Red is always sus. It’s the oldest meme in the book. If you’ve spent more than five minutes in a Skeld lobby, you know that among us character colours aren't just cosmetic choices—they are psychological triggers that dictate who gets ejected into the vacuum of space first.
Players agonize over these selections. Why? Because in a game built entirely on social deduction and frantic lying, your visual identity is the only thing people remember when the emergency button gets slammed. "I saw Cyan in Vent." "No, it was Lime." The subtle difference between those two shades has ended more friendships than Monopoly ever could.
The Evolution of the Among Us Palette
When Innersloth first dropped the game back in 2018, the roster was tiny. You had the basics: Red, Blue, Green, Pink, Orange, Yellow, Black, and White. It was a primary colour playground. But as the game exploded during the 2020 lockdowns, the developers realized twelve players weren't enough for the chaos people craved.
They had to expand. Adding more among us character colours wasn't just about picking pretty shades; it was a technical nightmare. The developers had to ensure that the new additions—like Rose, Gray, Tan, and Maroon—were distinct enough that players wouldn't constantly confuse them during a 30-second voting meeting. Maroon looks a lot like Red in a dark hallway. Banana can easily be mistaken for Yellow if you're panicking.
Currently, there are 18 distinct colours available. Each one carries a specific "vibe" that the community has collectively agreed upon, often without realizing it.
Why Red is the Perpetual Villain
The "Red is Sus" phenomenon isn't just a random internet joke. There is actual color theory at work here. Human brains are hardwired to associate red with danger, blood, and alerts. In the UI of the game itself, the Impostor's name appears in red. The sabotage buttons are red. The "Dead Body Reported" screen is splashed with red.
If you pick Red, you're starting the match with a psychological handicap. You have to work twice as hard to prove you're a "crewmate" because every time a player sees your sprite, their subconscious is screaming danger. It's a rough life for Red mains.
The 2021 Expansion and the Rise of "Soft" Colours
In June 2021, the 15-player update changed the meta forever. This was when we got the "softer" additions:
- Tan: Often viewed as the most neutral, boring, and therefore "safe" colour.
- Gray: A bit of a wildcard, often used by high-level players who want to blend into the background.
- Banana: The lighter, less aggressive version of Yellow.
- Rose: A softer Pink that somehow feels less threatening.
- Coral: Often confused with Pink or Orange, leading to massive arguments in chat.
The introduction of these shades added a layer of "colour blindness" difficulty that wasn't there before. In the heat of a chase through Electrical, you might see a flash of a pale character. Was it White? Was it Tan? Was it Gray? That ambiguity is a massive tool for a skilled Impostor.
The Problem with IDs and Names
Honestly, the most annoying thing about among us character colours is when players name themselves after a different colour. You see a player named "Blue" but their character is actually Lime. When someone screams "BLUE VENTS," half the lobby votes for the guy with the blue skin, and the other half votes for the guy with the name Blue. It’s a chaotic, brilliant, and incredibly frustrating strategy.
Color Popularity: What the Data Says
While Innersloth doesn't release daily spreadsheets, they have shared historical data on player preferences. Red remains the most picked colour by a landslide, followed closely by Black and White.
Why Black? It’s sleek. It hides hats well. It feels "stealthy." Players who pick Black often play more aggressively, trying to live up to the "ninja" aesthetic. On the flip side, Pink and Cyan are often associated with younger or "troll" players who want to stand out and be loud in the chat.
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Then you have the "Green" family.
Green (dark) is often seen as the "dad" of the group—reliable, usually doing tasks, rarely the first one suspected.
Lime, however, is pure chaos. Lime players are notorious for being loud, accusing everyone else, and generally being a nuisance. There’s no scientific proof for this, obviously, but ask any veteran player and they’ll swear it’s true.
Visual Accessibility and the Colour Blindness Update
One of the biggest hurdles for the game was making sure it stayed playable for everyone. Since the game relies so heavily on identifying among us character colours, being colour blind used to be a death sentence for your win rate.
Innersloth eventually added the "Colorblind Mode" which adds unique icons to certain tasks (like the wires) so that the game isn't just about hue recognition. However, the social deduction part—the "I saw Brown do it"—still relies on players being able to distinguish those sprites. If you're playing with Tan, Brown, and Maroon in the same lobby, even people with perfect vision start to struggle when the lights are sabotaged.
How to Choose Your Colour Strategically
If you actually want to win, stop picking Red. Seriously.
If you want to survive longer as a Crewmate, go for something mid-range like Brown or Tan. These colours are visually "heavy" or "dull," meaning they don't draw the eye as much as a bright Cyan or a glowing Yellow. You want to be forgettable. You want people to say, "Wait, was Brown even in that room?"
As an Impostor, choosing a colour that mimics common map elements can be a pro move. Gray blends into the metallic walls of the Airship. Green blends into the foliage on MIRA HQ. It’s a small advantage, but in a game of pixels, every frame counts.
The Cultural Impact of the Crewmate Silhouette
It’s wild to think that these simple, armless blobs have become a global icon. The specific hex codes for these colours are now burned into the collective consciousness of the gaming world. You can’t look at a trash can or a fire hydrant without seeing a "sus" crewmate.
The colours have also spawned a massive hierarchy in the world of Among Us "lore." Some players believe certain colours are "cursed." Others refuse to start a game unless they get their specific shade. It’s a level of digital superstition that you don't really see in other games.
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Actionable Tips for Using Colour to Your Advantage
Don't just pick a colour because it's pretty. Use it to win.
- Check the Lobby Composition: If there are already a lot of "bright" colours (Cyan, Lime, Banana), pick a "dark" one (Maroon, Black, Green). It makes it harder for people to group you together in their minds.
- Avoid "Clashing" with your Hat: If you wear a massive, bright hat on a bright character, you are a beacon of light. If you’re the Impostor, everyone will remember the "Cyan with the Flamingo." Stick to low-profile hats if you’re playing a loud colour.
- Use the "Identity Swap" in Chat: If you are playing a colour like Coral, which people often misidentify, use that to your advantage. If someone says "Pink did it," and you're Coral, you can legitimately sow doubt by saying "There is no Pink."
- Watch for the "Invisible" Colours: In maps with lots of dark corners, Maroon and Black are significantly harder to track than White or Yellow. Use this during sabotages to move between rooms unnoticed.
The reality is that among us character colours are the first piece of information anyone has about you. Before you speak, before you do a task, and before you kill, you are just a colour. Make sure it's the right one for the job.
Next time you're in the lobby, look at the spread. If you see three shades of blue-ish (Blue, Cyan, Rose-ish), know that the chat is going to be a disaster. If you see a lot of reds and oranges, expect a fast, aggressive game. Your skin isn't just a skin; it's your first move in the game of deception.