The rules, step by step
- Sixteen words on the board. Everyone sees which one is secret — except the Imposter.
- Going round the table, each player says one word about the secret word.
- Too obvious and the Imposter guesses it. Too vague and you look guilty.
- Then everyone votes. Catch the Imposter and they get one shot at guessing the word.
Scoring and the fiddly bits
The board
Sixteen words under one topic heading. The Imposter sees the same grid as everybody else, just not which cell is marked.
The clue round
One word each, spoken aloud, opening on a random player and continuing round the table in seat order.
The vote
Simultaneous and secret, and you cannot vote for yourself. A plurality accuses; a tie accuses nobody and the Imposter walks.
Scoring
Escape scores the Imposter 2, caught-but-guessed scores them 1, and a caught Imposter who misses gives 1 to every other player.
The rotation
Five rounds, with the role spread across the table but never landing on the same player twice in a row.
Playing the imposter game in person
You need three or more people and one phone or a piece of paper. This is the pass-the-phone version; Table Party’s own game gives the Imposter a sixteen-word board to bluff from and does the dealing and voting on everyone’s phone.
- Choose a category and one secret word. The generator picks both, or read one out from the word lists.
- Deal the word in private. Everyone sees the word except one player, the imposter, who sees only that they are the imposter (and, if you like, the category).
- Go round the table. Each player says one word about the secret word out loud, never the word itself.
- Vote together. If the table catches the imposter, they get one guess at the secret word; a correct guess still wins them the round.
Questions about Imposter
Is Imposter free?
Yes. Every game on Table Party is free, with no accounts, no adverts and nothing to buy.
How many people do you need for Imposter?
Between 3 and 12. Below 3 there are not enough of you for the game to work.
Do we need to download anything?
No. One person opens the site and starts a room; everybody else joins by typing the room code on their own phone. Nothing to install, nothing to sign up for.
Can we play Imposter over a video call?
Yes. Share the room code in the chat and play with the call running — everything private stays on each player’s own phone.
Play Imposter online
Free, in the browser, with everyone on their own phone.