Somehow the go-to quarantine game went from Animal Crossing, where we had to build a home and make friends, to Among Us, which entails completing tasks and killing other players. Chances are that if you have played Among Us, you are probably playing it on a daily basis.
It. Is. Addicting.
Whether you are a crewmate or an impostor, the game offers players an easy and fun way to pass time. And by easy, I mean two-hours-turning-into-ten-minutes kind of easy.
For those of you that aren’t familiar with this game, let me give you a rundown.
Crewmates are the good guys. They are just trying to complete tasks. These tasks range from simple—like downloading files—to difficult—like starting the reactor. Between tasks, crewmates are trying to figure out which player(s) is/are an impostor. If a crewmate is killed by an impostor, the crewmate turns into a ghost but is still able to complete tasks.
Impostors are the bad guys. Depending on what the host of the game chooses, the number of impostors can range from one to three. The impostors are responsible for two things: sabotaging the ship or killing every crewmate—though they usually go hand-in-hand. If there is more than one impostor, the impostor who is found out will turn into a ghost, which leaves the remaining impostor(s) to finish the killing. If an impostor turns into a ghost, the player still has the opportunity to sabotage—such as depleting the oxygen on the ship.
If the crewmates find out who every impostor is—through the process of voting during emergency meetings—or all of them complete every task, the crewmates are announced victorious. However, if crewmates suspect someone and vote them out, they are killing their teammates and essentially helping the impostors.
If impostors kill every crewmate, they are announced victorious.
How can you win as a crewmate?
1. Find a buddy or two in the lobby before the game begins and try to follow each other around. Impostors won’t kill you if you are near other crewmates.
2. Check cameras in security, occasionally. You might be able to witness a murder or see an impostor vent.
3. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. If another crewmate is following or seems suspicious (aka sus), don’t be afraid to call an emergency meeting. Be careful though because some hosts only allow a certain amount of emergency meetings.
4. Follow your gut. If you think you see someone venting or killing, call an emergency meeting or report the body right away with the room it was in and nearby people. Speak up.
5. Don’t let people get close. You don’t know the difference between impostor and crewmate. Most hosts only let impostors kill you from a short distance. If you need to abandon your task, that is okay—it will be there waiting for you when you come back.
How can you win as an impostor?
1. Wait. Don’t get hasty with your killing. You will be given dummy tasks in the corner of your screen for you to “complete.” I recommend at least one of those before your first kill.
2. Briefly follow or cross paths with someone in a small room while they are alone. They might stick up for you in the chat if they are convinced you could have killed them but didn’t.
3. Be careful with self-reporting. When the game first became popular a couple months ago, this was a strategic way for impostors to throw crewmates off their scent. Now, it is an overused strategy. You can still use it, but be careful. Come up with a believable excuse or alibi before self-reporting.
4. Don’t vent. There may not be anybody in the room with you, but there are cameras. While venting is fun and makes a quick getaway, I recommend staying away from it.
5. Go with the flow. If someone—other than yourself—is being accused in the chat, don’t say anything. Let the crewmates believe it and vote for them yourself as well.
6. Sabotage as much as you can. By sabotaging things such as the oxygen, it will kill the crewmates faster. You can also gather with the other impostors, sabotage something in that area, and kill the crewmates as they come to fix it.
7. Avoid being red, cyan or black. From my experience, everyone always thinks these colors are sus for absolutely no reason. Heck, even I think they are sus sometimes for no reason. It is best to be purple, yellow, dark blue or dark green. These colors are usually left alone.
Always remember:
1. It is a game! Don’t get all butt-hurt if your fellow crewmates vote you out for thinking you’re sus. They are trying their best to survive too.
2. Take a break between rounds. Go drink some water and eat a snack. If you like your fellow players, then write down the code and come back in 15-20 minutes. I am sure the majority of them will still be there.
3. Have fun! As I said, it is a game. Your life isn’t literally at stake. Sometimes your anxiety can be overwhelming during games like this, so it is important to remember to let loose and breathe.
Eventually, Among Us will fade out as fast as it flew in. I dread that day, for I am emotionally invested in this attention-grabbing game. It is a way for me to interact with my friends and family from a safe distance and an amazing way to pass time. If you are still reading, you are probably as in love with this game as I am, so you know exactly what I am talking about.
Stay alive and try not to be sus!