How to Play "Guess the Imposter" Word Game
Tear a strip of paper for each player. Guess the Imposter is best when you have at least 3 players, but it’s even better with more people. Count how many people are playing and tear enough pieces of paper so everyone has one. If you’d rather play using your phone, one popular app called Imposter WHO? lets you play without any paper. Instead of writing things on paper, each person will either see the secret word or find out they’re the imposter from the app. If you’re planning on playing multiple rounds, rip some extra strips for each person.
Choose a secret word to write on all but one of the strips. Pick one player to sit out for the round, and have them choose a secret word. Write the word down on each strip, except for one. On the last strip, put the word “IMPOSTER”. Then, fold all the pieces in half and mix them together. Need some inspiration to get started? Check out our recommendations for secret words for your first games!
Hand the strips out randomly to the players. Shuffle all the folded strips of paper together, tell everyone the category for the round, and have players take turns choosing one. Everyone can look at their own strip of paper, but keep it secret from everyone else. While most of the group will read the same word, one person won’t know the real prompt. Example: If the secret word is “Apple,” then tell everyone the category is “Food.”
Take turns giving clues or answers about the word. Once everyone has gotten their strip, choose someone to give the first clue. When you give a clue, say one word that describes or is related to the secret word. Example: If the secret word is “Apple,” some potential clues could be: Delicious Crisp Juice Teacher If you’re the imposter, say a word that you think might be related. Even if you don’t know the secret word, try to say a word that’s similar to one that’s already been said. Do 1 round of clues if you want a quick game, or do 2-3 rounds and say new words each time for more of a challenge.
Discuss and vote on who you think is the imposter. After everyone gives their clues, talk to each other to suss out the imposter. Ask about the clues they gave, and have people explain their answers. After about one minute, point at the person you think is the imposter. Whoever has the most votes is who gets chosen. Jump down to our strategy section to learn how to stay hidden as an imposter.
Give points to the group or the imposter. If the person you voted for was the imposter, then everyone who got the secret word in the beginning gets one point. If the person you chose wasn’t the imposter, the imposter reveals themselves and earns one point. After the round, the imposter has a chance to guess the secret word. If the imposter gets the word correct, they earn 1 bonus point for the round too!
Play more rounds with new strips of paper. Choose a new person to pick a word or prompt, and hand out a new set of paper strips. Keep playing the game until everyone has a chance to give a secret word or until you want to stop. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the ultimate winner!
"Guess the Imposter" Categories & Secret Words
Try these fun categories and secret words for inspiration. The secret word can be anything you imagine, but it’s best if you choose something that everyone is familiar with. Find a category that interests you and use one of these words for your first round. As you get better at the game, pepper in some more challenging words for even more fun. Objects Easy: Book, chair, stairs, knife, window, bed, foot, clock, backpack, pencil Hard: Gasoline, crown, sandals, souvenirs, trumpet, roof, gloves, building Animals Easy: Dog, cat, bird, turtle, fish, lizard, frog, elephant, puppy, fly, monkey, mouse Hard: Hedgehog, sloth, dragonfly, rhinoceros, platypus, kangaroo, bumblebee, panda Food Easy: Pizza, cheeseburger, sandwich, apple, cookies, milk, spaghetti, cheese, carrot Hard: Broccoli, lasagna, caviar, sushi, cucumber, chicken nuggets, hummus, cupcake Technology Easy: Cell phone, laptop, computer, TV, headphones, camera, tablet Hard: iPod, VR headset, laser pointer, drone, flash drive, webcam, smart watch Nature Easy: Tree, forest, flowers, rain, ocean, snow, fire, stones, planet, the moon Hard: Desert, northern lights, solar eclipse, pond, crystals, cave, hurricane, thunderstorm Places Easy: Beach, grocery store, park, zoo, library, school, England, kitchen, hospital, hotel Hard: Airport, Mount Rushmore, Disneyworld, apartment, Eiffel Tower, backyard, bakery, treehouse School Easy: Notebook, pen, math, recess, homework, teacher, desk, lunch, textbook, gym class Hard: Essay, geometry, school paper, your school mascot, chemistry, debate club, whiteboard Movies Easy: Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, Toy Story, Home Alone, Austin Powers, Jurassic Park, Superman Hard: The Matrix, Forrest Gump, The Godfather, Alien, The Avengers, Joker, Coco, Mad Max: Fury Road Famous People Easy: Elvis, Albert Einstein, LeBron James, Lady Gaga, Barack Obama, Miley Cyrus, Jimmy Fallon Hard: Walt Disney, Daniel Radcliffe, Gandhi, Brad Pitt, Kobe Bryant, Katy Perry, Leonardo da Vinci Hobbies Easy: Reading, football, drawing, board games, dancing, gardening, fishing Hard: Karaoke, disc golf, mountain biking, DJing, cosplay, birdwatching, podcasting
