The Among Us Companion Screen App Review: Is It Worth Downloading?

The Among Us Companion Screen App: Must-Have Features for Crew and ImpostorsAmong Us thrives on social deduction, fast decision-making, and the constant tension between trust and suspicion. The Among Us Companion Screen App—designed to run alongside the game on a separate device—can transform a casual match into a streamlined, immersive experience for both Crewmates and Impostors. This article examines the must-have features that make a companion screen indispensable, explains why each feature matters, and offers practical suggestions for players and hosts who want to use the app without undermining gameplay balance.

Why a companion screen matters

A companion app provides a private, real-time interface that complements the main game display. It can handle secret information, supplementary timers, smoother voting, and meta-game management (rules, player roles, map overlays) while preserving the social tension that makes Among Us compelling. For hosts, it reduces friction in setup and running rounds; for players, it reduces confusion and speeds up decisions.

Core features every companion app should include

1. Private role display and confirmations

   • The app must display each player’s role privately (Crewmate, Impostor, Scientist, etc.) and confirm role receipt.
   • Why it matters: prevents accidental role reveals, ensures all players know when they’ve been assigned a special role, and helps hosts verify that assignments were delivered.

2. Secure secret chat / moderator messages

   • A secure channel for host-to-player messages (e.g., notifying a new Impostor or delivering special objectives). Messages should be visible only to the intended recipient.
   • Why it matters: allows admins to communicate secret instructions without announcing them in the main voice/text channel.

3. Timers and round pacing controls

   • Adjustable timers for discussion, voting, emergency cooldowns, and sabotage durations, with visible countdowns on each player’s device (if desired by host).
   • Why it matters: enforces consistent pacing, prevents excessively long debates, and helps casual groups play more efficiently.

4. Voting interface and tallying

   • A private voting UI with anonymized votes (or optional reveal settings), automatic tallying, and a clear record of outcomes. Option to show vote percentages or counts to players.
   • Why it matters: speeds up voting, avoids manual counting errors, and allows customizable transparency during elimination.

5. Role and ability activation buttons

   • For special roles (Medic, Engineer, Sheriff, etc.), the app should include controls to activate abilities, show cooldowns, and confirm successful use.
   • Why it matters: reduces confusion about ability timing, prevents misuse, and keeps ability logs for later review.

6. Map overlays and task progress tracking

   • Heads-up displays for task completion progress (team-wide percentage or per-player task lists visible to that player), optional map overlays marking task locations, and task-checkoff controls.
   • Why it matters: clarifies objectives, helps new players find tasks, and gives hosts an easy way to monitor round progress without spoiling information.

7. Sabotage alerts and private hints for Impostors

   • Instant notifications when a sabotage occurs, plus optional private suggestions or reminders tailored to Impostors (e.g., cooldowns, recommended actions).
   • Why it matters: keeps Impostors informed without relying on voice chat and helps maintain game balance.

8. Death and ghost mode features

   • When a player is eliminated, the app should automatically switch them to “ghost mode” with appropriate info (remaining tasks, ghost chat if allowed) and remove access to live-player-only features.
   • Why it matters: preserves game integrity and keeps eliminated players engaged.

9. Rule sets, presets, and custom role support

   • Built-in presets for common rule-sets (e.g., classic, competitive, tournament), plus full customizability and support for community-created roles and modded variants.
   • Why it matters: speeds setup for different playstyles and facilitates adoption of house rules.

10. Audit logs and replay support (optional but valuable)

    • A timestamped record of key events (kills, votes, sabotages, ability uses) and optional short replays or summaries after rounds. Data should be accessible only to hosts or agreed parties.
    • Why it matters: useful for resolving disputes, adjudicating competitive matches, and learning from gameplay.

Features that improve accessibility and onboarding

• Tutorial overlays and contextual help: step-by-step guides for new players, with short pop-ups explaining what to do during discussions, voting, and emergencies.
• Visual and audio accessibility options: high-contrast modes, larger fonts, and adjustable sound cues for players with hearing or vision needs.
• Language localization: support for multiple languages and easy role/ability translations.

Balancing privacy and fairness

A companion app must respect the core hidden-information mechanic. Good designs ensure secret info is delivered only to intended players and that hosts cannot accidentally reveal private data. Considerations:

• Device trust model: Players should use personal devices; public displays defeat secrecy.
• Audit controls: Hosts can access logs but should avoid sharing them mid-round.
• Optional transparency: Allow groups to choose whether votes are anonymous, whether task progress is global or private, and how much the host can reveal.

Technical and UX recommendations for developers

• End-to-end secure channels for role delivery; short-lived tokens to authenticate players.
• Minimal UI clutter: focus on fast access to role info, timers, and voting—three things players need most mid-round.
• Offline fallback: local-only mode for LAN games where the app can run without internet, using local network discovery.
• Low-latency notifications: instant push alerts for sabotages and kills.
• Privacy-first defaults: anonymized logging, opt-in data collection, and clear consent screens for host/admin features.

Practical tips for players and hosts

• Hosts: use presets to speed setup and enable timers to keep rounds lively. Use audit logs only if disputes arise.
• Crewmates: rely on the task tracker and timers to prioritize actions—don’t get stalled in long debates.
• Impostors: track cooldowns and use private sabotage alerts to coordinate silent plays.
• New players: enable tutorial overlays and simplified UI until you’re comfortable.

Example workflow for a typical round using the app

1. Host selects a preset (Classic 10 players) and hands devices to players.
2. App privately assigns and confirms roles on each device.
3. Round starts: task progress and sabotage alerts appear; Impostors see ability cooldowns.
4. Emergency meeting button triggers a private voting UI with a visible timer; votes are tallied automatically.
5. Eliminated players switch to ghost mode with access to remaining tasks and ghost chat.
6. Host reviews the round log only if a dispute arises.

Potential pitfalls and how to avoid them

• Over-reliance on the app can remove social tension — keep key social mechanics (accusations, live discussion) anchored in voice/text chat.
• Poorly secured role delivery can leak secrets — use per-device authentication and ephemeral tokens.
• Giving hosts too much visibility can unbalance play — keep intrusive audit tools off by default.

Conclusion

A well-designed Among Us companion screen app enhances gameplay by handling secret information, pacing, and peripheral mechanics without replacing the core social experience. Must-have features include private role delivery, secure moderator messaging, timers, voting tools, ability controls, and task tracking. When built with privacy, accessibility, and clean UX in mind, the companion app becomes a force multiplier for both casual fun and competitive matches.