Imposter Game for Family Night

Updated 14 October 2026

The imposter game for family night needs nothing but one phone and a few people around the table. Everyone gets the same secret word – except the imposter. Each person gives a clue, then the family votes on who seems to be describing something slightly different. Grandparents, teenagers and younger kids can all play together, and a round takes only a few minutes.

Why it works for family game night

• One phone is enough. Pass-the-phone mode handles 3–20 players, so the whole family can join.
• No setup. Quick Play starts a game in two taps: pick the number of players and tap start.
• Free and clean. No login, no ads, no download. It even works offline after your first visit – useful at a holiday cottage.
• Mixed ages work. Younger players and grandparents can play on equal terms because the clues are just everyday words.
• It fits the TV. Big-screen mode lets you cast to the television so everyone can see the reveal.

The Family Night word pack

The Family Night pack is built around things families do and talk about. Here are some real pairs from it:

See every pair on the Family Night pack page. You can also mix packs – Family Night plus Food plus Animals is a good all-ages combination – or pick "Random mix".

Play the Family Night pack

A sample family round

Six players: Mum, Dad, Grandma, two kids and an uncle. Five get "Snowman"; Grandma secretly gets "Sandcastle". She doesn't know she's the imposter – in Undercover mode nobody is told.

• Dad: "Carrot."
• Older kid: "Melting."
• Grandma (Sandcastle): "Bucket." – she's thinking of a bucket and spade.
• Younger kid: "Scarf."
• Uncle: "Buttons."
• Mum: "Winter."

"Bucket?" asks the younger one. Grandma explains, "You know, to shape it." It nearly works – some snowmen do get a bucket for a hat! The family votes her out anyway. On her last chance, she hears "winter" and "scarf", guesses "Snowman", and steals the win. Cue uproar.

The full rules are on the how to play page.

House rules for mixed ages

Every family plays a little differently. Some house rules that work well:

• Pair up the littlest. A young child can team up with an adult and share one turn and one secret word.
• Turn the timer off for younger players, or set it to 1 minute when teenagers are getting competitive.
• Secret vote for fairness. If one loud relative always decides the vote, switch to secret vote so everyone chooses privately on the passed phone.
• Loser adds a pair. Turn on this optional rule and the loser adds a new word pair to "My custom words". Family in-jokes make the best pairs.
• Strict mode for peekers. If siblings try to look at each other's words, strict mode makes each player set a personal PIN the first time they reveal.
• Keep the scoreboard. Civilians score +1 for catching an imposter, the imposter scores +2 for surviving. "Play again" keeps the same players, so you can play to 10 points.

Got younger children? The imposter game for kids page has extra tips and the Kids (Easy) pack. Planning a festive get-together? Try the Christmas imposter game.

Making a night of it

Play five or six quick rounds, then switch packs to keep things fresh. Pairs never repeat in a session until the pool runs out. After each round you can share a result card image to the family group chat – perfect for relatives who couldn't make it. And if some of the family are far away, they can join from their own phones in an online room over a video call; see play online with friends.

FAQ

How many family members can play?

From 3 up to 20 on one phone. With 8 or more players, the app recommends 2 imposters.

Is it suitable for grandparents who aren't into apps?

Yes. Each player just taps their name, holds the card to read a word, and passes the phone on.

Is there anything unsuitable for children?

Only the "Party (18+)" pack, which is hidden behind a toggle and never on by default.

Can we use our own family words?

Yes. Add pairs in "My custom words" and share the pack with relatives as a link.