Game mode · in the Imposter Club app
Undercover: the Imposter Gets a Different Word
No hint this time. Civilians get the secret word, the imposter gets a close one — Pizza against Burger — and nobody knows who is who. Sometimes not even the imposter.
Spot the imposter
Both cards say Civilian
Five players got Pizza. One got Burger and believes they’re a civilian too. They’ll clue “bun” with total confidence, and the table has to notice that something is slightly off.
Rules
How a round of Undercover works
Same table, same phone, same scoring as the classic rules. Only the cards change.
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1 Deal the cards
Everyone peeks at their card. Civilians see the secret word. The imposter sees a close word, on a card that looks exactly like everyone else’s.
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2 Give one-word clues
Clues go round as usual. The imposter thinks they’re a civilian, so they clue their own word honestly — and that is what gives them away.
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3 Discuss and vote
Talk it out, then point on three. The tell is a clue that fits a neighbour of the word, but not the word itself.
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4 Last chance
Caught? The imposter learns the truth and gets one guess at the civilians’ word. Right, and they steal the round anyway.
Classic vs Undercover
Undercover, Classic and Mr. White
| Question | Classic | Undercover |
|---|---|---|
| What the imposter sees | “You are the imposter”, plus the category if the hint is on | A close word, on a card that says Civilian |
| Do they know? | Yes, from the first second | Not at first. They work it out from the clues — or don’t |
| The hard part | Bluffing a clue for a word you never saw | Noticing that the clues around you don’t quite fit |
| Best for | First games, kids, mixed groups | Groups who know the game and want it harder |
| Where | Free on this site and in the app | Imposter Club app, with Pro |
Where does Mr. White come in?
The party game many people know as Undercover has three roles: civilians, undercovers with a close word, and Mr. White, who gets no word at all. Voted out, Mr. White can still win by guessing the civilians’ word. Sound familiar? The Classic imposter is Mr. White — no word, one guess at the end. Undercover mode is the undercover role.
Our editorial standard
What makes a good pair
A pair decides the whole round. Too close, and nobody can be caught. Too far, and the imposter is out after one clue.
Neighbours, not synonyms
Close enough to blend in, different enough to argue about.
Llama vs AlpacaJam vs Jelly
Same world, one detail apart
Both words live in the same place, so most clues fit both. One good clue doesn’t.
Tennis vs PickleballRamen vs Pho
Both words pass the five-clue test
The imposter clues their word as honestly as everyone else, so it needs five clues of its own.
Snowman vs Snow angelSnow vs Ice
Tips
How to win at Undercover
For civilians
- Give clues only your word fits. “Cheese” fits Pizza and Burger; “slice” fits one of them.
- Listen for clues that are right for a neighbour of the word. That’s the tell.
- Don’t vote out the vaguest player by reflex. In Undercover, the imposter is often the most confident person at the table.
For the imposter
- If the clues sound slightly off, you might be the imposter. Don’t panic: stay general.
- Clue the part both words share. Bun and cheese work for Burger and for half the menu.
- Once you suspect it, start listening for the real word. If you’re caught, you get one guess.
From the app’s packs
75 Undercover word pairs
Five pairs from each pack, written to the rules above. The app deals from more than 1,100 of them.
