Undercover

How to play Undercover

Undercover is a social deduction word game for 3-12 players. Everyone receives the same secret word except one player, who gets a similar but different one and does not know they are the odd one out. Players describe their word in turn and vote out whoever sounds wrong. A round takes just a few minutes and the arguments last longer than the game.

1. 1

   Everyone receives a secret word

   Most players get the same word. One player — the undercover — gets a related but different one. Crucially, nobody is told which they hold, so the undercover has to work out that they are the odd one from how others describe theirs.

2. 2

   Describe your word in one sentence

   Going round the table, each player gives a single clue about their word. It has to be specific enough to prove you know it, and vague enough not to hand it to the undercover.

3. 3

   Discuss and vote

   After everyone has spoken, the group argues about who sounded off and votes. The player with the most votes is eliminated and their word is revealed.

4. 4

   Keep going until one side wins

   The civilians win by voting out the undercover. The undercover wins by surviving until only a couple of players remain.

Tips and strategy

• As a civilian, never go first with your best clue. Early clues teach the undercover what the word probably is.
• As the undercover, listen for the gap between your word and everyone else's, then describe the overlap rather than the difference.
• Vague clues are suspicious, but so are perfect ones. A clue that fits too neatly suggests someone building from other people's descriptions.
• Speaking order matters enormously. The last player has heard everything and has the easiest job.
• Watch who votes with the crowd every round. It is a cheap way to survive without committing to anything.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Undercover?

Every player gets a secret word; one player gets a slightly different one. Players take turns describing their word, then vote to eliminate whoever seems out of place. Civilians win by catching the undercover, who wins by surviving.

Does the undercover know who they are?

No, and that is what makes it work. They have to deduce it from other players' clues, which means their early descriptions are genuine rather than deliberate lies.

How many players do you need?

Three at minimum, though it is far better with five or more. Larger groups give more clues to compare and make the discussion richer.

Can you use your own word pairs?

Yes. A custom pairs option lets you add your own, which is how groups tailor it to inside jokes or a particular theme.