Among Us from Innersloth is a social deduction game for 4 to 15 players. Most of the group are Crewmates trying to prepare a spaceship for departure, while one or more Impostors quietly eliminate them. Crewmates win by finishing their tasks or voting the Impostor off the ship, and the Impostor wins through sabotage and deception.
On Google Play the current version is 2026.8.18, and the release notes point to in-game version 18.0.0. Its headline addition is a new Crewmate role called the Judge. The patch also adds a Match Info Guide and puts a cooldown on the Detective’s Interrogate ability, while rounds, accounts and cosmetic purchases work the same way as before.
Android 8.0 and up for version 2026.8.18
- Updated: August 10, 2026
- Version: 2026.8.18
- Requires Android: 8.0+
- Developer: Innersloth LLC
- Installs: 500,000,000+
Google Play data as of September 26, 2026
Changes in Among Us 2026.8.18
The update has been available since August 10, 2026. Its notes read:
ALL RISE!
Update to v18.0.0 so you can play as our brand new Crewmate role – the Judge!
Overrule Ability: Choose a Crewmate to eject no matter who’s been voted for. Choose wisely – if they aren’t the Impostor you get ejected instead! Complete tasks to enable your ability during meetings.
Use the new Match Info Guide so you can keep track of players, roles, and match settings during a game.
The Detective’s Interrogate ability now has a cooldown after Emergency Meetings.
What changed: the Judge and more
The Judge has an ability called Overrule, which lets them choose one Crewmate to eject regardless of how the vote went. The risk is built in: if the chosen player is not the Impostor, the Judge is ejected instead. The ability only becomes available during meetings after the Judge completes tasks, so it rewards Crewmates who keep working.
The supporting changes deal with information and balance. A new Match Info Guide lets players keep track of other players, active roles, and match settings during a game, which helps in lobbies with many custom rules. The Detective’s Interrogate ability now has a cooldown after Emergency Meetings, limiting how quickly it can be used again.
How a round plays
Games can be played online with strangers or friends, or over local Wi-Fi. Crewmates move around the map completing short tasks while watching each other closely. When a body is reported or someone calls an Emergency Meeting, everyone discusses and votes, either in the built-in chat or over voice apps such as Discord. Impostors use vents and sabotage to split the group and build alibis.
Hosts can change settings such as the number of Impostors, task counts, player speed, vision range, and which roles are active, so the same map can feel very different from lobby to lobby. Public lobbies are available when you do not have a group ready. The game includes several maps, among them The Skeld, MIRA HQ, Polus, The Airship, and The Fungle, and it supports cross-platform play with PC and console.
Light 2D art that runs on most phones
Innersloth does not list hardware requirements on Google Play, and Among Us uses simple 2D art and a small interface that runs smoothly on most Android phones and tablets. It is a relatively small download compared with other popular multiplayer games such as PUBG Mobile, so storage is rarely an obstacle, even on older devices.
Online matches need a steady connection, since meetings and votes happen in real time and a dropped player can disrupt a round. Local Wi-Fi games avoid that dependency when everyone is in the same place. Keeping the app updated matters too, because players on different versions may not be able to join the same lobby.
Accounts, purchases, and rating
Online play requires an Innersloth account, which holds your friend list and cosmetics and lets you sign in on other devices. Younger players get a more restricted account with limited chat, managed through a parent or guardian. Local Wi-Fi games remain a simpler choice for younger players, since they involve only the people in the same room.
Among Us is free on Google Play with in-app purchases, which are cosmetic items such as hats, skins, pets, and cosmetic bundles, so they do not affect who wins a match. The game is rated Everyone 10+ and has more than 500 million installs. The shop can be ignored entirely, since every map and role, including the new Judge, is available without paying.
What Among Us looks like
The Judge, lobby sizes and cosmetic purchases
What does the Judge role do in Among Us?
During a meeting the Judge can use Overrule to eject a chosen Crewmate. If that player turns out not to be the Impostor, the Judge is ejected instead.
Can we play Among Us on local Wi-Fi, and who sets the rules?
Yes. A game takes 4 to 15 players, online or over local Wi-Fi. The host picks the map, the number of Impostors and which special roles are on.
Can paying give anyone an edge in Among Us?
No. Purchases are cosmetic, such as hats, skins and pets. They do not change roles, tasks, voting or anyone’s chances of winning.
