Cover art for Codenames

Codenames

2015 · BGG
Avg rating
7.54
Bayes rating
7.44
Weight
1.26 (Light)
Players
2-8
Playtime
15 min
Ratings count
96,053

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Description

Two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates know the agents only by their codenames — single-word labels like "disease", "Germany", and "carrot". Yes, carrot. It's a legitimate codename. Each spymaster wants their team to identify their agents first...without uncovering the assassin by mistake.

In Codenames, two teams compete to see who can make contact with all of their agents first. Lay out 25 cards, each bearing a single word. The spymasters look at a card showing the identity of each card, then take turns clueing their teammates. A clue consists of a single word and a number, with the number suggesting how many cards in play have some association to the given clue word. The teammates then identify one agent they think is on their team; if they're correct, they can keep guessing up to the stated number of times; if the agent belongs to the opposing team or is an innocent bystander, the team's turn ends; and if they fingered the assassin, they lose the game.

Spymasters continue giving clues until one team has identified all of their agents or the assassin has removed one team from play.



Mechanics

Communication Limits Memory Push Your Luck Team-Based Game

Themes

Spies/Secret Agents

Publishers

Asmodee Boardgame Space Brain Games Broadway Toys LTD Cranio Creations Cuaca Cerah Games Czech Games Edition Devir DiceTree Games Enigma (Bergsala Enigma) Fantasmagoria Feelindigo GaGa Games Gaming Library Golden Egg Games Gém Klub Kft. Heidelberger Spieleverlag Hobby Japan IELLO Kaissa Chess & Games Land of Beautiful Mind (سرزمین ذهن زیبا) Lex Games MINDOK MIPL More Fun Co., Ltd. Nordic Games GmbH Nordic Games ehf One Moment Games Ponva d.o.o. Pridemage Games Rebel Sp. z o.o. SuperHeated Neurons TWOPLUS Games White Goblin Games

Designers

Vlaada Chvátil