Codenames – a deduction game full of associations, teamwork, and competition

Codenames is a multi-award-winning deduction game that combines logical thinking, creativity with words, and exciting team competition. It is ideal for family gatherings and game nights with friends, offering quick gameplay and excellent replayability.

Game summary

The players are divided into two roughly equal teams, each selecting a Spymaster. The remaining players become field agents. In the center of the table, 25 code cards are arranged in a 5 × 5 grid. Each card contains a word that can have multiple meanings and associations.

The Spymasters sit together on one side of the table and are the only players who can see the key card. This key indicates which codes belong to which team, which ones are neutral, and which code hides the assassin. The goal for the teams is to identify all their agents as quickly as possible, avoiding the assassin.

Gameplay

On their turn, the Spymaster gives a single clue:

• it must consist of only one word,
• it is accompanied by a number indicating how many codes relate to this clue.

After receiving the clue, the team can discuss freely and decide together which cards to reveal. They must guess at least one code. If they reveal one of their own agents, they can continue guessing until they reach their allowed attempts (the number given by the Spymaster plus one extra guess). Revealing an opponent's agent or a neutral card immediately ends their turn. Revealing the assassin results in an immediate loss.

The game ends when one team has revealed all their agents or when the assassin is revealed.

Why you'll love this game;

• Interesting and clever word game based on creative and often controversial associations,
• Clearly defined, asymmetric roles that keep each game fresh,
• Perfect balance of collaboration within teams and competition between them,
• Excellent replayability with 400 unique codes and random key cards,
• Fast rounds encouraging multiple plays in a single session.

Contents of the package

• 16 agent chips in two colors
• 1 double agent chip
• 7 innocent bystander chips
• 1 assassin chip
• 40 key cards
• 200 cards with 400 codes
• card base
• rulebook

Game details

• Number of players: 4–8
• Age: 10+
• Playing time: approximately 15 minutes

Codenames is an excellent choice for players who enjoy communication-based games, clever deduction, and collaborative thinking. Each game presents a new challenge and a completely different set of associations.