Codenames

Codenames, the 2015 brainchild of Vlaada Chvátil, is not just a word game – it's a thrilling espionage caper in cardboard form. Two rival teams of undercover...

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About Codenames

Codenames, the 2015 brainchild of Vlaada Chvátil, is not just a word game – it's a thrilling espionage caper in cardboard form. Two rival teams of undercover agents, guided by cunning Spymasters, face off in a race to contact all their secret operatives hidden among a grid of seemingly unrelated words.

Here's how the mission unfolds:

Setup: 25-word cards are laid out in a 5x5 grid, each bearing a seemingly random word. Each team has a Spymaster who secretly knows which words belong to their team's agents.
The Spy's Gambit: Turns alternate between teams. On your turn, the Spymaster gives a single-word clue that could connect to two or more words on the grid. Think "Bond" for "Casino" and "Shaken", or "Queen" for both "Elizabeth" and "Beyoncé".
Field Agents Assemble: Based on the clue, their teammates guess which words are their agents, placing their team-colored tokens on those cards. But be careful! Guess wrong and you might stumble upon a neutral bystander or, worse, the assassin, ending your turn instantly.
Race to the Finish: The first team to contact all their agents wins the game, proving their superior spy skills and cunning wordplay.

More Than Just Words:

Codenames' brilliance lies in their simplicity and depth. The core mechanic of one-word clues and veiled connections sparks creative thinking, quick wit, and strategic deduction. Each game becomes a unique puzzle for Spymasters and their teammates to crack, leading to hilarious misinterpretations, clever wordplay, and moments of pure "aha!" joy.

Beyond the Board:

The success of Codenames has spawned numerous expansions with themed word lists, online versions for remote play, and even mobile apps.

Whether you're a seasoned word aficionado or a novice agent looking for a fun party game, Codenames offers a thrilling blend of deduction, laughter, and the satisfaction of outsmarting your opponents. So gather your fellow operatives, shuffle the deck, and prepare for a night of covert wordplay – the fate of the free world (or at least, the snacks) rests on your shoulders!