Imposter game words: 200 ideas for your next party

What makes a good imposter word?

In the imposter game, everyone gets the same secret word except one player, the imposter. Players take turns giving clues, then vote on who is faking. The word you choose decides whether the round is fun or falls flat. A good word:

• Is known by everyone in the group, so nobody is accidentally treated as the imposter.
• Has many angles. “Pizza” can be about cheese, Italy, delivery or Friday nights. More angles means more varied clues.
• Is not too narrow. Very specific words make the first clue give everything away.

Easy words (great for kids and families)

Food: pizza, apple, ice cream, sandwich, banana, chocolate, pancake, carrot, soup, cookie, popcorn, cheese, egg, spaghetti, strawberry Animals: dog, cat, elephant, lion, fish, horse, rabbit, monkey, penguin, snake, cow, duck, frog, bear, giraffe At home: bed, sofa, fridge, television, door, window, bath, clock, lamp, pillow, oven, toothbrush, mirror, carpet, stairs Outdoors: beach, park, tree, rain, sun, snow, garden, river, mountain, playground, bike, kite, flower, rainbow, cloud

Medium words

Places: airport, hospital, library, museum, zoo, supermarket, cinema, school, stadium, farm, hotel, bakery, castle, train station, swimming pool Jobs: doctor, teacher, pilot, chef, firefighter, farmer, dentist, police officer, astronaut, builder, nurse, artist, lifeguard, waiter, scientist Objects: umbrella, backpack, camera, guitar, glasses, candle, wallet, key, suitcase, headphones, calendar, scissors, ladder, compass, helmet Activities: camping, swimming, dancing, cooking, painting, fishing, skiing, shopping, gardening, reading, bowling, surfing, singing, running, picnic

Hard words (for experienced groups)

Tricky objects: passport, thermometer, hourglass, anchor, microscope, telescope, parachute, lighthouse, trampoline, vending machine, escalator, jigsaw, chandelier, typewriter, magnet Nature and science: volcano, earthquake, glacier, desert, jungle, eclipse, tornado, coral reef, fossil, waterfall, iceberg, canyon, planet, comet, lava Abstract but fun: birthday, holiday, wedding, homework, nightmare, secret, treasure, adventure, weekend, breakfast, surprise, alarm, queue, traffic, vacation

Football imposter words

For football fans, the football imposter version uses footballers as the secret word. Good general football words also work in any group of fans: penalty, offside, goalkeeper, corner kick, stadium, referee, red card, captain, free kick, hat-trick, transfer, trophy, dugout, jersey, derby.

How to play a round

1. Pick a category and a word. One person, or an app, chooses a secret word from the lists above.
2. Hand out the roles. Every player sees the word except one, who only learns that they are the imposter. On one phone, pass it around so each player sees their own screen.
3. Give one clue each. Going around the circle, each player says a single word or short phrase linked to the secret word. Clues that are too obvious help the imposter; clues that are too vague make you look suspicious.
4. Discuss and vote. After one or two rounds of clues, everyone votes for the player they think is the imposter.
5. Reveal. If the group catches the imposter, the imposter gets one last chance: guessing the secret word correctly still wins them the round.

How to give good clues

Good clues show you know the word without handing it to the imposter. For “beach”, saying “sand” is too easy; “sunburn” or “towel” is better. If you are the imposter, listen to the first clues, then give something broad that fits most of them, like “summer” or “outside”. Varying who starts each round also keeps things fair, because the first player has the hardest job.

Tips for choosing words

1. Match the group. Children need everyday nouns; adults can handle abstract words.
2. Stay in one category per round. It gives the imposter a fair chance and makes clues sharper.
3. Avoid words with one obvious clue. “Eiffel Tower” is ruined by the first player saying “Paris”.
4. Rotate categories. Food one round, places the next, keeps everyone thinking.

Play the imposter game online

You do not need to make word lists yourself. Our sister site FindTheImposter.com has categories ready, hands out the roles on one phone, and even has a football mode. Start a round of the imposter game online, or read our guide to the imposter game first. For two-player football fun, try Football Tic-Tac-Toe.