Imposter Game online: play free on your phone

What is the imposter game?

The imposter game is a word and social deduction game: everyone shares a secret word except one person, and that person has to pretend they know it too. Everyone else tries to spot them from their clues without handing them the word, because the clearer the clues, the easier it gets for the imposter.

It's not a video game and there's nothing to install: you play by talking, as a group, with one word, one phone and a healthy dose of suspicion toward everyone. That's why it works just as well at a pregame, a dinner with friends or a weekend at a cabin, and each game only takes a few minutes.

How to play the imposter game online for free

To play the imposter game online, just open this page in your phone's browser: it's free, with no download and no sign-up. Add the names, the game picks the word and the imposter at random, and you pass the phone around so everyone sees their role in secret. Then it runs the clue rounds, records the votes and tells you who's out.

If you'd rather not pass the phone around, create a room and share the link in your group chat: everyone joins from their own phone, sees their role only on their screen and votes in secret. The vote closes on its own once everyone has voted, so nobody can change their mind after seeing the others' votes.

Both ways follow the same rules: one imposter per game, clues in turns, a vote and, if there's a tie, another round. Pick whichever is easier for how many of you there are and where you are.

Imposter game generator: how to pick good words

The best words for the imposter game are things everyone knows that leave room for lots of different clues: places, food, activities or jobs. This page has 355 of them, across 19 categories, and the game works as an imposter word generator: it picks one at random every game. Super specific or obscure words leave the innocent players without clues and make everyone look like the imposter.

The category matters: it's the only thing the imposter knows. With broad categories like “Objects” or “Activities,” it's harder for them to guess the word; with narrower ones like “Drinks” or “Sports,” they might work it out after two clues. If one feels too easy, play the next game with a different word.

Imposter game tips and strategy

If you know the word, find the balance: a clue that's too obvious (“marshmallow” for s'mores) hands it to the imposter, and one that's too out-there will make people suspect you. Watch for who gives really vague clues, who repeats someone else's idea and who hesitates a little too long.

If you're the imposter, use the category and listen: the other clues get you closer to the word, and going last in the round is an advantage. Give a clue that fits several words in that category, don't be the first to accuse anyone and remember that a tied vote saves you.

And when you vote, don't rush it: voting out an innocent brings the imposter closer to winning, since they win when only two players are left. Before voting, have everyone say out loud who they suspect and why.

The imposter game with friends, over a video call or on paper

With friends at the same table, the quickest way is one phone that gets passed around. Over a video call, everyone opens the room on their phone, sees their role and gives their clue out loud on the call; the secret vote happens in the room.

If you want to play the imposter game on paper, with no screens, you can: someone who isn't playing writes the word on slips of paper and, on one of them, only the category; fold them up, hand them out and play with the same rules. The difference is that with the site, nobody has to sit out to prepare the slips and the word is picked at random.

As a drinking game, the imposter takes two sips if they're caught and each innocent voted out takes one; without alcohol it works the same, swapping sips for water, points or dares. If you like word games and suspicion, also try Forbidden Words, Who's Most Likely To or Word Bomb.