Imposter Game
A party word game for 3 to 12 players. Everyone gets the same secret word except the imposter, who has to fake it. Pass one phone around, give one-word clues, and vote out the imposter.
- 3–12players
- 318words
- 10categories
- 0apps or sign-ups
How a round works
- Pass the phone. Each player taps to see their secret word. The imposter sees “You are the imposter!”.
- Give clues. Going round, everyone says one word about the secret word.
- Vote. Pick the imposter. If caught, the imposter gets one guess at the word.
One phone, passed around the room. Nothing is saved or sent anywhere.
Pass the phone to
Player 1
Make sure nobody else can see the screen, then tap below.
Everyone has their word
Player 1 starts
3:00
- Each player says one word about the secret word.
- Go round again if nobody is sure.
- Vote: who is the imposter?
The imposter was
Caught the imposter? They get one guess at the word. A right guess steals the win.
How to play the imposter game
- Set upChoose the number of players, one or two imposters, a category, and whether the imposter gets the category as a hint.
- Pass the phoneEach player taps to see their word, then hides it and passes it on. The imposter sees “You are the imposter!” instead.
- One-word cluesGoing round the circle, everyone says one word about the secret word: specific enough to prove you know it, vague enough to keep it hidden.
- VoteAfter one or two rounds, everyone points at the player they think is the imposter.
- RevealTap “Reveal the imposter”. A caught imposter gets one guess at the word, and a right guess steals the win.
Tips for players and imposters
If you have the word
- Pick clues that only make sense if you know the word. For “pancake”, “syrup” is safer than “breakfast”.
- Don’t give it away. If the imposter can guess the word, they win.
- Watch for hesitation: the imposter often waits a beat before answering.
If you are the imposter
- Listen first. Going later in the round gives you more clues to work from.
- Say something broad that fits several words in the category.
- Say it with confidence, then try to guess the word before the vote.
Ways to change the game
Imposter game words
The game picks from 318 family-friendly words in 10 categories. Here are 12 examples from each; tap “Show all” to see the full list. Good imposter words are concrete things everyone knows and can describe with a one-word clue.
Food 40 words
- pizza
- hamburger
- pancake
- spaghetti
- taco
- sushi
- popcorn
- sandwich
- burrito
- donut
- waffle
- cupcake
Animals 40 words
- elephant
- giraffe
- penguin
- kangaroo
- dolphin
- octopus
- tiger
- lion
- zebra
- panda
- koala
- monkey
Places 35 words
- beach
- airport
- library
- hospital
- museum
- zoo
- stadium
- restaurant
- bakery
- supermarket
- school
- playground
Jobs 35 words
- doctor
- teacher
- firefighter
- pilot
- chef
- nurse
- farmer
- police
- dentist
- astronaut
- plumber
- electrician
Sports & Hobbies 32 words
- soccer
- basketball
- baseball
- football
- tennis
- golf
- bowling
- swimming
- surfing
- skiing
- skateboarding
- cycling
Christmas 27 words
- reindeer
- snowman
- stocking
- ornament
- mistletoe
- gingerbread
- sleigh
- elf
- chimney
- wreath
- candy cane
- present
Thanksgiving 24 words
- turkey
- stuffing
- cranberry
- gravy
- pumpkin pie
- cornbread
- casserole
- pilgrim
- mayflower
- harvest
- parade
- football
Halloween 22 words
- pumpkin
- costume
- witch
- ghost
- mummy
- skeleton
- werewolf
- broomstick
- cauldron
- candy
- cobweb
- spider
Everyday Objects 33 words
- toothbrush
- umbrella
- pillow
- blanket
- mirror
- toaster
- microwave
- refrigerator
- lamp
- candle
- clock
- scissors
Kids (Easy Words) 30 words
- dinosaur
- rainbow
- unicorn
- robot
- pirate
- princess
- dragon
- rocket
- balloon
- crayon
- kite
- sandbox
FAQ
How many players do you need for the imposter game?
At least 3, and it is best with 5 to 10. With 6 or more players you can switch on a second imposter. This page supports up to 12 players on one device.
Do I need an app?
No. The game runs in your browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no download and no sign-up. Open the page, set the number of players and pass the device around.
Can we play over a video call?
This version is pass-and-play: everyone shares one device in the same room. Over a video call, each player would need to receive their word privately, which this page does not do.
Is the imposter game OK for kids?
Yes. All 318 words are family-friendly, and the "Kids (Easy Words)" list uses simple words that children over 8 know well.
What does the imposter see?
The imposter sees "You are the imposter!" instead of the word. With the hint setting on, they also see the category, such as Food or Animals, which makes it easier to blend in.