Imposter game words and categories
A good imposter word is one everyone knows, inside a category with lots of close neighbors. If the category is food and the word is pizza, the imposter can bluff with clues like "cheesy" or "Friday", and the real players have to be specific enough to prove they know without giving it away.
Places
- Beach
- Airport
- Hospital
- School
- Movie theater
- Zoo
- Library
- Supermarket
- Gym
- Restaurant
- Space station
- Pirate ship
- Haunted house
- Bowling alley
- Wedding
- Hotel
- Camping trip
- Amusement park
- Farm
- Museum
Food
- Pizza
- Sushi
- Tacos
- Pancakes
- Ice cream
- Popcorn
- Burger
- Spaghetti
- Samosa
- Birthday cake
- Cereal
- Salad
- Hot dog
- Chocolate
- Watermelon
- French fries
Animals
- Penguin
- Giraffe
- Shark
- Cat
- Dog
- Elephant
- Owl
- Kangaroo
- Snake
- Panda
- Octopus
- Lion
- Bee
- Horse
- Frog
- Dolphin
Jobs
- Doctor
- Teacher
- Chef
- Firefighter
- Astronaut
- Pilot
- Dentist
- Lifeguard
- Magician
- Police officer
- Farmer
- Hairdresser
- Plumber
- Photographer
- Judge
Things around the house
- Toothbrush
- Couch
- Microwave
- Umbrella
- Pillow
- Remote control
- Mirror
- Candle
- Fridge
- Laundry basket
- Bathtub
- Doorbell
- Lamp
- Vacuum
- Alarm clock
Movies and characters
- Harry Potter
- Spider-Man
- Elsa
- Shrek
- Darth Vader
- Mickey Mouse
- Batman
- Pikachu
- Mario
- Barbie
- SpongeBob
- Wonder Woman
How to pick the secret word
- Everyone has to know it. If one real player doesn't know the word, they look exactly like the imposter.
- Pick from a crowded category. "Beach" is better than "Antarctica", because lots of places share beach clues.
- Have a neutral person choose. Use an app or a shuffled list so nobody playing knows who got which card.
Skip the slips: Who's Lying?
Who's Lying? is Hangtime's imposter game. The TV shows an evidence board of 16 things, and every phone shows the secret, except the Liar's. Everyone gives a one-word clue, then you vote. If the Liar is caught, they get one guess at the secret to steal the round. The game deals the roles and keeps score, so nobody has to sit out to run it. It's for 3 to 10 players, in the room or over a video call, and part of the Launch Pack. Players always join free.
Tips
- One word per clue. Longer clues give too much away.
- Go around twice before voting. One round of clues is usually not enough to catch a good bluffer.
- Change who goes first. Going first is hardest, because there's nothing to build on.
- Read the full rules. Our imposter game rules cover scoring, 3-player games and hint mode.
Everyone knows the secret except the Liar. Clues, a vote, one guess.
Try Who's Lying?No group handy? Try Wordy Birdy solo, free, in 10 seconds →Questions
What are good words for the imposter game?
Common things in crowded categories: places like beach, airport or school; foods like pizza, tacos or pancakes; and animals like penguin, shark or cat.
How do you choose categories for the imposter game?
Pick categories with lots of members everyone knows, like places, food, animals, jobs and movie characters. Tell everyone the category before clues start.
Can you play the imposter game online?
Yes. Who's Lying? on Hangtime deals the secret to every phone except the Liar's, and works in the room or over a video call.
How many players do you need for the imposter game?
At least 3. Who's Lying? works with 3 to 10 players.