How to play the imposter game
The imposter game is a social deduction word game for 3 or more players. Everyone except the imposter learns a secret word. The crew tries to prove they know the word without saying it, and the imposter tries to blend in without knowing it.
1. Reveal the roles
Pass the phone around. Each player taps to see their card, then hides it again. The crew sees the secret word, the imposter sees only that they are the imposter (and the hint, if you turned it on).
2. Give one-word clues
The starting player says one word related to the secret word, then the next player, and so on. If the word is "Pizza", "Slice" is fine, "Cheese" is risky and "Pepperoni pizza" is cheating.
3. Discuss and vote
After one or two rounds, talk about whose clue felt off. Count to three and everybody points at a suspect. The player with the most votes is out.
4. The last chance
If the group caught the imposter, the imposter may guess the secret word once. A correct guess steals the win. If the group voted out an innocent player, the imposter wins.
Tips for both sides
If you know the word
- Pick clues only insiders would get. For "Beach", say "Towel", not "Sand and sea".
- Watch for players who wait to go last or repeat someone else's idea.
- Ask the suspect to explain their clue. Imposters often over-explain.
If you are the imposter
- Listen to the first clues and give a broad word that fits all of them.
- Sound confident. Hesitation gives more away than a vague clue.
- Keep guessing the word in your head, so you are ready for the last chance.
Fun variations
- Two imposters: with 8 or more players, add a second imposter. They do not know each other.
- No hints: turn the hint off for experienced groups. The imposter only learns the category from the clues.
- Speed round: clues must come within three seconds, which makes bluffing much harder.
- Odd question: instead of a word, everyone answers a question, but the imposter got a slightly different one. Hoot has this as a separate mode.
Imposter game words by category
Playing with paper slips or your own game master? Every list has secret words and a hint for the imposter.
- 🍕 Food
- 🐾 Animals
- 📍 Places
- 💼 Jobs
- 🛋️ Things at Home
- ⚽ Sports
- 🕵️ Detective's Case
- 🎬 Movies
- 📺 TV Shows
- ⭐ Famous People
- 🧙 Fictional Characters
- 🏷️ Brands
- 🎮 Video Games
- 🌍 Countries
- 🗽 Cities & Landmarks
- 🎉 Party
- 🎒 School
- 🎁 Holidays & Seasons
- 🎃 Halloween
- 🎄 Christmas
- 🐉 Fantasy & Myths
- 🚀 Space & Science
- 🎸 Music
- 🚗 Vehicles
- 🍰 Sweets & Desserts
- 🧋 Drinks
- 📱 Internet & Apps
- 🌲 Nature & Weather
- 🐙 Under the Sea
- 🧚 Fairy Tales
- 🧸 Toys & Games
- 🍳 Kitchen
- 🎨 Hobbies
More ideas
More free party games
- Would You RatherOver 100 questions from silly to impossible.
- Truth or DareTruths and dares for kids, teens, friends and couples.
- Never Have I EverFind out who has done what. Clean, funny or for adults.
- Charades GeneratorRandom words to act out, with a timer.
- Pictionary GeneratorRandom things to draw, easy to hard.
FAQ
How do you play the imposter game?
Everyone gets the same secret word except the imposter, who only knows the category. Players take turns saying one word that relates to the secret word, then everyone discusses and votes on who they think the imposter is. If the group catches the imposter, the imposter gets one guess at the word to steal the win.
How many players do you need?
You need at least 3 players. It plays best with 5 to 10. With more than 8 players, try 2 imposters so the game stays tense.
Can I play the imposter game online for free?
Yes. This page runs the whole game in your browser on one phone: pass it around, reveal your role, give clues and vote. There is no sign-up and nothing to install.
What is a good hint for the imposter?
A good hint is related to the secret word but never gives it away, like "Slice" for pizza or "Crowd" for stadium. The hint option above shows the imposter such a word, which keeps the game fair for new players.
Is this the same game as Among Us?
It is inspired by the same idea of finding the impostor, but it is a talking game. There is no board and no screen time beyond revealing your role. It is closer to classic word games like Spyfall or Undercover.
Can I play with my own words?
For your own words, write them on paper slips, or use the Hoot app: it lets you create custom categories and generates new ones with AI from any topic.
The app
Play it on one phone with Hoot
Hoot turns the imposter game into a proper game night: pass the phone, reveal your role, give clues, vote. Works offline.
- 33 case files with over 1,300 secret words and imposter hints
- AI case generator: type any topic and get a fresh category
- Odd Question mode: everyone answers the same question except one
- Imposter teams, random imposter count, timer and scoreboard