Impostor Game Examples - Sample Rounds & Word Pairs

See how real rounds play out in The Impostor

The best way to understand The Impostor is to see it in action. Below are example rounds from each game mode, showing how players give clues, how the Impostor bluffs, and how voting plays out. These examples use real word pairs from the game's themed word packs.

Classic ModeAnimals Theme

Example 1: The Impostor Has No Word

Citizen Word

Penguin

Impostor Word

— (no word)

Anna

"Cold" — A safe, broad clue that hints at the habitat.

Ben

"Tuxedo" — A clever reference to the penguin's black and white pattern.

Carlos

"Snow" — Trying to match the cold theme, but very generic.

Diana

"Waddle" — Specific to penguins, confirms she knows the word.

Result: The group noticed Carlos gave the most generic clue. After discussion, they voted for Carlos — and he was indeed the Impostor! Citizens win.

Mysterious ModeCinema Theme

Example 2: The Impostor Has a Related Word

Citizen Word

Titanic

Impostor Word

Jaws

Emma

"Ocean" — Works for both movies, safe clue.

Frank

"Boat" — Relates to Titanic but also somewhat to Jaws.

Grace

"Scary" — Jaws is a horror film; Titanic is romantic. Suspicious!

Hugo

"Romance" — Very specific to Titanic, confirms knowledge.

Result: Grace's clue of "Scary" felt off for a romance film. The group debated between Grace and Emma (whose clue was vague). They voted Grace — correct! In Mysterious mode, the Impostor's related word often leads to subtly wrong clues.

Chaotic ModeSports Theme

Example 3: Unknown Number of Impostors

Citizen Word

Tennis

Impostor Word

Badminton

Iris

"Racket" — Works for both sports!

Jake

"Grand Slam" — Specific to tennis. Strong citizen clue.

Kate

"Net" — Both sports use a net. Ambiguous.

Leo

"Wimbledon" — Only tennis. Clearly a citizen.

Maya

"Court" — Works for tennis. Good citizen clue.

Result: In Chaotic mode, nobody knew there were 2 Impostors. The group first voted out Iris for being too vague. Next round, Kate's "Net" clue was re-evaluated and she was caught too. Citizens win after finding both!

Sample Word Pairs from Each Theme

Each theme in The Impostor contains 65+ word pairs. The Citizen word and Impostor word are always related but distinct — creating the perfect challenge for both roles. Here are examples from each category:

petsAnimals

Dog↔Wolf

Eagle↔Hawk

Dolphin↔Whale

Butterfly↔Moth

movieCinema

Titanic↔Jaws

Star Wars↔Star Trek

Marvel↔DC Comics

Horror↔Thriller

sports_soccerSports

Tennis↔Badminton

Football↔Rugby

Swimming↔Diving

Boxing↔Wrestling

ecoNature

Mountain↔Volcano

Ocean↔Sea

Forest↔Jungle

Desert↔Savanna

Tips for Giving Great Clues

✓As a Citizen, avoid clues that are too obvious (like saying the word itself) or too vague (like 'thing'). Find the middle ground that proves you know the word.
✓As the Impostor in Classic mode, listen carefully to the first few clues to identify the category before giving yours. Being last to speak gives you the most information.
✓In Mysterious mode, the Impostor has a related word. Use it to your advantage — give clues that work for your word but could also apply to the citizen word.
✓Watch body language! Players who hesitate, look nervous, or react strangely to others' clues might be the Impostor.
✓In Chaotic mode, do not assume there is only one Impostor. If someone seems like a citizen, they could be an Impostor who gave a lucky clue.

Ready to Play?

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Game Rules Word Themes FAQ