Imposter Game — Play Online for Free

What is the Imposter game?

The Imposter game is a quick party word game for 3 to 20 players. Everyone gets the same secret word — except the imposter, who doesn’t know it. Players take turns giving one-word clues, then discuss and vote on who they think is faking it. The group has to catch the imposter without giving the word away; the imposter has to blend in and work out the word from everyone else’s clues.

You don’t need cards, paper, or an app. This page picks the word and the imposter at random and shows each player their secret card — on one phone passed around the group, or on everyone’s own phone with a shared game code.

How to play the Imposter game

1. Set up. Choose the number of players and imposters, the hint for the imposter, and which categories to play with.
2. Get your cards. Each player secretly looks at their card. Most players see the secret word and its category; the imposter sees “You’re the imposter!” — plus a hint if you turned hints on.
3. Give clues. Starting with the player the game picks, everyone says one word (or a very short clue) related to the secret word. Go around once or twice.
4. Discuss and vote. Use the timer, talk it over, then point at the player you think is the imposter on the count of three.
5. Reveal. Tap Reveal the imposter. If the group caught the imposter, the imposter gets one last chance: guess the secret word to steal the win.

Who wins?

• The group wins if they vote out the imposter and the imposter can’t guess the word.
• The imposter wins if they avoid being voted out — or if they’re caught but correctly guess the secret word.

For a longer game, keep score: 1 point to every player when the group wins, 2 points to the imposter when the imposter wins. First to 10 points takes the crown.

Play online on everyone’s phone

Choose Everyone’s phone, set up the game, and tap Create game code. Share the 12-character code (read it out, or paste it in your group chat). Each player opens this page on their own phone, taps Join a game, types the code, and picks a different player number. Every phone shows the right card — the code tells each phone the same word and the same imposter, so there are no accounts, no waiting room, and nothing to install. Tap Next round together to keep playing.

Playing on a video call? The same code works for friends in different places — just agree on who is player 1, 2, 3, and so on.

Hints for the imposter

You can make the game easier or harder for the imposter:

• No hint — the imposter only knows they are the imposter. Tense and tricky; best for experienced groups.
• Category — the imposter sees the category, such as Jobs or Food & drinks. A good default.
• Category + related word — the imposter also gets a word linked to the secret word, like “whistle” for lifeguard. Perfect for kids, new players, and big groups.

How many imposters?

Tips and strategy

If you know the word

• Give clues that show you know the word without making it obvious — “bristles” for toothbrush, not “teeth”.
• Listen for clues that are too vague or that repeat what someone else just said.
• Don’t be too clever: an odd clue can make you look like the imposter.

If you are the imposter

• Try not to go first — the game picks the starting player at random, so sometimes you’ll have to bluff.
• Pick safe, general clues that fit many words in the category.
• Build on earlier clues, and stay calm during the vote.

Categories and words

The game has 448 hand-picked words in 18 categories. Switch categories on or off before you start — for example only Animals, Food, and Fantasy for a kids’ party.

• Animals — elephant, giraffe, penguin, kangaroo, octopus, and more
• Food & drinks — pizza, sushi, hamburger, pancake, spaghetti, and more
• Places — beach, hospital, school, library, airport, and more
• Jobs — doctor, teacher, firefighter, chef, pilot, and more
• Sports — soccer, basketball, tennis, golf, swimming, and more
• Things at home — bed, fridge, television, sofa, toothbrush, and more
• School — homework, backpack, pencil, calculator, teacher, and more
• Clothes — jeans, sneakers, scarf, hat, gloves, and more
• Transport — bicycle, airplane, train, bus, taxi, and more
• Nature & weather — volcano, rainbow, thunderstorm, waterfall, snowman, and more
• Hobbies & activities — painting, gardening, cooking, reading, dancing, and more
• Holidays & parties — birthday, wedding, halloween, christmas, new year, and more
• Countries & cities — japan, italy, france, egypt, brazil, and more
• Famous landmarks — eiffel tower, statue of liberty, great wall of china, pyramids, big ben, and more
• Music — guitar, piano, drums, violin, trumpet, and more
• Technology — smartphone, laptop, internet, robot, selfie, and more
• Fantasy & fairy tales — dragon, wizard, unicorn, mermaid, vampire, and more
• Body — heart, brain, eye, nose, teeth, and more

Want to see every word, print a list, or run the game yourself? Use the Imposter Game Word Generator, which lists all 448 words with their hint words.

Variations to try

• Undercover: with the related-word hint, the imposter doesn’t reveal they’re the imposter and plays their hint word as if it were the real one.
• Questions round: instead of clues, players ask each other yes-or-no questions about the word.
• Drawing round: everyone draws the word in 20 seconds — the imposter has to scribble something that fits.
• Theme nights: play only Sports, only Countries, or only Things at home.

Is it free and private?

Yes. The Imposter game is free with no sign-up and no app to install. It runs in your browser: player names and game codes stay on your device and are never sent anywhere.