Casus
COMPARISON
Ways to play the spy game, compared
The imposter word game needs very little: a secret word, one player who doesn't know it, and some questions. Here is how the common ways to play compare, including when you don't need our app.
Updated 14 October 2026
We compare kinds of options rather than specific products, because every boxed game and app is different. Check the box or store page of a specific game for its exact player count and price.
Comparison
| Option | What you need | Players | Internet | Cost | Who deals the roles |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper slips | Paper, a pen and someone to pick the word | 3 or more | No | Free | One player writes the slips (they still play) |
| Boxed party games | The game box (cards or a board) | As printed on the box | No | One-time purchase | The cards; content is fixed by the box |
| Online multiplayer apps | Every player's own phone, each with the app | Varies | Yes | Varies (free with ads, or paid) | The app, over the internet; works when players are apart |
| Other pass-and-play apps | One phone | Varies | Usually no | Varies (free with ads, one-off or subscription) | The app; word lists, languages and extras differ |
| Casus | One iPhone, passed around | 3 or more | No | First 3 games free, then an optional Premium subscription; no ads | The app: 14 categories × 100 words, 6 roles, hidden spy mode, timer and vote |
When paper slips are the better choice
Paper is free, needs no phone and lets you use any word you like, including inside jokes. The drawbacks: someone has to think of a word and write the slips each round, and it's easy to reveal the spy by accident with handwriting or folding. Our spy game rules work with paper.
When a boxed game is the better choice
If you want no screens at all, a boxed social deduction or word party game is a good fit: components you can hold, tested rules and a one-time price. The words or locations are limited to what is in the box.
When an online multiplayer app is the better choice
If your friends are not in the same room, you need an app where everyone plays on their own phone over the internet. Casus is designed for playing together in person, on one phone, so it is not the right tool for remote play.
When Casus fits
Casus fits when everyone is at the same table and you want to start in seconds: no slips, no internet, nothing for others to install. It deals the roles in private, picks words from 14 categories in 9 languages, adds optional roles (Detective, Faker, Accomplice, Forgetful) and a hidden spy mode, and runs the timer and vote. It is iPhone-only, and the full version is a subscription.