How to play
Everyone gets the same secret word except the imposter. Take turns saying one word about it, talk it over, then vote for who you think is faking. Catch the imposter to win, unless they can guess the word.
Start a gameThe rules
- 1
Deal the cards
Add 3 to 20 players in seat order. Each person privately holds the card to see the secret word. The imposter's card says they're the imposter instead, with an optional hint.
- 2
One word each
Starting with the suggested player and going the way the game says, everyone says one word related to the secret word. No repeating someone else's clue, and no saying the word itself.
- 3
Talk it over
After one or two rounds of clues, discuss. Ask people to explain their clue. The imposter listens for what the word might be and tries to blend in.
- 4
Vote
On three, everyone points at a suspect. The player with the most votes is revealed. If they're innocent, the imposters win. If they're an imposter and more remain, vote again.
- 5
Last chance
Once every imposter is caught, they get one guess at the word. Right, and they steal the round; wrong, and the crew wins.
Two modes
- Classic
- The imposter is told they're the imposter. They don't know the word, so they listen and bluff. Turn on the hint to give them one related word.
- Undercover
- The imposter gets a similar word instead, like Tea when everyone else has Coffee, and isn't told they're different. Their clues sound right until they don't.
Scoring
Crew catches every imposter: each crew member scores 1. Imposters caught but guess the word: each imposter scores 1. Crew votes out someone innocent: each imposter scores 2. Imposter Who keeps the scoreboard across rounds.
Tips for the crew
- Be specific, not obvious
- For Pizza, “Slice” or “Box” proves you know it; “Pepperoni” hands the imposter the answer.
- Watch the late clues
- The imposter often copies the vibe of earlier clues. Generic words like “tasty” or “fun” are a tell.
- Ask why
- Ask a suspect what their clue meant. Real players can explain; bluffers stall.
Tips for the imposter
- Go late if you can
- Every clue before yours narrows down the word. If you have to start, keep it broad.
- Use your hint sideways
- Don't say your hint. Say something that would fit next to it.
- Accuse calmly
- Pointing at a quiet player early can steer the vote, but overdoing it looks guilty.
Ways to change it up
- Two imposters
- With 5 or more players. Turn on “Imposters know each other” to let them team up.
- Secret number
- Each round has anywhere from 1 to your chosen number of imposters, and nobody knows how many.
- No hints
- Harder for the imposter. Great once everyone knows the game.
- Undercover
- The imposter gets a similar word instead and doesn't know they're the odd one out.
Questions
How do you play the imposter game?
Everyone gets the same secret word except one player, the imposter, who only learns that they're the imposter. Taking turns, each player says one word related to the secret word. The imposter has to bluff and blend in. After a round or two of clues, everyone discusses and votes for who they think the imposter is.
How many people do you need?
At least 3, and up to 20. It's best with 4 to 8. With 5 or more you can add a second imposter; Imposter Who keeps imposters a minority (for example, 2 at most with 5 or 6 players).
What does the imposter's hint do?
If hints are on, the imposter sees one related word, like “Oven” when the word is Pizza. It's never the word itself or part of it, so they still have to bluff. Turn hints off for a harder game, or on for kids and new players.
What is Undercover mode?
In Undercover mode the imposter isn't told they're the imposter. Instead they get a similar but different word, for example Tea when everyone else has Coffee. Their clues sound almost right, so the whole table has to listen closely, and the imposter only realises when the clues stop making sense.
Who should start?
Imposter Who picks a starting player for each round and a direction (clockwise or anticlockwise). Anyone can be picked, but imposters are half as likely to start, since opening without knowing the word is the hardest seat. Add players in the order you're sitting so the order matches the table.
How does scoring work?
If the group catches every imposter, each crew member gets 1 point, unless the caught imposter then guesses the word, which gives each imposter 1 point instead. If the group votes out someone innocent, each imposter gets 2 points. Scores add up across rounds until you reset them.
Can I add my own words?
Yes. Create a category with any words you like, such as inside jokes, your class topics or your family's favourite things. Imposter Who can look up related hint words for each one online, and you can edit them. Your categories are saved in this browser.
Do I need an account or an app?
No. Imposter Who runs in your browser in guest mode: no account, no sign-up and no ads. Players, settings and your own categories are saved on this device only. You can add it to your home screen to open it like an app.
Will the same word come up twice?
Not until you've played through every word in the categories you picked. Imposter Who remembers which words have come up on this device and skips them.
Who made Imposter Who?
Imposter Who was made by Muhammad Ahmad, a web and mobile app developer in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. See more of his work at dealwithmuhammad.com or email me@dealwithmuhammad.com.
How many imposters should there be?
One for 3 to 6 players, two for 7 to 10, and three for larger groups. Imposter Who never lets imposters outnumber the crew.
Can the imposter win if they're caught?
Yes. A caught imposter gets one guess at the secret word. If they get it right, the imposters steal the round.
What if the vote is a tie?
Talk for 30 more seconds and vote again between the tied players. If it's still tied, many groups count it as a win for the imposters.
How many clue rounds should we play?
One round is enough for big groups; with 3 or 4 players, go round twice before voting so there's more to go on.