Impostor Party® Games
How to play Impostor
Impostor is a social deduction party game of words and bluffing for groups of 3 to 20 friends. Everyone shares a secret word except the impostor, who has to fake it. Find the impostor before it's too late, or fool everyone and survive the vote.
What you need
- 3 to 20 players.
- One phone to pass around (single device), or one phone each to play online.
- A list of secret words, or the Impostor Party® Games app, which deals words and roles for you.
Rules, step by step
- Every round has a secret word or image. One or more players are the impostors and see only "IMPOSTOR", sometimes with a clue related to the word.
- Every player says a word related to the secret. Too obvious and the impostor copies you. Too vague and you look guilty.
- Civilians try to guess who is the impostor. The impostor bluffs and tries to stay undercover.
- Debate, accuse and vote. Eliminate the impostor before they trick the group. If you vote out a civilian, the impostor wins (or, in survival mode, a new round starts).
Tips for civilians
Say words that prove you know the secret without giving it away. Watch who waits to speak last or repeats other people's ideas.
Tips for the impostor
Listen to the first players, use your clue and stay vague but confident. Accusing someone else early can take the attention off you.
Game modes
- Online mode: private rooms with friends or public matchmaking.
- Single Device mode: pass one phone and play face to face.
- Images mode: civilians see a secret image, impostors must improvise.
- Questions mode: one player gets a different question.
- Leader mode: a leader chooses the secret and the impostors. In leaderless mode both are picked at random.
- Mystery mode: impostors get a different secret without knowing their role.
- Chaos mode: any round can secretly have all civilians or all impostors.
- Survival mode: wrong vote? New rounds with the same secret until the impostor is caught, or wins.
- Impostors know each other: impostors see their teammates and can coordinate their bluffs.
Example secret words and clues
The clue is what the impostor sees. A good clue is related to the word but open enough to fit other answers.
| Category | Secret word | Impostor clue |
|---|---|---|
| 🍕 Food & Drink | Pizza | World cuisine |
| 🍕 Food & Drink | Cheesecake | Dessert |
| 🍕 Food & Drink | Fondue | Typical Swiss dish |
| 🍕 Food & Drink | Pineapple | Fruit |
| 💻 Tech & Internet | TikTok | Addictive |
| 💻 Tech & Internet | Social media platform | |
| 💻 Tech & Internet | Virtual reality | Cyber obsession |
| 💻 Tech & Internet | Smart home | Tech obsession |
| 🏷️ Brands | Red Bull | Extreme sports |
| 🏷️ Brands | Ferrari | Luxury car |
| 🏷️ Brands | Gucci | Fashion brand |
| 🏷️ Brands | Coca-Cola | Refreshing |
| ⭐ Celebrities | Leo Messi | Global star |
| ⭐ Celebrities | Oprah | Notable personality |
| ⭐ Celebrities | Elon Musk | Celebrity genius |
| ⭐ Celebrities | Isaac Newton | Renowned genius |
The app includes 30+ categories, from movies, anime and football to Halloween and Christmas, plus your own custom categories.
Play Impostor on your phone
Impostor Party® Games deals secret words, images and questions for you, online or on a single device, in more than 30 languages. It also includes Impostor Football and The Wolf.
FAQ
How many players do you need?
From 3 to 20. Small groups usually play with one impostor; bigger groups can add more, always fewer impostors than civilians.
Can you play with just one phone?
Yes. Pass the phone so each player privately sees their role, then play face to face.
Can you play online?
Yes. The app has online mode with private rooms for friends and public matchmaking.
What are good words to play Impostor?
Well-known words that can be described in many ways work best. Give the impostor a loose clue to keep rounds balanced.