Imposter Parties: A Comprehensive Guide

What is an Imposter Party?

There are various formats for imposter parties. However, they all rely on the entertainment value of hidden identity, deception, skullduggery and psychological deduction.

Guests are split into two secret groups. Most of them are honest. However, a small number are “imposters” who lie their heads off, blend in and sabotage everyone else.

Players read body language, analyse what people say, and debate amongst themselves to uncover the liars. The imposters pretend to follow the rules and do their best to remain hidden. During rounds of voting, the players try to identify or banish the imposters.

The different formats for Imposter Parties

Imposter parties fall into 3 main categories:

1. Word clue version
2. After-dinner table game
3. Organised interactive events

At this point, we should declare an interest because we produce one of the organised immersive events, The Imposters Interactive Dining Experience.

But don’t worry, this isn’t about us. You want to know about all of those formats, so let’s start with the word clue version.

Imposters — Word clue version

This is the most common format, and it’s great for parties. The game is about bluffing, clever wordplay, and reading your fellow players’ body language and facial expressions.

You can play the word clue version on a mobile phone, or with pen and paper. Here’s how it works:

• You pick a general topic — for example, animals.
• Everyone receives the secret word (say, “giraffe”)…
• … apart from one person who just receives “You are the imposter”.
• Going clockwise, each person says one word related the target word, (e.g. “neck” or “calf”)
• It should prove you know the secret word, but not be so obvious that the imposter can easily guess it.
• The imposter must listen carefully, then come up with a vaguely plausible word which doesn’t blow their cover.

Players then debate whose word felt wrong and, on the count of three, everyone points to the person they think is the imposter. The person with the most votes must reveal their identity.

The group wins if they successfully identify the imposter, and the imposter can’t guess the secret word. The imposter wins if they survive the vote undetected or, if caught, they guess the secret word correctly.

The Imposter after-dinner table game

This version is a boxed card game. Every player gets a card with a specific character to play, which everyone can see — and a second, secret card designating them as either “Innocent” or “Imposter”.

Here’s the scenario:

The players are guests at a castle. Most are Innocents, but a few Imposters are trying to smuggle treasure out of the castle using the daily royal mail.

• One player per round is the Postmaster who chooses specific guests to send out mail that round.
• If the remaining guests think the Postmaster is an Imposter, they can democratically veto them, and someone else becomes Postmaster for the round.
• The chosen guests secretly place either a letter (Innocent) or treasure (Imposter) into the mail pouch.
• The Postmaster shuffles the pouch and reveals the cards anonymously.
• If the pouch contains only letters, the Innocents get 1 point.
• If even one treasure is inside, the Imposters get 1 point.

The idea is to use debate, detective skills and roleplay to work out who put what into the pouch. All the while, the Imposters must lie and point the finger at the Innocents. The first team to reach 5 points wins.

The Imposters interactive dining experience

This one works brilliantly for office parties, corporate events or any type of special occasion with friends. It’s the platinum version — an experience rather than a party game.

You’re assigned a role at the beginning of the evening, then, a professional host (cloaked, of course) guides your group through a series of tasks and challenges. Using observational skills, psychology and reasoning, it’s your job to uncover the imposter sitting at your table. Meanwhile, the hidden imposter tries to sabotage your progress in order to win the game.

It’s about collaboration, puzzle solving, teamwork and communication. After each challenge, there’s a discussion about who the imposter might be, and a vote to eliminate someone. Any one of you could be the imposter, so the question is, will you find the right person?

With our event, this all takes place over a 3-course banquet — so you get to eat delicious food while plotting to point the finger at your team mates.

And, that’s it. Your comprehensive guide to Imposter Parties. Are you ready for some trickery, intrigue and suspense this Christmas? Check out The Imposters Interactive Dining Experience