The imposter game, explained
The imposter game is one of the most popular party games of recent years, and it needs nothing but one phone and a group of friends. Everyone receives the same secret word, except one player: the imposter. The imposter has no idea what the word is, but has to pretend they do. Round by round, each player gives a short clue, and the group tries to work out who is bluffing.
It is a game about words, reading faces and nerve. The players who know the word want to prove it without giving it away. The imposter wants to blend in, and ideally figure out the word from everyone else’s clues. That tension is what makes every round different.
We host the imposter game on our sister site, FindTheImposter.com, which is built only for social games you play with friends. Press the button above to play the imposter game online in a new tab.
How a round works
- Set up the group. Enter the players’ names and pick a category, such as animals, food, places or famous people.
- Pass the phone. Each player taps to see their card in private. Everyone but one sees the secret word; one player sees that they are the imposter.
- Give clues. Going around the circle, each player says one word or a short phrase connected to the secret word.
- Discuss and vote. Talk it over, then vote for the player you think is the imposter.
- Reveal. If the group caught the imposter, the group wins the round. If not, the imposter wins. In many groups the imposter also gets a chance to guess the word for a bonus win.
Why it works so well with friends
The imposter game is simple enough to explain in a minute, so new players join straight away. There is no board, no cards to shuffle and no score sheet, which makes it ideal for parties, family evenings, road trips and classrooms. Because the secret word changes every round, the same group can play for an hour without repeating itself.
It is also a surprisingly good game for thinking skills. Giving a clue that helps your team but not the imposter means thinking about how other people understand words. Spotting the imposter means paying attention to small details, such as a clue that is slightly too vague or a moment of hesitation.
Strategy for both sides
If you know the word, aim for clues that are specific but indirect. If the word is “pizza”, “crust” is safer than “Italian food”. If you are the imposter, use general clues that fit most things in the category, and repeat the tone of the other players. When voting, look for the clue that could fit almost anything, and for the player who changes their story in the discussion.
More games to play together
Football fans can try the football imposter version, with famous footballers as secret words. For a head-to-head football quiz, play Football Tic-Tac-Toe. And when you are playing alone, MindedGames has plenty of solo puzzles, from Cat Sudoku to Mahjong Solitaire.
How to play Imposter Game
- Pass one phone around the group. Each player privately sees the secret word, except one player, who is told they are the imposter.
- Take turns saying one word or a short clue about the secret word, without making it too obvious.
- The imposter does not know the word, so they listen carefully and try to blend in with a believable clue.
- After a round of clues, discuss and vote for the player you think is the imposter.
- If the group catches the imposter, the group wins. If the imposter survives the vote, or guesses the secret word, the imposter wins.
Imposter Game tips
Clue for your team, not for the imposter
A clue that is too obvious gives the word away to the imposter. Pick something that only someone who knows the word would recognise as a match.
As the imposter, go second or third
Listening to a couple of clues first gives you a sense of the topic. Keep your clue short and general so it could fit many words.
Watch for hesitation
Players who know the word answer quickly. A long pause or a clue that repeats someone else's idea is often a sign of the imposter.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the imposter game?
One phone is passed around. Everyone sees the same secret word except one player, the imposter. Each player gives a clue, then the group votes on who they think the imposter is. The group wins by finding the imposter; the imposter wins by staying hidden or guessing the word.
How many players do you need?
Three players is the minimum, and the game gets more fun with bigger groups. Only one phone is needed, so it works at parties, family evenings and in class.
Where do I play it?
The imposter game is hosted on FindTheImposter.com, our sister site for party games. The Play button opens it in a new tab, free and without sign-up.
Is there a football version?
Yes. Football Imposter uses footballers as secret words, so fans can play the same game with players they know.
