15 Games Like Among Us You Need To Check Out
"Among Us" was released in 2018 and exploded in popularity in 2020, becoming the face of social deduction games, which typically task a group of players with working together to figure out which of them is untrustworthy. The genre, which is beloved for its simplicity and engaging mechanics, originally started with party games like "Mafia" and "Werewolf," both of which are still played in various forms to this day.
Beyond "Among Us," there are many other titles already available that put their own unique spin on social deduction games, implementing a wide variety of settings, different rules, customization options, and formats for fans to try out. There are so many, in fact, that finding which ones are worth the time to check out can be a bit overwhelming — just like spotting the Imposter in "Among Us" can be. With that in mind, here are 15 titles that any fan of "Among Us" should check out.
Secret Neighbor
"Secret Neighbor," the multiplayer spin-off of popular horror game "Hello Neighbor," puts six players into each game. Five of those players are kids trying to rescue a friend of theirs, whom they believe to be locked in the neighbor's basement. To do so, players have to search the house, complete objectives, and get a number of keys to unlock the various padlocks holding the basement door shut.
That goal would be easy enough in its own regard, but there a sixth player is secretly the neighbor — disguised as one of the kids. This player's goal is to use an arsenal of tools and unique gadgets to trap all of the other players, all while keeping their identity a secret for as long as they can. With its eerie simplicity and lack of gratuitous violence, "Secret Neighbor" is great for players of all ages to jump in and have a good time (per Common Sense Media).
Release Date: October 23, 2019
Available On: iOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox
Game Modes: Multiplayer, Map Builder
Unfortunate Spacemen
"Unfortunate Spacemen" puts players in the shoes of interstellar workers who are waiting for their company to pick them up and take them home. The catch is that one player is a shapeshifting alien straight out of "The Thing" and is bent on killing everyone before they can escape. Both the alien and the humans have a wide variety of equipment and gear to choose from in their fight to survive.
Played entirely in first-person, fans of "Among Us" will love how "Unfortunate Spacemen" really captures the terror of a similar concept. The game also features solid combat mechanics that allow the humans to work together and fight back. This has made "Unfortunate Spacemen" one of the best-reviewed social deduction games on the market, and it has a few other modes and tons of customization to round out the package.
Release Date: June 12, 2020
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer, Co-Op/Solo Story, Horde Mode
Deceit
"Deceit" focuses entirely on the paranoid horror of trying to determine who one can trust. Each game puts six players together, two of whom have been infected by a terrible virus. The group then has to complete a series of rounds to try and escape, but each one ends with a blackout period that sees the infected turning into terrible monsters that hunt down healthy players.
Innocent players will only live through a game of "Deceit" by working together to find gear and complete objectives. The game's winding maps are also specifically designed to create tension between players and make that cooperation all the more difficult. It's easy to get scared into turning on the wrong person. As noted by Bloody Disgusting, "Deceit" offers a "unique" blend of horrors that feel like they could only be possible in gaming.
Release Date: March 3, 2017
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Town of Salem
"Town of Salem" is a social deduction title that has been around for while, and is still going strong nearly a decade after its original release. It works very similarly to the original party games that spawned the genre, with players receiving one of over 30 different roles each game. Each round is then split into a day phase, in which players vote out someone they believe to be the killer, followed by a night phase, in which any remaining killers claim a victim.
With lobbies of up to 15 players, "Town of Salem" offers a bigger take on the genre that is perfect to play with random players or a group of friends. For players who really enjoy the base game, the developers have created a number of small DLC packs to add new roles and mix things up. The way these roles interact with one another can leads to great stories and unexpected rounds with more variety than many other titles in the genre.
Release Date: December 15, 2014
Available On: Android, iOS, PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Project Winter
Players in "Project Winter" are trapped at a cabin during a terrible blizzard. With no electricity, calling for help requires gathering supplies and making repairs to get the radio working again. Of course, these plans are disturbed by other players who want to kill everyone else, as well as local wildlife like bears and wolves, which are never too far away.