Food & Drinks Free
- Pizza vs Burger
- Ramen vs Pho
- Pancakes vs Waffles
- Ice cream vs Gelato
- Sushi vs Poke bowl
Animals Free
- Lion vs Tiger
- Rabbit vs Hare
- Leopard vs Cheetah
- Mouse vs Hamster
- Raccoon vs Red panda
Sports Free
- Tennis vs Pickleball
- Basketball vs Volleyball
- Golf vs Mini golf
- Football vs Rugby
- Baseball vs Softball
Household Free
- Sofa vs Beanbag
- Fridge vs Freezer
- Oven vs Air fryer
- Mop vs Broom
- Microwave vs Toaster
Party Mix Free
- Karaoke vs Lip sync battle
- Costume party vs Masquerade
- DJ vs Live band
- Confetti vs Glitter
- Balloon vs Piñata
Everyday Life Free
- Monday morning vs Sunday evening
- Elevator vs Escalator
- Self-checkout vs Cashier line
- Rush hour vs Traffic jam
- Haircut vs Beard trim
Office Life Pro
- Reply all vs BCC
- Fridge thief vs Microwave fish
- Per my last email vs Just checking in
- Synergy vs Circle back
- Quiet quitting vs Burnout
School Days Pro
- Pop quiz vs Final exam
- Class clown vs Teacher's pet
- Dog ate my homework vs Fake sick day
- Imaginary friend vs Stuffed animal
- Tooth fairy vs Loose tooth
Screen Time Pro
- Ghosting vs Left on read
- Doomscrolling vs Binge-watching
- Phone at 1% vs Low power mode
- Deepfake vs AI-generated image
- Lurker vs Reply guy
Travel Pro
- Middle seat vs Emergency exit row
- Budget airline vs Business class
- Staycation vs Weekend getaway
- Jet lag vs Seasickness
- Digital nomad vs Van life
Movies Pro
- Plot hole vs Continuity error
- Training montage vs Makeover montage
- Evil twin vs Doppelgänger
- Time loop vs Parallel universe
- Stunt double vs Body double
Jobs Pro
- Lifeguard vs Coast guard
- Magician vs Clown
- Sommelier vs Food critic
- Mall Santa vs Mascot performer
- Ghostwriter vs Ghost hunter
Nature Pro
- Golden hour vs Blue hour
- Stargazing vs Cloud watching
- Shooting star vs Comet
- Volcano vs Geyser
- Sunburn vs Frostbite
Spooky & Magic Pro
- Vampire vs Werewolf
- Fairy godmother vs Evil stepmother
- Crystal ball vs Tarot cards
- Bigfoot vs Yeti
- Unicorn vs Pegasus
Pop Culture Pro
- One-hit wonder vs Chart topper
- Season finale vs Season premiere
- Comeback tour vs Farewell tour
- Earworm vs Guilty pleasure song
- Diss track vs Love song
Undercover is in the app. The phone deals the pairs, hides who’s who and keeps the score.
Get UndercoverImposter Club for iPhone
Undercover is in the app
Same game, same rules — plus the bits that make game night: free to download, no ads, no sign-up.
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No ads Not between rounds, not anywhere. -
Works offline Cabins, flights, basements with no signal. -
Undercover mode The imposter gets a close word and may not even know. -
16 word packs 2,000+ words, written by people, not scraped lists. -
12 suspects Collectible characters, each with a secret imposter form.
On a computer?
Scan to get it on your iPhone.
FAQ
Undercover questions
What is the Undercover word game?
A version of the imposter game where the imposter gets a different but related word instead of a hint. Civilians get Pizza, the imposter gets Burger, and everyone gives clues for the word on their own card.
Who is Mr. White?
In the Undercover party game, Mr. White is the player with no word at all. If voted out, they get one guess at the civilians’ word. The Classic imposter in Imposter Club plays the same way: no word, one last-chance guess.
Does the imposter know they’re the imposter?
Not at first. Their card looks like a civilian card with a word on it. Most work it out during the clues; some only find out at the reveal.
How many imposters can there be?
In the app, up to 3 with Pro. In Undercover they all get the same close word, so they don’t know about each other either. One is best for 3–6 players, two for 7–9, three for 10–12.
Can I play Undercover in the web game?
Not on this site: the web game plays Classic. Undercover, with more than 1,100 word pairs, is in the Imposter Club app for iPhone.
Can you play Undercover without a phone?
Yes. Write the secret word on slips for the civilians and its pair on one slip for the imposter. Fold, shuffle, hand them out and play the usual rules. The pairs on this page are a good start.
Is Undercover free?
It comes with Imposter Club Pro, along with all 16 packs and up to 3 imposters. The app itself is free, with Classic, 6 packs and no ads.
Try Classic now. Undercover is in the app.
Free in your browser, no sign-up. Gather 3 or more people and press Play.