Words or places?

You may know the imposter game with words: everyone gets the same word, gives a one-word clue, and the imposter fakes one. SpySus is the version with places. Instead of a single clue each, players take turns asking each other questions — “what are you wearing?”, “would you bring your kids here?” — so every round is a proper conversation, and the imposter gets a real chance to bluff their way through.

	Word imposter	SpySus
The secret	A word	A place, with its own illustrated card
Each turn	One-word clue	Ask anyone a question
The imposter wins by	Not being voted out	Not being voted out, or naming the place
Round length	1–3 minutes	5–10 minutes

How a round works

Four players are at the Beach. The imposter only sees a list of every place it could be.

Players take turns asking one another questions about the place. Real players answer so the others can tell they know it, without saying it outright. The imposter answers vaguely and listens hard. Anyone can call a vote on who they suspect — but voting out an innocent player hands the round to the imposter. And the imposter can stop the round at any moment by naming the place; get it right and they win.

Play with friends in three steps

On a Zoom, Discord or Teams call, talk on the call and play in a browser tab. All in one room with one phone? Pass & Play deals the cards on a single device and you hand it round.

Questions that catch the imposter

• “What would you be holding right now?”A ticket, a tray, a fishing rod — the imposter has to commit.
• “Would you come here on a first date?”Quick to answer if you know, painful if you don't.
• “What is the worst part of being here?”Queues, seasickness, the smell.
• “Who is in charge here?”A captain, a teacher, a referee, nobody.

More questions and tips for playing as the imposter are on the Spyfall-style guide.

More imposters in bigger groups

With six or more players a second imposter is dealt in, and a third from nine. The imposters are not told who the others are, so two of them can end up confidently accusing each other — usually the best moment of the night.

Questions

What is the imposter game?

A party game where everyone is given the same secret except one player, the imposter. The group talks, asks questions and votes on who is bluffing; the imposter tries to blend in and work out the secret. SpySus plays it with places: everyone sees the same location except the imposter.

Can you play the imposter game online for free?

Yes. SpySus runs in any browser, free, with no app and no account. One person creates a room and shares the link or six-character code, and everyone joins from their own phone or laptop.

What is the difference between word imposter and SpySus?

In the word version everyone gets a secret word and gives a one-word clue. In SpySus the secret is a place, like a submarine or a hospital, and players take turns asking each other questions about it. Questions give the imposter more to work with, so rounds last longer and the bluffing gets better.

How many players do you need?

Three at minimum, up to twelve online, or up to ten on one phone with Pass & Play. Bigger groups get more imposters: two from six players, three from nine. The imposters are not told who the others are.

Can you play on one phone?

Yes. Pass & Play deals every card on a single phone: each player looks at their card, hides it and hands the phone on.

Can you play over Zoom, Discord or Teams?

Yes. Talk on the call and play SpySus in a browser tab. Each player sees their card privately on their own screen, and the game keeps track of turns, votes and scores.

Other names for this game

Imposter, find the imposter, who is the spy, find the spy, the chameleon-style game, undercover. The idea is the same in all of them: everyone shares a secret except one player, and the group has to find them.

Start a free game →