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How to play the imposter game

The imposter game is a social deduction word game for 3 or more players. Everyone gets the same secret word, except one player, the imposter, who only knows a vague theme. Players take turns giving one-word hints, then vote out who they think is faking it.

What you need

3 to 12 players, with 4 to 8 being the sweet spot. In person you need one phone with the generator, or a game master who picks words from the word list. Online you only need a browser: blffr.io deals everything.

Setup

Pick a secret word and a broad theme that fits it.
Secretly choose one player as the imposter.
Show everyone the word, and show the imposter only the theme.

How a round works

First hints
Going around the table, everyone says one word linked to the secret word, without saying the word itself.
Discuss
Who sounded vague? Who was suspiciously careful?
Second hints
Everyone gives a second word. The imposter has more to go on now, but so does the crew.
Vote
Everyone points at the same time. The player with the most votes is out.
Reveal
The voted player shows their card. Was it the imposter?

Who wins

The crew wins the round if they vote out the imposter. The imposter wins if anyone else is voted out. On blffr.io every player who votes for the imposter gets 2 points, and an imposter who survives the vote gets 3. Most points after all rounds wins.

Tips for the crew

Be specific enough to prove you know the word, but not so obvious that the imposter can guess it.
Watch for hints that fit the theme but not the word.
Compare each player's two hints. The second round is where the imposter slips.

Tips for the imposter

If you can, let others hint first and listen.
Aim for the middle of the theme, not its edges.
Build on other hints without echoing them.
If you work out the word, act like you knew it all along.

Variants

Question mode: everyone answers a question, the imposter answers a slightly different one.
Blind imposter: the imposter gets no theme at all. Harder, best with experienced players.
Two imposters: for 8 or more players.

FAQ

How many players do you need for the imposter game?

3 is the minimum, 4 to 8 is best. With more than 10, consider two imposters.

Can you play the imposter game online?

Yes. blffr.io is free in the browser with no sign-up or download. Invite friends with a link, and if you're short of players, bots fill the empty seats.

Does the imposter know they are the imposter?

In the word version, yes: they are told and see only the theme. In question mode they don't know, they just get a slightly different question.

Is it the same as Spyfall?

Same idea, but with a secret word instead of a location, and one-word hints instead of questions. Rounds are faster.