- BGG rank
- BGG #162
- BGG rating
- 7.5
Codenames
- 2–8 players
- 15 min
- Complexity 1.3/5
- 2015
- BGG rank
- BGG #8,375
- BGG rating
- 5.9
Codenames: Back to Hogwarts
2025
Rules assistance for Codenames: Back to Hogwarts
Plain-language explanations of turns, card effects and disputed situations, with official source references and saved question history.
- 4–8 players
- 15–30 min
- 10+
- Complexity 1.8/5
For 4 players
Rules assistant for Codenames: Back to Hogwarts
What would you like to know?
Answers come from the official rulebook, with the page to check.
Codenames: Back to Hogwarts is a board game released in 2025 for 4–8 players, 15–30 minutes per game, and ages 10 and up. It was designed by Vlaada Chvátil and its main mechanics are Deduction, Team-Based Game, and Communication Limits.
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About the game
Codenames: Back to Hogwarts puts a fresh spin on the classic Codenames word association gameplay, while offering thematic new mechanics to change up the gameplay for both longtime fans and new players alike. As new first-year students at Hogwarts, players will be sorted into two rival houses, each with their own prefect who knows the secrets of the fabled school’s mystery card grid. On their turn, prefects give their team of students a clue consisting of a single word and a number suggesting how many cards are associated with that word. Students must then follow these clues to explore Hogwarts by guessing the corresponding words and revealing one card at a time. If they’re correct, they can keep guessing words up to the stated number of times. If they encounter a card for the rival house, a dead end, locked door, or other obstacle, they’ll end their turn. Take care not to get caught by groundskeeper Argus Filch, however, as that ends the game and marks a win for the rival house. Every win also earns points for their house, which can be tracked across multiple play sessions in the House Cup. Beneath the surface, this should sound very familiar to existing fans of Codenames—at least mechanically. Codenames: Back to Hogwarts also adds new layers of strategic depth onto the classic Codenames gameplay in the form of unique asymmetrical abilities. Each house has access to two powerful and distinct special abilities. These abilities have been designed to meaningfully transform the fundamentals of Codenames, providing both muggles and wizards with some surprising new gameplay possibilities. Because each game features two different houses, and each house will use only one of its two abilities, there are a multitude of possible combinations for players to explore and play! —description from the publisher
Designers
Publishers
- Devir
- Rebel Sp. z o.o.
- MINDOK
- Feelindigo
- White Goblin Games
- IELLO
- HeidelBÄR Games
- Czech Games Edition (CGE)
- Cranio Creations
Questions and answers
Codenames: Back to Hogwarts supports 4–8 players according to the catalogue. This range comes from the publisher’s listed player count, so the game can be set up for any group size within it. Some setups, rules and scoring details may still vary by player count, so check your edition’s rulebook for the exact configuration.
The listed playing time for Codenames: Back to Hogwarts is 15–30 minutes. This is the publisher’s estimate for a full game. The actual duration depends on the group, the player count and familiarity with the rules: first sessions usually run longer, while experienced groups often finish faster. Setup and teaching time are not included in this estimate.
The catalogue lists Codenames: Back to Hogwarts for ages 10 and up. This is the publisher’s recommendation and reflects reading demands, rule complexity and small components rather than theme alone. Younger players can often join with help from an adult, so check the age guidance on your edition and consider your group’s experience with board games.
Codenames: Back to Hogwarts has a complexity rating of 1.8 out of 5 from BoardGameGeek players, which makes it a light game. The rating reflects how much rules knowledge, planning and decision-making a typical game demands. Expect a longer first teach for heavier games, and use a preparation guide before game night.
Codenames: Back to Hogwarts belongs to these categories: Card Game, Word Game, and Party Game. Its main mechanics are Deduction, Team-Based Game, and Communication Limits. Categories describe the theme and setting of a game, while mechanics describe what players actually do on their turns. Each mechanic links to a catalogue hub with similar games, which helps when you want something comparable.
The credited designers of Codenames: Back to Hogwarts are: Vlaada Chvátil. These credits come from the published game data and name the people responsible for the game’s design, not its illustrators or publishers. Designer pages on MeepleRules collect other titles by the same designers, which helps when you enjoy a game and want to find similar ones.
The catalogue lists Codenames: Back to Hogwarts as a base game. It can be played on its own with the components in the box and does not require any other title. Expansions, if any exist, add new content or rules on top of it and are listed separately in the catalogue with a link back to this base game.