There are many layers to playing a game of Among Us beyond just trying to figure out who among the players is secretly killing everyone. From understanding the different tasks to figuring out the general pathing of everyone on board, it may be hard for some that are new to the game to fully grasp.
This inevitably leads to some early mistakes that will cause some rounds to go down the drain for the new player. Making these mistakes isn't the worst as games tend to go by quickly and they can easily rebound in the next one. That said, to avoid these mistakes altogether, it's worth learning about them ahead of time.
Screwing Up A Task
Jumping into a game of Among Us for the first time, it is very understandable to not know what to do. Arguably, being a crewmate is a lot easier than being an imposter. That said, there is room to potentially make a few small mistakes out of the gate. Crewmates are given tasks to complete in order to win, and while they can be straightforward, one mistake can start the task from the beginning and further delay a win by completing tasks. One example where a costly slip-up could happen is the "SimonSays" task, one of the game's long tasks.
Faking A Task That Doesn't Exist
The coolest thing about the design of Among Us is how intricately detailed the maps tend to be, with every corner of the playing area having something to look at. As a first-time imposter who may not be completely familiar with all the different tasks that are given to the crewmates, players need to make sure what they stand in front of isn't just there for decoration. Beyond that, players will need to know what the task they are standing in front of does in case they get called on it. This makes it even more crucial to practice a bit and become familiar with all the tasks in the game.
Not Remembering Where You Went In A Round
This is a big no-no for both crewmates and imposters. In a game that requires every player to be attentive about their surroundings, the least the player can do is keep track of where they have been over the course of a single round.
By forgetting the pathing of the round, players will open themselves up for criticism and could be voted out of the game if they aren't careful. If players forget the names of certain rooms, specifically discussing the contents of the locations and the general direction of where the rooms are can be helpful enough.
Claiming To Be Somewhere You Aren't
Players trying to keep up with what they did in a single round is one thing. Making up where they went in order to avoid being called out as an imposter is even more difficult. Sure, the cards could be played right where killing someone in one room and then claiming to be somewhere else is could work out if the rooms specified were empty at the time. But all it takes is guessing the wrong room and that will cause individuals to be caught in the lie right there on the spot. Lying is an important part of the game, but lie smartly and have the bases covered.
Not Paying Attention To Your Crewmates
Another part of navigating a game like Among Us is the cooperative experience it presents. While players should not fully trust anyone when playing this game, some faith needs to be had when players try to interact outside of the meetings. In other words, note the players that are in the same room to potentially clear them if a murder takes place. See if someone is looking to be a partner in walking around the map. There's always the worry that someone can betray that trust, but at the very least, knowing other player's movements is a huge advantage.
Defending Your Imposter Buddy
In a traditional Among Us lobby, there is a good chance that a player will be paired with someone as an imposter. This adds a fun layer to the game where the two must non-verbally work together to take out the crew. This adds a dynamic where players will need to be careful about how they approach suspicious talks around their partner. A big mistake is to defend them with no real evidence and with no one else coming to their defense. Reading the room is crucial, and if there isn't a safe way to get the partner out of their predicament, players need to vote them out.
Spending Too Much Time On Cameras
An interesting element of the Among Us maps are the cameras that are set up for players to monitor movement in certain parts of the playing area. The easy thing to do as a crewmate is to latch on to these cameras and use them to death in order to find the culprit.
Unfortunately, finding the imposter this way isn't as easy as it seems and it will greatly delay getting any tasks done. Checking it every once and a while is fine, but players need to keep moving. This doubly goes for imposters, as they need to pay attention to killing crewmates.
Killing With The Cameras On
Typically, imposters could get away with murdering someone if they are the only two individuals in the room and then the imposter makes a quick escape. But there is the chance that someone could be watching from afar. Imposters can sometimes not notice that the red light on the various security cameras throughout the map is on, indicating that someone is actively looking at surveillance. Keeping an eye on this is crucial as any killing nearby where a player is looking can potentially come back to bite the imposter.
Not Voting At The Right Time
In the meetings, players will be asked to vote on either kicking someone out or skipping that step for the time being. One major mistake crewmates make in their first few rounds is voting out someone when they shouldn't or refusing to vote out someone when they should. Players need to keep in mind the player counts in order to avoid this. In a 10-person lobby, players should vote on six if there are two imposters remaining, as leaving both imposters in can hand them an easy win. Voting on seven is not good because if the vote was wrong, the same thing will happen.
Venting At The Wrong Time
A classic mistake that even veteran Among Us players will make. The venting system in the game allows imposters to bounce around the map, mostly for those looking to escape a murder that they committed. It obviously has its upsides, but the downside is that the timing of leaving/entering a vent may not be fast enough to not get caught by someone who is walking in the room. This leads to crewmates calling an emergency meeting and outing the imposter on the spot. Be very careful when using the vent.