Recently, an online multiplayer game found its rise to popularity amidst the global pandemic. Its tactical gameplay as well as its cross-platform availability made the video game a quick favorite amongst a variety of players. The video game is Among Us,  and it continues to top the charts as a free game on the App Store and Google Play Store.

Released on November 16th, 2018, by the American developer Innersloth, Among Us is a game of deception. At the start of the game, the players receive a role that determines their goal for the game. The majority of the players in the server assume the role of the Crewmate, and their job is to complete their given tasks and fill up the taskbar to 100%. Whether that be swiping the card or fixing the wires, the Crewmates rush around the map to fulfill the requests at the top left corner of their screens. Crewmates have to watch out for “sus” (suspicious) players while doing their tasks as the Impostors are lurking among the Crewmates.

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Used with permission by InnerSloth under fair use

The Skeld. The Skeld is the most popular map in Among Us. Although it is the smallest map, it ended up being everyone's favorite due to its simplistic nature.

The Impostor is a parasitic creature that impersonates the role of the Crewmate. Their objective is to kill the Crewmates without being caught. Impostors can sabotage areas of the map to create chaos and division, sneak through vents scattered across the map to get to places faster, and close doors in order to lock Crewmates in rooms for an easy kill. Crewmates and Impostors can report dead bodies, sparking a time of discussion where the players have to determine who the Impostor is before the Impostor kills off all the Crewmates. At the end of the discussions, players have the chance to vote off who they believe is the Impostor. The Impostor has to lie and frame—anything to prove their innocence in front of the group. The game ends when either the Crewmates vote off the Impostor or complete their tasks, or if the Impostors kills off enough of the Crewmates.

Because the game is an online multiplayer, players can join servers with friends or with strangers online. Among Us darted in popularity on the famous streaming website Twitch. Additionally, well-known Twitch streamers such as DisguisedToast, Sykkuno, and HasanAbi promoted the game on their accounts, playing it alongside many other streamers. YouTubers hopped onto the gaming trend as well, uploading daily videos of their gameplay. Prominent gaming channels such as Pewdiepie, DanTDM, and Jacksepticeye collaborated with Twitch Streamers and even celebrities. 

In fact, on October 20th, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) streamed a game of Among Us with Twitch stars including Pokimane and DrLupo. AOC promoted voting through the popular streaming platform. At the start of the stream, she diverted the viewers’ attention to the I Will Vote website to assist voters in the upcoming election. Overall, her stream placed in the fifth most-watched streams on Twitch. Her stream broke boundaries between politics and gaming, and it opened windows to a new form of campaigning. AOC appealed to the younger generation and connected with potential U.S. voters. 

Anyone want to play Among Us with me on Twitch to get out the vote? (I’ve never played but it looks like a lot of fun)

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 19, 2020

Among Us continues to connect people in a time of isolation and division. The developers are still adding new rules and game modes to accommodate the sudden growth of popularity such as the colorblind-friendly wires and anonymous voting. But overall, its endless possibilities and unpredictability are elements that cause the game to be a lovable addiction to many.