Interloper
Interloper is a scene game in which an uninvited character inserts themselves into a situation where they do not belong. The tension between the interloper's presence and the other characters' reactions drives the scene. The game rewards bold initiation and the ability to justify an outrageous entrance.
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Behind Closed Doors is a scene game in which the audience sees only the moments before characters enter and after they exit a room, never what happens inside. Players must convey dramatic events through their changed demeanor, dialogue, and physical state upon emerging. The game trains performers to communicate offstage action through behavior.
Firing Squad
Firing Squad is a scene game in which one performer faces a line of players who rapid-fire questions, challenges, or scene initiations. The solo performer must respond to each without hesitation. The exercise builds resilience under pressure and trains the ability to accept any offer instantly.
Eureka
Eureka is a performance game in which a character experiences a sudden flash of inspiration or discovery that transforms the scene. The moment of realization is the comedic or dramatic climax, and the scene builds toward it. The game rewards performers who commit fully to the before-and-after contrast of the epiphany.
Character Swap
Character Swap is a scene game in which performers exchange characters mid-scene, each adopting the other's physicality, voice, and emotional state. The swap reveals how well players have been observing their partners and tests the ability to sustain someone else's character work. The game rewards careful listening and physical attention.
Lost Friend
Lost Friend is a scene game or warm-up in which a player searches for a lost friend by describing them to strangers in increasingly specific or absurd detail. The exercise trains detailed character description and the ability to paint a vivid picture of someone who is not present. It builds the verbal specificity that makes scene work compelling.
Walkout
Walkout is a scene game in which performers can walk out of a scene at any point, and whoever remains must justify the departure and continue. The unpredictability of exits forces improvisers to stay alert and adaptable. The game trains the ability to maintain scene coherence despite sudden changes in cast.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Interloper. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/games/interloper
The Improv Archive. "Interloper." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/games/interloper.
The Improv Archive. "Interloper." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/games/interloper. Accessed October 15, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.