ImposterThe idea in one breath
Everyone at the table secretly sees the same word, except the imposter, who sees nothing. Going around the table, each player says one clue about the word. The crew is trying to prove they know it without making it obvious; the imposter is trying to blend in. Then you vote. Catch the imposter and the crew wins. Vote out an innocent and the imposter escapes.
What you need
- One iPhone or iPad with Imposter installed. Nobody else needs the app.
- 3 to 20 people who can see each other. It works at a dinner table, in a car, or in a classroom.
- About five minutes for the first round. After that, rounds take as long as your arguments do.
A round, step by step
- Gather the table
Get 3 to 20 people around one iPhone or iPad. Open Imposter and add every player's name; each one gets their own character for the round.
- Pick the word packs
Choose one or more packs, from Soccer and Movies to Anime, Halloween or your own custom pack. Every round draws a fresh secret word from the packs you selected.
- Set the imposters
Keep the automatic count, pick your own from 1 to 6, or turn on Random so nobody knows how many fakers are hiding. Optionally give imposters a themed hint and set a discussion timer.
- Reveal in secret
Pass the phone around. Each player swipes up to peek at their card: the crew sees the secret word and its pack, the imposter sees You're the imposter. Slide it closed, tap Next, keep a straight face.
- Give your clues
The app names who starts. Going around the table, everyone says one word or short phrase connected to the secret word. Crew members prove they know it; imposters bluff along.
- Discuss and vote
Argue it out, with the timer if you set one, then tap the player the table votes to eliminate. If they are an imposter, the crew wins. If not, the imposter escapes.
- The reveal
The app shows the secret word and who the imposters really were. Tap Play again to keep the same table and draw a new word.
How many imposters should you use?
The app picks a sensible maximum from your player count and lets you set anything from 1 up to that number. These are the caps it uses:
| Players | Max imposters | Suggested discussion time |
|---|---|---|
| 3 to 4 | 1 | 2 minutes |
| 5 to 6 | 2 | 3 minutes |
| 7 to 9 | 3 | 3 to 4 minutes |
| 10 to 12 | 4 | 4 minutes |
| 13 to 15 | 5 | 5 minutes |
| 16 to 20 | 6 | 5 minutes |
Fewer imposters make the round about spotting one liar. More imposters turn it into a room full of suspicion, because imposters do not know each other either. Turn on Random if you want the count itself to be a secret.
Clue rules that keep it fair
- One clue per turn: a single word or a very short phrase.
- Never say the secret word, a part of it, or a translation of it.
- No spelling, rhyming or "sounds like" clues.
- You may not repeat a clue somebody already gave. Imposters love to echo.
- Clues should connect to the word, not to another player's clue. "Same as Mia" is not a clue.
Tips for the crew
Aim for a clue that only makes sense if you know the word, but is not the first thing anyone would say. If the word is Pizza, "Naples" beats "cheese". Watch for clues that fit any word in the pack: that is where the imposter is hiding.
- Ask follow-up questions during discussion. Imposters run out of specifics fast.
- Compare clues against the pack name you all saw. A vague clue in a narrow pack is a red flag.
- Do not overthink a clue that was simply bad. New players give weak clues too.
Tips for the imposter
Listen to the first two clues and build a clue that fits both. Speak with the same confidence as everyone else, keep your clue short, and accuse someone early so you are not the one being questioned.
- If hints are on, your themed clue tells you the neighbourhood of the word. Use it, but do not lean on it.
- Going late in the turn order is a gift: you have the most information.
- When accused, stay calm and repeat someone else's reasoning. Panic is what gets imposters caught.
Popular house rules
- Steal the win. A caught imposter may guess the secret word. Guess right and the imposter wins anyway. This makes crew clues much more careful.
- Two clue rounds. Go around the table twice before voting. Good for small groups of 3 or 4.
- Points. Crew members score 1 each when they catch an imposter; an imposter who escapes scores 2. First to 10 wins the night.
- Family mode. Pick only packs like Animals, Food or Disney and turn hints on for younger players.
- Custom packs. Build a pack of inside jokes, coworkers or places you have been together. Rounds get personal fast.
Looking for words to start with? See our Imposter word ideas, 300 words from the free packs grouped by theme.
Frequently asked questions
How many players do you need for Imposter?
3 to 20 on one device. With 3 or 4 players there is one imposter; the app raises the maximum as your table grows, up to 6 imposters at 16 players or more.
Do the imposters know each other?
No. Each imposter only sees their own card, so with two or more imposters they have to spot each other from the clues, just like the crew does.
What happens if the vote is a tie?
The table has to agree on one player before tapping Vote. A common house rule is that a deadlock counts as a win for the imposter, since they succeeded in dividing the room.
Can an imposter still win after being voted out?
Not in the app's scoring: if the voted player is an imposter, the crew wins the round. Many groups add a house rule where the caught imposter may guess the secret word to steal the win.
Is Imposter the same as Spyfall, Chameleon or Among Us?
It sits in the same social deduction family. Like Chameleon, everyone shares one secret word and gives a clue; like Spyfall, one player is bluffing; unlike Among Us, it is played face to face on a single phone with no tasks or maps.
Do we need internet or an account?
No. Imposter is pass-and-play on one iPhone or iPad and works fully offline. Nobody else needs to install anything.
