghost, Unicorn, Pirate, Robot, Alien, Superhero, Zombie, Fairy, Knight, Ninja, Dinosaur, Werewolf, Treasure chest, Magic wand, Time machine, Haunted house, Genie, Giant, Troll, Crystal ball, Flying carpet
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the Imposter Game?
Choose how many people are playing and pass one phone around. Each player taps to see their card in private: everyone gets the same secret word, apart from the imposter, who is only told that they are the imposter. Then go round the circle and each give a one-word clue about the word. After a round or two, everyone votes on who they think the imposter is.
How does the imposter win?
The imposter wins if the group votes out an innocent player, or if they are caught but can then correctly guess the secret word. Everyone else wins by finding the imposter without giving the word away. That second chance is what keeps the clue-giving tense: a clue that is too obvious hands the imposter the answer.
How many players do you need?
Three is the minimum, but the game is at its best with five to ten. With bigger groups of eight or more, try two imposters. The game will not let you pick more imposters than it can fairly hide, so the innocent players always outnumber them.
What does the imposter hint do?
With the hint switched on, the imposter is told the category (for example Food or Animals) but not the word itself. It makes the game noticeably fairer for new players and younger groups. Turn it off once everyone knows the game and you want the imposter to work entirely from the clues.
Is the Imposter Game the same as Spyfall or Chameleon?
It is the same family of hidden-role word games. Spyfall uses locations and questions, and Chameleon uses a printed grid of words, but the core idea is identical: everyone knows a secret except one person, who has to fake it. This version needs nothing but a phone and works for any group size from three up.
Is it free and does it work on a phone?
Yes. The Imposter Game is free, runs in any phone or tablet browser, and needs no sign-up or download. It is built to be passed hand to hand, so the word stays hidden until each player taps their own card.
More games to play in the browser
Keep the party going with the Charades Generator or the Pictionary Word Generator, race the word counter in 15 Words or Less, or browse all our games.