Rules of Who is the Impostor?: How to Play

Who is the Impostor? is played with 3 or more players on a single shared phone. Everyone receives the same secret prompt, except one player: the impostor, who gets a slightly different version. Unmask them before they get away!

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In Brief: 3 Simple Steps

  1. Discover your secret. Each player secretly checks their sentence, picture, or video clip.
  2. Describe it. Take turns giving one subtle clue without revealing too much.
  3. Vote. The group debates and votes out the suspected impostor.

What you need to play

  • At least 3 players. The more you are, the easier it is for the impostor to blend in.
  • A single smartphone with the app installed (iOS or Android). Others don't need to install anything.
  • Around 5 to 10 minutes per round.

1. Game Setup

Enter the names of all players and choose your mode: Text, Photo, or Video. The app randomly selects the impostor and assigns the secret prompts.

1. Game Setup
Add players and pick Text, Photo, or Video mode.

2. Reveal Your Secret

Pass the phone around. Each player holds down their card to view their secret clue, then hands the device to the next person. Crucial rule: nobody knows whether they are an innocent or the impostor!

Take turns in private…
Take turns in private…
…hold the card to reveal your secret.
…hold the card to reveal your secret.

3. Clue Rounds

The app selects who speaks first, then proceeds clockwise. Each person gives one sentence:

  • Round 1: A single word or short phrase. Stay mysterious to avoid tipping off the impostor.
  • Round 2: A more descriptive hint (color, shape, setting…).
  • Round 3: A precise detail.

The art is balance: too clear, and the impostor figures out your clue; too vague, and you look suspicious to everyone else.

3. Clue Rounds
Round instruction, similarity gauge, and first speaker.

4. The Vote

When ready, proceed to voting: the group debates and points at a suspect. With 3 or 4 players, you can trigger an extra round before voting.

For 3 or 4 players: vote immediately or take an extra clue round.
For 3 or 4 players: vote immediately or take an extra clue round.
The group selects a suspect and eliminates them.
The group selects a suspect and eliminates them.
  • If the suspect is the impostor, the innocents win!
  • If an innocent is voted out, they are eliminated and a new round begins.
  • The impostor wins if too few innocents remain to vote them out (fewer than two).

5. The Revelation

At the end of the game, the app unveils the impostor and places both prompts side-by-side. It is always the funniest moment to compare clues and burst into laughter!

5. The Revelation
Here, innocents had waffles while the impostor had pancakes.

Tips to Win

If you think you are innocent

  • Give clues that only someone with the same prompt would understand.
  • Listen closely for hesitations: vague or slightly off-topic answers are red flags.

If you think you are the impostor

  • In round one, stay vague and let others speak before you if possible.
  • Echo words and vibes from previous players to seamlessly blend in.

Playing without the app

You can write words on paper with a game master, but the app does everything automatically so everyone can play together! Word Ideas for Who is the Impostor?.