Imposter game tips that actually win you rounds

The imposter game is not a game of luck. There are a handful of patterns that repeat in every group, and once you see them you cannot unsee them. The tips below come in two halves: what to do when you know the word, and what to do when you do not.

When you know the word

1. 1Skip your first association. If the word is Dog, everyone thinks Leash, including the impostor. Your second or third idea is usually much better.
2. 2Aim one step away. Do not link to the word, link to something linked to the word. For Dog, Neighbour complaining does exactly that.
3. 3Take a risk if you go first. The first clue gives the impostor the most information, so be foggier than average.
4. 4Be more specific if you go last. By then everyone has spoken, so you need to prove you know.
5. 5Never echo someone else's idea. That is the classic impostor move and it will come back to bite you.
6. 6Remember the order. Who spoke when is worth much more at the vote than you would think.
7. 7Do not accuse in round one. Impostors usually slip on their second clue, so watch until then.
8. 8Notice players who only use feeling words. Nice, good, old and big reveal almost nothing.

When you are the impostor

1. 1Do not rush your clue. If you are not first you get free information. But if you are always last, people notice.
2. 2Build on the clue before yours, then step sideways. Not a synonym, something that points the same way.
3. 3Say something that fits many things. At home, In summer, As a kid. Believable and risk free.
4. 4Ask, do not explain. Real impostors ask questions. Defending yourself is the number one way to get caught.
5. 5If you work out the word, hide it. A sudden confident, specific clue is instantly suspicious.
6. 6Vote firmly for someone. Whoever hesitates at the vote is the next one voted out.
7. 7Use body language. Nod along to clues as if you know exactly what they mean.
8. 8Lose with dignity. If it is over, do not flail. Panic is memorable and people will remember it next round.

Practise with stats

The impostor party game tracks how often each player was the impostor and how often they got away with it. The stats show quickly whose tactics work.

Impostor Party Game

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The art of the vote

Most rounds are decided at the vote, not during the clues. The loudest person tends to get voted out, even though volume on its own means nothing.

• Do not vote for whoever annoys you. Vote for whoever gave a clue that did not fit.
• If you are unsure, think back to the order. Who waited, who rushed.
• The quiet player is not automatically the impostor. Every group has someone who never says much.
• When two players accuse each other, often neither is the impostor. Look at the third.

Five mistakes everyone makes

Advanced tricks

• The double bluff. You know the word but give a deliberately vague clue to draw suspicion, then reveal you knew all along. Brilliant in a big group, suicidal in a small one.
• The bait question. Ask something only the impostor will find hard, such as where they would keep it at home. More in imposter game questions.
• The ally. Give clues in a style that matches a friend so you can clear each other. Careful, it can look just as suspicious.
• Rotate the starter. When a different player opens every round, the impostor cannot plan around their position.