Among Us

Among Us is a multiplayer game for four to fifteen players, who are divided into Crewmates and Impostors. Crewmates must complete tasks around a map while identifying and voting out the Impostors, who can sabotage systems, kill Crewmates, and use vents to move quickly. The game features emergency meetings and discussion phases where players debate and vote to eject a suspected Impostor. A Crewmate victory occurs when all tasks are completed or all Impostors are ejected; an Impostor victory occurs when the number of Impostors equals the number of Crewmates or when a critical sabotage is not resolved.¹

Among Us was conceived by InnerSloth as a local multiplayer game, but the team of three—Forest Willard, Amy Liu, and Marcus Bromander—expanded it to online play after early feedback. The game was released in June 2018 to a small audience, but it saw a surge in popularity in mid-2020, driven by streamers and YouTubers, especially during pandemic lockdowns. InnerSloth subsequently added new maps, including the Airship in 2021, and introduced features like colorblind support and a friend system. The game's success led to a sequel being announced and then cancelled, with the team focusing on updates for the original.²

Among Us became a global phenomenon in 2020, with its simple yet engaging social deduction gameplay appealing to a broad audience. It was nominated for and won several awards, including Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2020 and the BAFTA Games Award for Multiplayer. The game inspired numerous memes, fan art, and even a temporary real-life version in the game's style. Its popularity also led to collaborations with brands and appearances in other media, such as a cameo in the animated series Infinity Train. The game's success is often credited to its accessibility and the social interaction it fosters.

Among Us has several lesser-known details. The game's original title was Space Mafia, and the crewmate characters were initially designed as simple colored beans. The map The Skeld was inspired by the ship in the film Alien. InnerSloth has added hidden easter eggs, such as a rare 'Sussy' pet and a secret 'Among Us' logo on the Airship map. The game's code was originally written in C# using the Unity engine, and its server infrastructure was initially peer-to-peer, which led to early connection issues. Additionally, the game's popularity in countries like South Korea and Brazil was particularly high, leading to localized events and merchandise.³

Crewmate

A player who must complete tasks and identify Impostors.

Impostor

A player who sabotages and kills Crewmates without being detected.

Emergency Meeting

A player-initiated meeting to discuss and vote on ejecting a player.

Task

A mini-game that Crewmates must complete to win.

Sabotage

An action by Impostors that disrupts the ship and requires Crewmates to fix it.