Codenames
BGG rank
BGG #162
BGG rating
7.5

Codenames

2015

Rules assistance for Codenames

Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.

  • 2–8 players
  • 15 min
  • 10+
  • Complexity 1.3/5

About the game

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 one more than 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.

Publishers

  • Devir
  • Kaissa Chess & Games
  • Enigma (Bergsala Enigma)
  • Broadway Toys LTD
  • asmodee
  • Hobby Japan
  • Rebel Sp. z o.o.
  • Gémklub
  • Boardgame Space
  • GaGa Games
  • Heidelberger Spieleverlag
  • MIPL
  • MINDOK
  • Nordic Games ehf
  • Lautapelit.fi
  • Feelindigo
  • White Goblin Games
  • Brain Games
  • Lex Games
  • IELLO
  • Fantasmagoria
  • DiceTree Games
  • Pridemage Games
  • HeidelBÄR Games
  • Czech Games Edition (CGE)
  • Cranio Creations
  • One Moment Games
  • More Fun Co., Ltd.
  • TWOPLUS Games
  • Golden Egg Games
  • Land of Beautiful Mind (سرزمین ذهن زیبا)
  • Liam Games
  • Brädspel.se
  • Ponva d.o.o.
  • Gaming Library
  • Cuaca Cerah Games
  • Goblin Gaming

Questions and answers

The rules assistant for Codenames will help explain turns, card effects and disputed situations, with references to verified official materials and saved question history. It is not ready yet; verified sources for your edition are still being prepared.

Rules assistant for Codenames

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