Playing as the killer in "Project Winter" is a unique role because they are just as fragile as the other survivors. This means that players have to be very strategic when they attack others, especially with the game's inclusion of proximity chat. These aspects make a round of "Project Winter" feel more tenser than other social deduction games. PC Gamer even called it the best social deduction experience on PC, which is definitely not a small claim.
Release Date: May 23, 2019
Available On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Dread Hunger
An early access title on Steam, "Dread Hunger" follows eight sailors on a ship trapped in the arctic. Among those eight are two traitors intent on seeing the absolute failure of the mission and the death of all aboard. The real stars of "Dread Hunger" are its setting and its variety of features. The game allows players to navigate the ship through the map, maintain its hull and engine, or even call upon dark magic to progress towards their nefarious goals.
Players also have to survive wildlife as they gather resources to survive, while the killers can chop up and dispose of the bodies of victims if they have the time. With the added element of survival mechanics like hunger, players will sometimes be pushed to make incredibly difficult decisions to survive, including killing and eating another innocent player. Even though it has a handful of updates to go, the bleak "Dread Hunger" has already gotten great reviews from various outlets, including IGN.
Release Date: April 22, 2021
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
In Silence
"In Silence" is not as focused on being a social deduction game as other games here, but it does feature similar tension and a desperate need for cooperation. Unlike other games with a disguised enemy, here, players must work together against an obviously terrifying monster. The creature is nearly blind, meaning survivors must pay attention to how much sound they make as they navigate the map and complete objectives.
Players also have to adapt every match's strategy around a randomized loadout of perks, roles, and item placement. This not only pushes survivors to organize and create a plan with one another on the fly, but also keeps the monster player on their toes, as there is no way to know on which areas of the map players will be focusing. This all adds up to a unique indie horror game in which players have to trust and work with one another if they have any hope of surviving.
Release Date: October 29, 2021
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
The Ship: Remastered
"The Ship: Remastered" is not a social deduction game, but it still embraces the concept of not knowing where the danger is coming from, as well as the need to covertly hunt down targets. The game is set on a 1920s luxury cruise ship that is populated with a handful of players and a horde of NPCs. Every player is then given a target player to kill while also managing their character's everyday needs, such as going to the bathroom and sleeping.
These needs mean that players have to be vulnerable at times, even as they try to track down weapons, assemble disguises, and avoid getting arrested by NPC security officers. This combination of mechanics creates a unique gameplay experience for players who want to experience the tension of a social deduction game that requires a different set of skills.
Release Date: October 31, 2016
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer
First Class Trouble
"First Class Trouble" boasts a unique aesthetic among social deduction games, setting its action aboard an art-deco-inspired, space-bound cruise ship. Like all games in the genre, "First Class Trouble" features innocent players trying to avoid the hidden traitors trying to kill them. However, these traitors are humanoid robots serving the rogue A.I. in charge of the ship, which is determined to kill everyone aboard.
Interestingly, the traitors primarily rely on setting traps and hazards to try and catch innocent players, rather than outright attacks. The physics-based kills always offer a great laugh and an impressive level of variety. Playing as a traitor is possibly more fun in this game than any other. While "First Class Trouble" is not the most popular entry in its genre, it still has found dedicated players who enjoy its unique, fast-paced spin on the action of betrayal.
Release Date: November 1, 2021
Available On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One
Game Modes: Multiplayer
SpyParty
"SpyParty" is a unique multiplayer game that boils down the social deduction genre to its most basic aspect: the paranoia of trying to read other people. The game focuses on a single 1v1 mode in which one player has to navigate a high-class party to secretly complete objectives, which include collecting fingerprints and stealing a guest list). Meanwhile, another player is a sniper trying to kill the spy with a single bullet. The spy has to blend in with the actions and habits of the AI characters, meaning the sniper has to spot what makes their opponent unique from their surroundings.
While "SpyParty" may not be as expansive as the other games on this list, it is a testament to what makes social deduction games so fun. Getting a read on another person and accounting for the unpredictability of humans is an extremely engaging mechanic, and "SpyParty" offers that experience without things like special abilities or discussions to get in the way.
