What Imposter is
Everyone knows the secret word — except the Imposter, who has to fake it convincingly enough to survive the vote.
Going round the table, you each say one word about the secret word out loud. That single word has to prove you were looking at the right cell — without handing the cell to the one player who was not.
Too obvious and the Imposter simply reads the answer off you. Too careful and the table decides the vague one must be them. Both squeezes arrive at once, and you get one word to survive them.
There is no paper, no phone to pass round and nobody to referee: the app deals the board, keeps the vote secret and counts the score across five rounds. Playing in person around one phone? The word generator deals a secret word on it.
How to play Imposter
- Sixteen words on the board. Everyone sees which one is secret — except the Imposter.
- Going round the table, each player says one word about the secret word.
- Too obvious and the Imposter guesses it. Too vague and you look guilty.
- Then everyone votes. Catch the Imposter and they get one shot at guessing the word.
Playing Imposter in person?
Imposter word generator →
Pass one phone round the room. Each player sees their word in private; one of you sees “imposter”.
Imposter game words →
608 words in 38 categories, ready to read out at the table.
How to win at Imposter
Aim at two or three cells
The safest clue would also fit a couple of other words on the board — informed enough to survive, vague enough not to point.
Listen for the echo
The Imposter has to build on what has already been said, so a clue that only makes sense after somebody else’s is worth a look.
Deadlock frees the imposter
A tied vote accuses nobody at all, so the table has to genuinely agree on one name before anybody votes.
As the Imposter, speak early
A bland word before the board has been narrowed is far harder to prove wrong than a late one that has to fit everything already said.
Catching is only half of it
A caught Imposter still gets one shot at the word, and naming it scores them a point while the rest of you get nothing.
Questions about Imposter
What happens if the vote ties?
Nobody is accused and the Imposter escapes with two points. Deadlock always favours the imposter, which is why the argument matters more than the clues.
How is it different from the card game?
The idea is the one in The Chameleon: a sixteen-word board, one secret word and one player who cannot see which. Here there are no cards or dice to read it from. The app marks the word on every phone but the Imposter’s, runs a secret vote and scores it.
How is it scored?
The Imposter takes 2 for escaping, or 1 if caught but still able to name the secret word. Catch them and stop them, and every other player takes 1 each.
Is this the same as the pass-the-phone imposter game?
Nearly. In the pass-the-phone version the imposter sees no word at all. Here the Imposter sees the sixteen-word board but not which word is secret, and the app deals, runs the vote and scores.
Is Imposter free?
Yes. It is free to play, with no adverts. An optional Plus membership opens bigger tables and extra packs.
How many people do you need for Imposter?
Between 3 and 12. Below 3 there are not enough of you for the game to work.
What do we need to play?
A phone or laptop each, with a web browser. One person opens a room and everybody else joins by typing the room code on their own phone. There’s also an iPhone app if you’d rather.
Can we play Imposter over a video call?
Yes. Share the room code in the chat and play with the call running — everything private stays on each player’s own phone.
