Getting Among Us on Your Computer

Among Us runs on Windows and Mac through Steam, the Epic Games Store, or directly from Innersloth's website. The Steam version costs $4.99 and is the most common route. The Epic Games Store version is free during periodic giveaways but normally costs the same. You can also read it free from the official Among Us website if you want to avoid a launcher, though Steam gives you automatic updates and cloud saves.

Your PC needs Windows 7 or later, or macOS 10.13 or later. The game uses very little disk space — about 200 MB — so it runs on older machines and laptops without much trouble. You do not need a graphics card beyond what your computer already has built in.

read the version you choose, install it, create a free account or sign in with an existing one, and you are ready to start a game. The whole process takes less than ten minutes on a normal internet connection.

Key Takeaways

  • Among Us costs $4.99 on Steam or the Epic Games Store, or you can read it free from the official website.
  • The game requires Windows 7 or later, or macOS 10.13 or later, and uses only about 200 MB of disk space.
  • You join a game by entering a room code that the host gives you, or by creating your own room and inviting others.
  • Crewmates complete tasks and vote out impostors; impostors sabotage and eliminate crewmates without being caught.
  • Games last between 5 and 15 minutes depending on how many players are in the room and what settings the host chose.

Creating or Joining a Game Room

When you open Among Us, the main menu shows three buttons: Online, Local, and Practice. Click Online to play with other people over the internet. You will see two options: Create Game or Find Game.

To join an existing game, click Find Game. The game will search for public rooms and show you a list. Each room shows the number of players already in it, the map, and the number of impostors. Click on a room and you will join it. The host can start the game whenever they want, usually once the room has enough players.

To create your own room, click Create Game. You can set the map (Skeld, Mira HQ, Polus, Airship, or The Fungle), the number of impostors, the game length, and dozens of other rules. The game will give you a room code — a four-letter or six-digit code depending on your settings. Share this code with friends or post it in a Discord server, and they can join by clicking Find Game and entering the code.

Understanding Crewmate and Impostor Roles

At the start of each game, the system randomly assigns players to be either crewmates or impostors. Most players are crewmates. Usually there is one or two impostors in a game of four to fifteen players, depending on what the host set.

If you are a crewmate, your job is to complete tasks scattered around the map. Tasks are small minigames — fixing wiring, swiping a card, sorting samples, or other quick jobs. You can see your task list in the upper left corner of the screen. Finish all your tasks and your team wins, unless the impostors eliminate enough crewmates first.

If you are an impostor, you see a different screen. You can move around like a crewmate, but you cannot complete real tasks. Instead, you can sabotage systems (cutting lights, closing doors, triggering alarms) and eliminate crewmates by walking up to them and clicking the kill button. Your goal is to reduce the crewmate count to equal the impostor count, or to make crewmates vote you out by mistake.

Crewmates win by finishing all tasks or by voting out all impostors. Impostors win by reducing crewmates to their own number or by sabotaging a critical system that crewmates cannot fix in time.

How Voting and Discussion Work

When a crewmate is eliminated or when someone calls an emergency meeting, the game pauses and all players enter a discussion phase. You have a set amount of time — usually 15 to 120 seconds, depending on the host's settings — to type messages in the chat and accuse other players.

After discussion time ends, voting begins. Each player clicks on the player they think is the impostor. The player with the most votes is eliminated and ejected from the ship. If there is a tie, the host's settings determine what happens — usually no one is ejected, or a random tied player is removed.

Once a player is ejected, the game shows whether they were a crewmate or an impostor. Then the game resumes. If crewmates are still alive and tasks remain, they go back to completing tasks. If an impostor is still alive, they can kill again.

Maps and How They Differ

Skeld is the original map and the smallest. It has two main areas connected by hallways, making it straightforward to find other players but also straightforward for impostors to corner crewmates. Tasks are straightforward.

Mira HQ is a vertical map with many rooms stacked on top of each other. It has a ladder system that lets you move between floors quickly. The layout makes it harder to see who is where, which favors impostors.

Polus is a large outdoor map with separate buildings spread far apart. Walking between tasks takes longer, so crewmates spend more time alone. This map is harder for new players because the distances are greater.

Airship is the largest map, shaped like a long corridor with many side rooms. It has a gap system that forces you to take specific routes, creating choke points where impostors can trap crewmates.

The Fungle is a jungle-themed map with vines you can swing on, tunnels, and a river. It mixes long sight lines with tight spaces, making it unpredictable for both roles.

Common Settings the Host Can Change

When someone creates a game, they can adjust how the game plays. Game Length sets how long the game can run — short games end faster, long games give crewmates more time to finish tasks. Impostor Count determines how many impostors are in the game; more impostors make it harder for crewmates to win.

Kill Cooldown is how long an impostor must wait between kills. A short cooldown (15 seconds) makes impostors powerful. A long cooldown (60 seconds) gives crewmates time to notice patterns.

Discussion Time and Voting Time control how long players have to talk and vote. Short times favor impostors who can hide quickly. Long times favor crewmates who can build a case.

Task Bar Updates can be set to show the full task bar (everyone sees progress), a condensed bar (only you see your progress), or no bar at all. Hiding the bar makes it harder to know if crewmates are actually doing tasks or faking.

Hosts can also turn on Confirm Ejects, which shows whether an ejected player was a crewmate or impostor when ready, or turn it off so players have to guess. They can also set Anonymous Votes so no one knows who voted for whom.

Tips for Playing Better

As a crewmate, stay near other players when possible. Impostors are less likely to kill you if witnesses are around. Complete your tasks in a logical order so you are not backtracking across the map. If you see someone doing a task you know is fake — like standing at a task location without the task animation playing — report it to the group during voting.

Pay attention to who is where. If you see two players together the whole game and one dies, the survivor is suspicious. If someone is always alone, they might be the impostor hunting. Watch for players who move in unusual patterns or who seem to know where other players are without seeing them.

As an impostor, use sabotages to separate crewmates. Closing doors traps players in rooms. Cutting lights makes it hard for crewmates to see who is near them. Triggering a reactor meltdown forces crewmates to gather in one place, giving you a chance to kill. Do not kill too fast — if crewmates die too quickly, they will vote you out when ready.

Stay calm during voting. Impostors who panic and accuse everyone look guilty. Crewmates who accuse without evidence look like they are guessing. Build your case on what you actually saw, not on hunches.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I play Among Us with friends offline on one PC?

Yes. Click Local on the main menu instead of Online. You can play with up to 15 people on the same computer using multiple mice and keyboards, or by passing a controller around. Local games do not require an internet connection.

What happens if I disconnect during a game?

You are replaced by a bot that follows basic patterns. If you rejoin before the game ends, you take control of your character again. If the game ends while you are gone, you do not get credit for the win or loss.

Can I change my character's color and name?

Yes. Before you join a game, click on your character in the lobby. You can choose from 18 colors, add a name, and select a hat, pet, and skin. Your choices are saved to your account.

Is there a way to play with only people I know?

Yes. Create a game and set it to Private instead of Public. Only players who have your room code can join. You can also join Discord servers dedicated to Among Us where players share room codes with people they trust.

How do I report a player who is cheating or being rude?

During or after a game, click on a player's name and select Report Player. Describe what happened. The developers review reports and can ban players who cheat or harass others repeatedly.