Release Date: April 12, 2018
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer (with Single-player tutorial)
Untrusted
"Untrusted" puts a hacker-themed spin on the social deduction genre. In matches of 10 to 16 players, two factions of hackers attempt to gain access to a secret server while dealing with an infiltration of agents trying to stop them. The hackers have to work towards completing their objective, hacking and lying to other players as they try to figure out who the opposing agents are.
To do so, players take on one of 24 different roles, which can take advantage of almost 100 skills. The game pushes players to role-play with one another and has a fantastic community of players who love its unique flair. As noted by the game's creator, this leads to the game having a particularly steep learning curve as new players grapple with understanding what is all possible, but the game's unique style and variety makes it all worthwhile.
Release Date: May 9, 2021
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Wolflord - Werewolf Online
Early access title "Wolflord" is a faithful recreation of the original party game "Werewolf," adapting it to an intimate 3D environment. "Wolflord" features a number of roles with which die-hard fans of the game will be familiar, as well as some new ones to help keep things fresh. Even better, it consistently receives updates from its dedicated development team.
However, one of the best aspects of "Wolflord" is its scale and customizability. Its lobbies can host up to 64 players, making it great for large groups to host private lobbies or jump into public games together. Servers can also be completely customized in a variety of ways to match the preferences of every kind of player. While it lacks the complexity of some other games on this list, it succeeds in being accessible for newbies, all while staying true to the core experience of the original concept of "Werewolf."
Release Date: April 31, 2019
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Stowaway
"Stowaway" is a 10-player pirate-themed social deduction game. Stowaways are each given a pistol and tasked with killing all of the other players before the ship arrives at its destination. The other players have to try and survive while they figure out who the stowaways are. The game features full proximity chat, which is made all the better by the claustrophobic verticality of the game's map and the ability to isolate oneself from other players.
Games of "Stowaway" are played on a recreation of Kriegsschiff Revenge, a real-life ship from 1577. This map is fully explorable and adds a very neat historical layer to the title. "Stowaway" has received great reactions from those that have played it, but its smaller lobby size and lower player-base mean it is best played with a group of friends who are all up for doing bad pirate accents and making one another walk the plank.
Release Date: November 6, 2020
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Throne of Lies
"Throne of Lies" is a veritable titan of the social deduction genre and has supported a large player-base for years. Rooted in a medieval setting, "Throne of Lies" features three different factions, each of which have their own array of roles. Every role comes with its own unique abilities, which add a lot of replayability to the game as players learn to adapt to a number of playstyles and strategies.
The game also has a number of unique features that set it apart from other games in the genre, such as a journal for taking notes throughout the match and whispers that allow players to secretly coordinate with one another. "Throne of Lies" also offers character customization, complete with unique execution animations which vary depending on the weapons and gear traitors have equipped. The game's depth and variety has given it a solid name amongst social deduction enthusiasts, its unique features making it worthwhile even for veteran players.
Release Date: September 29, 2017
Available On: PC
Game Modes: Multiplayer
Werewolves Within
"Werewolves Within" brings social deduction to VR, taking full advantage of the platform. The game is a bit pared down from its social deduction peers when it comes to its roles and gameplay elements, but its use of VR makes it wholly unique. The game features players sitting around on a variety of maps as they deliberate and make their decisions.
Players' conversations are made more immersive by technology that animates their characters with facial expressions and animations depending on their tone of voice and where the player is looking. A whisper mechanic allows players to discuss their thoughts in private with the player avatar sitting next to them. It all adds up to make the experience feel as lifelike as possible. "Werewolves Within" is an accessible and fun way for VR players to experience a "Werewolf"-type game with friends in an entirely new way, no matter the distance between them. If players really enjoy it, then they're in a luck: There's a full feature film loosely based on it, too.
Release Date: December 6, 2016
Available On: PC, PS4 (with PSVR)
Game Modes: Multiplayer