Among Us
What is this game about?
The mechanics of the game are not that important. It's really a game about interacting with the other players. The impostors try to divert suspicion onto innocent crew members, while the workers are busy trying to "sus" out the killer and keep suspicion off themselves. It's hilarious and awesome to get together with friends virtually and try to trick them into accusing others of crimes, or try to determine which of your friends is a good enough liar to get away with space-murder.
What is Among Us?
Among Us is a multiplayer game where four to 10 players are dropped onto an alien spaceship. Each player is designated a private role as a "crewmate" or an "impostor" — and millions of youths across the country have become hooked.
Why is it so popular?
Among Us jumped to the top of online streaming charts at first because a handful of well-known gamers started playing it publicly, but it "stuck" because it's the perfect game for social distancing. The barrier for entry is very low—it's free for mobile and only five bucks on PC—and it doesn't take a ton of concentration or video game dexterity. Instead of being about perfect reflexes like a shooter, Among Us is about social interaction. In a time when kids (and grownups) can't hang out together, it's a perfect stress reliever and a great way to interact with pals.
How do you play Among Us?
Crewmates must run around the ship and try to complete a set of tasks while trying to root out and avoid getting killed by the one or several impostors. Players can be voted off the ship, so each game becomes one of survival: Successfully vote off the impostors, or complete all your tasks to win.
How did Among Us become so popular?
Eager to keep viewers entertained during quarantine, Chance Morris, known online as Sodapoppin, began streaming the game, created by InnerSloth, to his 2.8 million followers on Twitch in July. By mid-September, Among Us caught on like wildfire. Suddenly major YouTube stars, TikTok influencers and streamers were playing it. PewDiePie, James Charles and Dr. Lupo have all played the game for millions.
When was Among Us created?
When an indie game company created Among Us in 2018, it was greeted with little fanfare. The multiplayer game remained under the radar as many games do — until the summer of the pandemic.