Comparison
The Chameleon vs Spyfall
In both games everyone knows a secret except one player, who has to bluff. Spyfall does it with questions about a place; The Chameleon with one-word clues about a topic.
At a glance
| The Chameleon | Spyfall | |
|---|---|---|
| Players | 3–8 | 3–8 (Spyfall 2: up to 12) |
| Length | About 15 min | Rounds of about 8 minutes |
| First published | 2017, Big Potato Games | 2014, Hobby World |
| The secret | A word among 16 on a topic card | A location |
| What players do | Give one word each, in turn | Ask each other questions |
| The outsider can win by | Escaping the vote, or guessing the word when caught | Surviving the vote, or naming the location |
How each plays
The Chameleon: everyone sees a topic card of 16 words, and a dice roll tells all but one player which word is secret. Each person says one word related to it. The table votes; a caught Chameleon can still win by guessing the secret word.
Spyfall: everyone but the spy is told the location and a role there. Players take turns asking each other questions against a timer, trying to be specific enough to trust each other and vague enough to not help the spy, who can stop the round to guess the location.
The main differences
Pace
One round of clues in The Chameleon; a free-flowing interrogation in Spyfall.
Pressure on the outsider
The Chameleon's list of 16 words gives them something to work with. Spyfall's spy starts from nothing but a list of places.
Talkers and quiet players
One-word clues keep quieter players in The Chameleon. Spyfall favours quick talkers.
Which one for your group?
Mixed ages and shy players
The Chameleon: one word each, then a vote.
A lively crowd that likes to improvise
Spyfall.
No box at hand
Undercover's Impostor mode below, on your phones.
The same idea on your phones
Undercover has an Impostor mode (a Plus setting, free in every room during Early Access): everyone sees a category and the same eight words, all but the impostor know which one is secret, one round of clues, one secret vote, and a caught impostor wins by guessing the word. A tie after the revote goes to the impostor; with 8–10 players the host can deal two (also Plus). The classic mode is the Chinese party favourite: most players share a word, a few get a close one.
Undercover
One word. One clue. Find the impostor.
4–10 players · 5–15 min · Classic or Impostor mode
Questions
Is The Chameleon the same as Spyfall?
No. Both hide one outsider, but The Chameleon uses one-word clues on a known topic and Spyfall uses open questions about a location.
Can I play The Chameleon online here?
No. partygame doesn't host The Chameleon or Spyfall. Undercover's Impostor mode is our own take on the idea, played on your phones at the same table.
Everyone in the same room?
partygame is for playing face to face, not online matchmaking: each phone keeps your secret and counts the votes, the talking happens at the table. Open a table in the browser, free, no app.