Codenames

Official Rules

The official rules are available from the manufacturer here.

Enhanced Rules

This is not a game for which customization really feels necessary, but we do have some suggestions in our Custom Rules section for getting younger players involved.

How many players?

• Playable with 2 or more
• Best with 4
  
  Codenames is at its best with 2 teams of 2 players competing against each other. However, it is possible to play with more or less than 4 players. To play with more, each team will have a single spymaster but multiple agents that coordinate together. The game is still fun in this case and becomes even more social. While the official rules do include 2 and 3 player variants, the gameplay will not feel the same. For a 2 player version, we suggest Codenames Duet instead.

What ages can play?

• Playable for ages 10 to Adult
• Best for ages 12 to Adult
  
  Younger kids will have difficulty grasping the nuances of giving and interpreting clues. Codenames Duet, the cooperative version of the game, could be a better introduction point for many kids.

Can different skill levels or ages play together?

No. Significant differences in skill level will make it very difficult for the less skilled players to compete. Codenames Duet, the cooperative version of the game, would be a better option for mixing skill levels.

How long does it take to play?

15-25 minutes

Will we get bored after a few games or does it have good replayability?

This game is almost infinitely replayable, which is surprising because luck is only a very minor factor. Between the huge number of clue cards and key card possibilities, two games should ever be the same.

Setup/Cleanup

How much work is it?
Low. Laying out the clue cards will take a couple minutes, but there is almost no other setup.

Would kids be able to do it on their own?
Any kid old enough to play effectively would have no problem with setup.

Will parents have fun too...

...when playing with the kids?
Yes, with kids of appropriate skill level this is a very fun game. However, this is not a game to attempt with younger kids

...without the kids?
Yes. This game is actually intended for older kids and adults (the manufacturer suggests 10+) and is a lot of fun.

What skills will this game help develop?

Language Skills
This game will test every player's vocabulary, particulary because it requires considering all possible interpretations of each word.

Problem Solving
There is some deep strategy involved in this game, much more than is expected at first glance. Solving a single clue each round is highly unlikely to win the game. This means the players will need to think outside the box to find links between words even when there appear to be none. The spymaster will need to plot a strategy to solve all their clues, likely requiring that certain clues are solved first to open up new options for later words. All the while they must avoid the assassin card at all costs and be careful not to inadvertently help the opposing team.

But will my kids actually have fun playing it?

Yes, as long as they are skilled enough to play the game.

To play with younger kids or across multiple ages/skill levels

Play with more than two players on each team.
The only practical way to get younger players involved would be to play in larger teams where the young players are assisting more experienced players. This is still not ideal as the difference in skill level will detract from the fun of the game, but would be a way to introduce younger kids to the game.

Play the game cooperatively.
The official rules do include a suggested method to play cooperatively. This could provide another way to to introduce kids to the game. For a better cooperative experience, especially with only two players, there is an official cooperative version of the game available called Codenames Duet. Note that the clue cards from any Codenames set can be used with the Duet rules.

Do you use custom rules we haven't thought of? If you have found some other ways to customize the rules, please share them with us through our Contact page. We're always interested in new ways to improve gameplay.

If you like this game, we suggest these others

• Codenames Duet
• Codenames Pictures
• Codenames Disney

Or check out our full list of Reviews where you can sort by any of these categories

• Our Ratings
• Number of Players
• Playing Time
• Competitive vs Cooperative
• Educational Skills