How to Play Guess the Spy Online

Game Setup

• 👥 3–10 players — works great at any size in this range
• 🕐 ~5–8 minutes per round
• 🌍 One secret location per round (e.g. Beach, Hospital, Space Station)
• 🕵️ One spy — randomly assigned, hidden from other players

How a Round Works

1. 1Roles are secretly assignedAll players except the spy are shown the secret location (e.g. "Train Station"). The spy only sees "You are the spy" — they have no idea where everyone is.
2. 2Questioning phase beginsPlayers take turns asking each other one question about the location. Keep questions vague enough not to reveal the location to the spy, but specific enough to prove you know it.
3. 3Anyone can call a voteAt any time, a player can call a vote to accuse someone of being the spy. If the majority agrees, the accused is revealed. Accusing the wrong person loses the round for the group.
4. 4The spy can guess the locationBefore being voted out, the spy can declare "I know the location!" and make a guess. A correct guess wins the round for the spy — even if they were about to be exposed.

Tips for Non-Spy Players — How to Find the Spy

• 🔍 Ask questions that test knowledge without giving the location away

  At a beach: 'How crowded is it?' tests the spy but doesn't tell them where everyone is. Avoid 'What do you smell?' — too easy to fake an answer.

• 🔍 Watch for hesitation and vague answers

  Players who know the location answer quickly and naturally. The spy tends to pause, give short answers, or use phrases like "it depends" and "maybe."

• 🔍 Don't rush the vote

  The spy wants you to accuse the wrong person. Let a few rounds of questions reveal patterns before deciding — accusing the wrong player loses the round for your group.

• 🔍 Compare answers across players

  If most players give similar answers and one gives something completely different — that's likely your spy.

Tips for the Spy — How to Survive

• 🎭 Give confident, vague answers

  The worst thing you can do is sound unsure. Be assertive — 'It's always busier than people expect' works for many locations.

• 🎭 Eliminate locations fast

  Listen closely to others' questions and answers — they're leaking information. By round 3–4, you should be narrowing down your guesses.

• 🎭 Accuse someone early

  Counterintuitive, but voting to accuse another player shifts suspicion away from you. Pick someone quiet and call them out.

• 🎭 Know when to guess

  If the vote is swinging toward you and you have a strong guess, fire early. A correct location guess wins even if you're caught.