Find the Imposter

First Impression

My grandson showed me the app he uses with his friends, but it was all flashing lights and confusing menus. I gave up. Then my daughter downloaded Find the Imposter for our Sunday family dinner. I was worried it would be the same. But you just pick a silly name, join a room, and the game tells you exactly what to do. “You are Crewmate. Complete your tasks.” The screen wasn’t cluttered, just a little person and some arrows to move. I remember fumbling with my phone, trying to fix a wiring task, and my son-in-law shouting “I saw her, she’s the imposter!” from across the table. We were all laughing before the first round was even over.

What It Does Well

It doesn’t try to be fancy, and that’s its best feature. Everything is big and clear. The button to report something is bright red and hard to miss. When you have a task, a list pops up on the side so you don’t forget. I love that my whole family can play, from my techy son to my sister who still asks how to attach a photo to an email. We don’t need separate gadgets or a complicated setup. Last Thanksgiving, we had three generations playing on the couch, and nobody felt left out because the rules are so simple: do your jobs or lie about it. The little rewards, like earning a funny hat for your character, are a nice touch. It feels like a real party game, not a computer test.

Where It Falls Short

Sometimes it can be too simple. The text chat is practically useless during the game because you’re too busy running around to type. If you’re not using voice chat, you’re just guessing who did what. And speaking of voice, it can get messy. When we had 8 people playing in my living room, the app picked up everyone’s voices from their phones and created a terrible echo. We had to hush everyone and pass around one phone to talk. Also, the “daily challenges” they offer are often things like “Win as imposter twice,” which is fine for the kids, but I can barely manage to be the imposter once without getting caught! I wish there were simpler goals for those of us who aren’t master tricksters.

Is It Worth the Price?

It’s free, so you really can’t go wrong. I’ve never spent a penny and I’ve played for over a year. You see ads sometimes when you’re looking at your profile or buying cosmetics, but they never, ever pop up in the middle of a game. That’s important. I hate when you’re in the middle of something fun and an ad ruins it. The things you can buy are just for looks—a different color for your spacesuit or a silly pet that follows you. It doesn’t make you better at the game, which keeps it fair for everyone. For the amount of laughter and fun we’ve had at family gatherings, it’s provided more entertainment than some board games I’ve paid fifty dollars for.

Developer & Support

I had one problem last fall where the game wouldn’t load past the opening screen. I waited a day, thinking it was my Wi-Fi, but it still didn’t work. I finally found the “Contact Support” button buried in the settings menu. I sent an email explaining the issue. I didn’t hear back for three or four days, which felt like a long time, but when the reply came, it was helpful. They asked for my phone type (my Samsung Galaxy S23) and then sent clear instructions to clear the app’s cache. It worked right away. I’ve also noticed they add new little hats or map decorations every so often, so someone is still working on it.

Privacy & Safety

This was a concern for me, especially with the younger grandkids playing. The game doesn’t ask for much personal information. You make up a silly name, and that’s what everyone sees. The voice chat is only with people in your private room, which for us is always just family. I made sure my daughter showed me how to set up a private room with a code so strangers can’t join. You can also turn the voice and text chat off completely if you want. I don’t get any weird emails from them, and it doesn’t seem to drain my battery or data any more than other apps. It feels safe for a family to use.