Guess the Imposter Game Variation
In some variations of the Guess the Imposter game, all the players except one get the same question to answer. Asking the imposter a similar but different prompt adds a new twist to the game. These questions are sure to get a variety of answers and create a lot of fun discussions as you figure out who’s the imposter. Where do you want to take your dream vacation? Imposter prompt: Name a state or country. What is your least favorite fast food restaurant? Imposter prompt: Name a restaurant in your area. Who is your biggest celebrity crush? Imposter prompt: Name the last celebrity you saw in a movie. How many days is it okay to go without showering? Imposter prompt: Write a number 1-30. What actor could you beat in a fight? Imposter prompt: Who is your favorite actor? What is the best food to order on a first date? Imposter prompt: What appetizer do you like to eat? Which person here is the most likely to commit a crime? Imposter prompt: Write down the name of someone in the group. If you could go back in time to meet one person, who would it be? Imposter prompt: What historical figure is the most influential? How many people would show up to your birthday party? Imposter prompt: Write down any number below 100. How old do you think someone should be when they get married? Imposter prompt: Choose a number between 18 and 100. What household item would you bring to a desert island? Imposter prompt: What’s the last household item you used? If you could turn into one animal, what would it be? Imposter prompt: What is the ugliest animal? Who is the first person you’d call if there were an emergency? Imposter prompt: Write down a contact from your phone. How many times do you go to the bathroom during the day? Imposter prompt: Write a number between 1 and 10. What athlete do you think you could beat at their own sport? Imposter prompt: What athlete is your favorite?
Strategies for Finding the Imposter
Look for changes in someone’s behavior. When someone’s lying or feeling nervous, their body language might give them away. If someone suddenly seems like they’re on edge at the start of the round, it could be a sign they’re the imposter. Other body language signs may include avoiding eye contact, fidgeting, or using fewer hand movements.
Give clues that are clear to your team but not to the traitor. Even though you don’t want people to think you’re the imposter, you don’t want the imposter to figure out the secret word either! When you’re thinking of a clue to give, try to choose a vague word that could mean a lot of things. The other people who know the word will probably get what you mean, but it’ll confuse the traitor. Example: If the secret word is “pencil,” you might give clues like, “wooden,” “sharp,” “functional,” or “school.”
Ask questions when you hear clues that don’t make sense. If you’re ever confused by someone’s clue, ask them to explain their reasoning. Listen carefully as they explain themselves, and push harder if you’re not getting the answers you want. If they’re lying, they’ll feel the pressure and may get more flustered.
Tricks for Blending in as an Imposter
Act the same as other players. Even though it can be pretty stressful when you’re the only imposter trying to blend in, try to keep your cool. Right when you get the slip of paper, act the same as you would if you knew the secret word. If you were chatty with your friends before, keep chatting with them, or keep quiet if that’s how you’ve played other rounds.
Give clues or answers quickly when it’s your turn. Hesitating before you give a clue might make someone think you’re taking too long coming up with a lie. Even if you aren’t sure what the secret word is, answer quickly and confidently when they’re thinking of something to say. The other players just might believe you!
Give clues that are similar to what other players have said. If other players give clues before you, listen carefully to the words they’re saying and think of how they’re related. When it’s your turn, choose another word that fits in with the others so you don’t stand out too much. Example: If players have said words like “sand” and “umbrella,” there’s a chance the secret word is “beach.” You might say a vague word like “tan” or “relaxing” to blend in.
Point the blame on someone else. If you notice someone else is hesitating or stumbling over their words, it’s the perfect opportunity to point your finger at them. Say to the group that they’re acting suspiciously and start pressing them with more questions. If you can convince other people in the group that someone else is the imposter, then you’ll stay safe and earn a point.
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