Imposter game variant
Imposter Game Questions
Swap one-word clues for questions. Everyone asks, everyone answers, and the imposter has to sound sure about a word they’ve never seen. Below: the rules and the questions that work.
Rules
How the questions variant works
The web game deals the cards and picks who starts; use its clue round for questions. Everything else follows the classic rules.
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1 Deal as usual
Same cards as the classic game: everyone gets the secret word except the imposter, who gets the hint (or nothing).
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2 Ask, don’t clue
In turn, each player asks the person on their left one question about the word. The answer has to be true for the word — and short.
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3 Two laps
Go round the table twice, so everyone asks two questions and answers two. Then start the timer and discuss.
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4 Vote and last chance
Point on three. A caught imposter still gets one guess at the word, exactly as in the classic rules.
Three rules that keep it fair
- No asking for the word, the category or a letter.
- Answers must be true for the word, and short: a few words, not a speech.
- “It depends” is allowed once per player per game.
50 questions
Questions to ask in the imposter game
Start with the general ones. Switch to the trap questions once someone’s answers start sounding rehearsed.
Questions for any word
They work whatever the secret is, so they’re safe to ask in the first lap.
- Would you find it at a birthday party?
- Is it bigger than a shoebox?
- Have you seen one this week?
- Would your grandma like it?
- Is it loud?
- Can you buy it?
- Would it fit in your pocket?
- Would you give it as a gift?
- Is it better in summer or in winter?
- Would you do it alone or with friends?
- Does it have a smell?
- Is there one in this room?
- Would a five-year-old know what it is?
- Roughly how much does it cost?
- When did you last see one?
- What colour is it in your head?
- Would you post it online?
- Is it more fun at night?
- Could you take it on a plane?
- Would it make a good tattoo?
For food and drinks
Pair them with the Food & Drinks list.
- Breakfast, lunch or dinner?
- Sweet or savoury?
- Fork, spoon or hands?
- Hot or cold?
- Would you order it on a first date?
- Could you make it at home tonight?
- Is it messy to eat?
- Would you share it?
For places and moments
For words like Lost keys, Rush hour or Splitting the bill.
- Has it happened to you this year?
- Is it better with people or alone?
- Do you plan it, or does it just happen?
- How long does it last?
- Would you complain about it?
- Does it happen at work, at school or at home?
- Morning or night?
- Is there a story behind it you’d tell at dinner?
For animals
Works with the Animals list and with anything that breathes.
- Would it make a good pet?
- Where does it sleep?
- Could you outrun it?
- Would it fit in a bathtub?
- Is it in a cartoon you know?
- What does it have for breakfast?
Trap questions for the imposter
Save them for the second lap, when you already have a suspect.
- What did the last player mean by their answer?
- Whose answer so far was the best, and why?
- Rate it from 1 to 10.
- If it were a person, who at this table would it be?
- What’s the first word that comes to mind?
- What would you never do with it?
- Is it more of a weekday thing or a weekend thing?
- What would you call it if you couldn’t say its name?
For civilians
Answering as a civilian
- Answer with a detail only someone with the word would know.
- Don’t be too exact: the imposter is listening to every answer.
- Ask follow-ups: “why?” is the best question in the game.
For the imposter
Answering as the imposter
- Reuse the words from the question: “Would you share it?” — “Only with friends.”
- Give ranges instead of facts: “anywhere from five to twenty dollars”.
- Listen to the answers before yours. Each one narrows down the word for your last-chance guess.
FAQ
Questions about questions
How do you play the imposter game with questions?
Deal the roles as usual. Instead of one-word clues, each player asks the person on their left a question about the secret word, and the answer must be true for it. Two laps, then discuss, vote and give a caught imposter one last guess.
What are good questions to ask in the imposter game?
Questions with many possible answers that still depend on the word: “When did you last see one?”, “Would your grandma like it?”, “Roughly how much does it cost?”. Avoid yes-or-no questions that only narrow down the category.
Can you ask what the word is?
No. You also can’t ask for the category or for a letter. Everything else is fair, as long as the answer can be short.
Does the imposter have to answer?
Yes, and that’s the fun. The imposter answers like everyone else, and has to sound sure about a word they’ve never seen.
Is the questions variant good for kids?
Yes. Questions are easier than finding a clever one-word clue, so younger players often do better this way. Keep the hint on and use simple words.
Got your questions? Deal the cards.
Free in your browser, no sign-up. Gather 3 or more people and press Play.
