How to play the imposter game: rules and clue tips
You've probably seen this one spread through group chats: everyone knows the word except one person, who has to fake it. It goes by the imposter game, the liar game, and a dozen app names, and it borrows from board games like Spyfall and The Chameleon. All you really need is 3 people and someone willing to lie with a straight face.
Setup
Pick a category and a secret word from it (say, “Breakfast foods: pancakes”). Everyone sees the secret except one randomly chosen player, the imposter, who only sees the category. With paper, a non-playing host can deal cards; with an app or Hangtime, the phones handle it.
How a round works
- Clues. Taking turns, each player says one word related to the secret. Too obvious and the imposter will guess it. Too vague and people will suspect you.
- Discuss. Talk it over. Who hesitated? Whose clue didn't quite fit?
- Vote. Everyone points at (or votes for) the player they think is the imposter. In most versions a tie lets the imposter escape.
- The last chance. If the imposter is caught, they get one guess at the secret word. A correct guess still steals the round.
Scoring
Scoring varies by group. A common version: the imposter scores if they escape the vote or guess the word; everyone who voted correctly scores if the imposter is caught and guesses wrong. Play several rounds so everyone gets a turn at bluffing.
How to get better at it
- As a regular player: pick a word that only makes sense if you know the secret, but that fits other words in the category too. For “pancakes”, “stack” is better than “syrup”.
- As the imposter: listen to the clues before yours, then say something broad that fits them. Going later helps.
- Watch for: players who echo the previous clue, or who take a long time to answer.
Playing it on a TV or over a video call
Hangtime's Who's Lying? is our take: a whodunnit with an evidence board of 16 items on the TV, a secret item on everyone's phone, and one Liar who has to bluff through one-word clue rounds before the vote. It handles 3 to 10 players, in one room or on phones over a call.
An evidence board on the TV, a secret on every phone, and one Liar. 3 to 10 players.
Play Who's Lying?No group handy? Try Wordy Birdy solo, free, in 10 seconds →Questions
How many players do you need for the imposter game?
At least 3, and it's best with 5 to 10.
What happens if the imposter guesses the word?
In most versions, a caught imposter who guesses the secret word correctly still wins the round.
Is the imposter game the same as Spyfall?
They're close cousins. Spyfall uses locations and open questions; the imposter game usually uses one-word clues and a category.
Can kids play the imposter game?
Yes, with easy categories like animals or foods. Kids are often surprisingly good liars.