# Imposter Who

> Imposter Who is a free party word game for 3 to 20 people on one phone. Everyone secretly sees the same word except the imposter, who has to bluff. Give one-word clues, talk it out, then vote to find who's faking it. No app, no sign-up, 1,100+ words.

A free pass-the-phone party word game for 3 to 20 players. Players add their names, choose from 22 word categories (1100 words, each with hand-written hints) or make their own, pick how many imposters there are, and decide whether imposters get a hint. Each player holds to reveal their secret word privately; imposters see that they're the imposter instead. The game suggests who starts and in which direction, runs an optional discussion timer, handles voting, the imposter's last-chance guess and a running scoreboard. An Undercover mode gives imposters a similar decoy word so they don't know they're different.

## Features
- Pass-and-play on one phone for 3 to 20 players
- 1100 words in 22 categories, plus your own categories
- Choose 1 or more imposters, or keep the number secret
- Optional hint for the imposter: a related word, never the word itself
- Undercover mode: imposters get a similar decoy word
- Hold to reveal, so nobody else sees your card
- Suggests who starts and which way to go
- Optional discussion timer, voting, last-chance guess and scoreboard
- No connection needed once the page is open; no sign-up, no ads

## Categories (22, 1100 words)
- Food: Dishes, snacks and drinks (50 words)
- Animals: Pets, wildlife and sea life (50 words)
- Places: Everyday spots people go (50 words)
- Jobs: What people do for work (50 words)
- Sports: Sports and ways to play (50 words)
- Home: Things you'd find at home (50 words)
- Movies: Blockbusters everyone knows (50 words)
- Characters: Heroes, cartoons and icons (50 words)
- Video Games: Hits from every console (50 words)
- Music: Instruments, styles and stage things (50 words)
- Tech: Gadgets, apps and online life (50 words)
- Countries: Nations around the world (50 words)
- Landmarks: Famous places on the map (50 words)
- Nature: Landscapes, plants and the sky (50 words)
- Transport: Ways to get around (50 words)
- Fashion: Clothes, shoes and accessories (50 words)
- Hobbies: Things people do for fun (50 words)
- School: Classes, supplies and campus life (50 words)
- Celebrations: Holidays, parties and big days (50 words)
- Fantasy: Creatures, magic and legends (50 words)
- Brands: Logos everyone recognises (50 words)
- Malaysia: Food, places and life in Malaysia (50 words)

## How to play
1. Add players and pick the rules: Type everyone's name in the order you're sitting, choose categories, how many imposters, and whether imposters get a hint.
2. Hold to reveal your card: Pass the phone around. Each person holds the card to see their secret word, or that they're the imposter, then lets go and passes it on.
3. Give one-word clues: Starting with the suggested player, everyone says one word about the secret word. Prove you know it without making it too easy for the imposter.
4. Vote out the imposter: Discuss, then vote. Catch every imposter to win, unless they guess the word in their last chance. Vote out someone innocent and the imposters win.

## Pages
- [Play Imposter Who](https://imposterwho.dealwithmuhammad.com/)
- [How to play the imposter game](https://imposterwho.dealwithmuhammad.com/how-to-play): Imposter game rules in one minute: who gets the word, how clues and voting work, the imposter's last guess, scoring, and tips for the crew and the imposter.
- [Imposter word list](https://imposterwho.dealwithmuhammad.com/imposter-word-list): The word list behind Imposter Who: 1,100+ imposter game words in 22 categories, from Food and Animals to Movies and Malaysia, each with hints for the imposter.
- [Undercover word game](https://imposterwho.dealwithmuhammad.com/undercover-word-game): Play the Undercover word game free on one phone. The undercover player gets a similar word, like Tea instead of Coffee, and doesn't know they're different. No app needed.
- [Word packs as JSON](https://imposterwho.dealwithmuhammad.com/api/packs)

## FAQ
### 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.

## Author
Muhammad Ahmad, Web & Mobile App Developer, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. https://www.dealwithmuhammad.com · me@dealwithmuhammad.com