How to Play the Imposter Word Game
A complete step-by-step guide to playing the Imposter Word Game. Whether you are new to the game or looking for ways to level up your strategy, this guide covers everything you need.
Gather your group
Get together at least 4 people. The game works best with 6 to 10 players. You can play sitting in a circle, around a table, or anywhere everyone can hear each other. Make sure you have one device (phone, tablet, or computer) with the Imposter Game Generator open.
Pro tip: If you have more than 10 players, consider splitting into two groups and running separate games side by side.
Choose your game settings
Open the game settings and pick your categories and difficulty. If you are playing with kids, start with Easy difficulty and categories like Animals or Food. For a more challenging experience with adults, try Hard difficulty with categories like Science or Fantasy creatures.
Pro tip: Mixing 2 or 3 categories keeps the game fresh. Avoid selecting only one category if you plan to play multiple rounds.
Set the number of players
Use the plus and minus buttons to match the number of people in your group. The generator will randomly assign one person as the imposter. The rest will receive the same secret word.
Pro tip: With 7 or more players, you might want to try the Multiple Imposters variation. See our Rules page for details.
Start the game and reveal words
Press Start to begin. The device will show a screen that says which player number is up. Pass the device to that player so they can see it privately. They tap Reveal to see either the secret word or IMPOSTER. Then they tap Hide and Pass to hand the device to the next player.
Pro tip: Make sure no one else can see the screen during the reveal. Shielding with your hand or stepping aside works well.
Take turns giving clues
Once everyone has seen their role, decide who goes first. Going clockwise is simplest. Each player says one word that describes or relates to the secret word. The clue cannot be the secret word itself. Go around the group 2 to 3 times so everyone gets multiple turns.
Pro tip: As a regular player, give clues that are specific enough to prove you know the word but not so obvious that the imposter catches on.
The imposter tries to blend in
The imposter listens to everyone's clues and tries to give a believable clue of their own without knowing the word. They should pay close attention to the types of clues being given and try to pick up on the theme or topic.
Pro tip: The imposter should match the energy and specificity level of other players. A clue that is too vague or too specific can be a giveaway.
Discuss and debate
After the clue rounds, open the floor for discussion. Players share their suspicions, point out clues that seemed off, and make their case for who they think the imposter is. This is often the most entertaining part of the game.
Pro tip: Pay attention to body language, not just words. Hesitation, nervous laughter, or overly confident declarations can all be tells.
Vote to identify the imposter
When the discussion wraps up, everyone votes. You can do a simple hand raise, point at the suspect, or go around the circle and have each person name their suspect out loud. The player with the most votes is accused.
Pro tip: In case of a tie, the tied players each get one final chance to defend themselves before a revote.
Reveal and score
Announce whether the accused player was actually the imposter. If the group guessed correctly, everyone except the imposter gets 1 point. If the wrong person was accused, the imposter earns 1 point (plus a bonus point if they can guess the secret word). Then start a new round.
Pro tip: Keep a simple tally on paper or a notes app. Play enough rounds so that everyone gets a chance to be the imposter at least once.
Example Round
Secret word: Pizza
Players: 5 players (Player 3 is the imposter)
Player 1: "Cheesy"
Player 2: "Round"
Player 3 (Imposter): "Delicious" (trying to stay vague)
Player 4: "Slices"
Player 5: "Italian"
In this example, Player 3's clue "Delicious" is vague compared to the others. The group might pick up on this during discussion and vote for Player 3. However, a skilled imposter could argue that their clue was perfectly valid, which is what makes the game so fun.
Tips for Different Groups
Playing with Kids
- Use Easy difficulty with familiar categories like Animals or Food
- Turn on Category Hint to give the imposter extra help
- Allow two-word clues for younger children
- Keep the atmosphere light and focus on fun over competition
Playing with Adults
- Use Medium or Hard difficulty for a bigger challenge
- Try abstract categories like Science or Technology
- Add stakes by keeping a running score across rounds
- Introduce a timer for clues to increase the pressure
Team Building Events
- Use Profession or Travel categories that spark work-related conversations
- Pair people from different departments together
- Debrief after each round about communication and observation skills
Large Groups (8-10)
- Consider using 2 imposters for groups of 8 or more
- Keep clue rounds shorter (1-2 rounds instead of 3)
- Use a timer for the discussion phase to keep things moving
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Giving the word away in the first round. If your clue is too obvious (like saying "Hawaii" for the word "Pineapple"), the imposter will instantly figure it out and the round is over.
The imposter panicking. New imposters often freeze up or give wildly off-topic clues. Take a breath, listen to what others are saying, and pick a safe direction.
Voting too quickly. Give everyone a chance to explain their reasoning before voting. The discussion phase is where the best deductions happen.
Ready to Put These Tips into Practice?
Start a game now and try out the strategies you just learned.