Imposter Game Rules
How to play the imposter word game (also called Who Is the Spy, impostor game, or find the fake)
Works with Who's Fake?, Spyfall, The Chameleon, and similar social deduction games
What You Need
- ✓3 or more players — works best with 5-8 players
- ✓A phone with Who's Fake? — or paper and pen to write word pairs
- ✓2-5 minutes per round — quick enough to play many rounds
The Concept
Every player receives a secret word. All players get the same word — except one player, the imposter, who gets a different but related word.
Players give clues about their word. The imposter must blend in without knowing the real word. The group votes to find the fake.
Civilians see
Guitar
Imposter sees
Violin
Rules (Step by Step)
Read Your Secret Word
Each player privately views their secret word on the screen (or paper). Do not show your word to anyone. In Who's Fake?, pass the phone around — each player taps to reveal their word, then passes it to the next person.
Give One-Word Clues
Going around the group, each player gives a clue about their word without saying it directly. The clue should prove you know the word without being too obvious. For example, if your word is "Guitar", you might say "strings" or "frets" — but not "guitar" itself.
Discuss & Debate
After clues, open discussion begins. Players can ask follow-up questions, make accusations, and defend themselves. This is where the real fun happens — the imposter is trying to deflect, while civilians are analyzing everyone's clues.
Vote to Eliminate
After discussion, everyone simultaneously votes on who they think is the imposter. The player with the most votes is eliminated and their role is revealed.
Win or Lose
If the eliminated player was the imposter — civilians win! If an innocent civilian was eliminated — the imposter wins! Start a new round with fresh words.
Three Ways to Play
Pass & Play
One phone, passed around. Everyone views their word privately. Works offline — perfect for road trips.
Local WiFi
Everyone uses their own phone on the same WiFi network. No internet needed.
Online
Create a room code, share it, and play with friends anywhere in the world.
Pro Tips
As a Civilian
- Give specific clues only your word would match
- Listen for vague or generic answers
- Watch reactions when others give clues
- Build a logical case before accusing
As the Imposter
- Listen first, then give a plausible clue
- Find overlap between your word and theirs
- Accuse others confidently to deflect
- Keep clues simple — overthinking is suspicious
Ready to Play?
Download Who's Fake? for free — the app handles word assignment, turns, timer, and voting automatically.