How to play the impostor word game

Everyone gets the same secret word except one player: the impostor. Take turns giving clues, compare what people said and vote for the person you suspect is bluffing.

Set up a paper game

You need at least 3 players, paper and a pen. With 4 to 8 people, there are more clues to compare. These rules describe a short round with one impostor. Agree on any variations before dealing.

The person preparing the cards secretly picks a word everyone knows from the category lists. Prepare one identical slip of paper per player.
Write the same secret word on all but one slip. Write “Impostor” on the remaining slip. Fold them the same way and shuffle.
The person writing the cards will know the word, even if they draw “Impostor.” Have someone sit out and prepare that round so the secret stays hidden from the impostor.

Give clues, vote and make the final guess

Read your card privately. Players with the word try to spot someone improvising. The impostor listens for enough information to blend in.
Give one clue each. Pick a random starting player and go around the circle. Say a related word without saying the secret or part of it. For Chocolate, “cacao” could be a clue.
Let the impostor give a clue too. A vague or mismatched clue may draw suspicion. Very obvious clues can help the impostor work out the secret.
Discuss and vote. After one lap, talk about the clues. On a count of three, point to the person you suspect. The person with the most votes is out. For a tie, vote again between the tied players; if it ties again, take another clue lap.
Offer one final guess. If the vote catches the impostor, let them guess the secret word once before revealing the cards. A correct guess wins for the impostor; a wrong guess wins for the other players. In this short version, voting out someone with the word gives the impostor the win.

Use a fresh word next round and rotate who prepares the cards. Award a point for a win, or play without keeping score.

Variations to agree on first

Two clue laps: go around again before voting when the first clues leave too much uncertainty.
Announce a category: tell everyone “food” or “family” to give the impostor a starting point.
A longer round: if the vote removes a player with the word, continue with another lap and vote. Agree that the impostor wins when only two players remain.
Bilingual clues: decide whether clues can be in Spanish, English or both. Each card should refer to the same concept.

How Farsa runs it on one phone

Choose Impostor, add 3 to 20 players and set up the round. In My table, choose the communities and language for your group. Pass the phone so each player can privately view their role and hide it before passing. The app deals the roles, shows the word, guides the clue round and collects votes.

Depending on your settings, the impostor can receive a hint and get a last chance to guess. Choose those options before dealing. The Scoreboard records points when the game ends.

Questions about the rules

Can the impostor guess during the clue round?

In this paper version, save the guess for the final chance after the vote. That gives everyone a turn to offer a clue before the round ends.

Can we play without an app?

Yes. Folded paper slips, a shared word and a vote are enough. Rotate the person who prepares the cards between rounds.

What word should we start with?

Choose something everyone recognizes. Try the food and snack prompts or the family list. Replace unfamiliar terms before dealing.

Planning a gathering? See Thanksgiving games and Christmas and Posadas games.

Play it in Farsa

Impostor, Charades and Finish the saying on one phone. Choose a language for each player, then pass the phone to view the cards.

Coming soon to iPhone and Android.