Codenames: Pictures

LEARN THIS GAME IN OUR HOW TO PLAY VIDEO!

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+
• Best with 4+, with players split into two teams

What ages can play?

• Playable for ages 5* to Adult
• Best for ages 5* to Adult
  
  *We've found that young kids can play and enjoy this game as long as an adult or older child plays the role of spymaster (the clue giver). This Pictures version is a great way to include younger kids because reading is not necessary. We can even include our 3 year old as long as he isn't the only player guessing clues on his team.

Can different skill levels or ages play together?

Yes. Each team should be of similar skill, but younger kids can definitely participate on a team. Just make sure an older kid or adult fills the role of spymaster (clue giver) for each team.

How long does it take to play?

10-20 minutes, though games can also be shorter if a team mistakenly chooses the assassin and ends the game early.

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

This game is almost infinitely replayable, no two games will every be the same. While you will reuse the same picture clue cards eventually, the required associations to one another will never be the same between games.

Setup/Cleanup

How much work is it?
Low. Setup is simply laying out 20 clue cards in a 4 x 5 grid and selecting a key card.

Would kids be able to do it on their own?
Yes, but older kids or adults would be necessary to play as a spymaster (cluegiver).

Will parents have fun too...

...when playing with the kids?
Yes, this is one of our favorite games to play as a family. The cluegiver is a very challenging role so parents will not need to "hold back" like they would with other kid friendly games.

...without the kids?
Yes, this is intended as a game for adults. Some adults will prefer the original Codenames game, it uses words instead of pictures and this can open other creative possibilities. But both are great games.

What skills will this game help develop?

Language Skills
Even though this doesn't use word clues like the original Codenames, this game is still great for exploring language and developing vocabulary. It's rare to find this in such a fun game that can also be used with non-readers.

Problem Solving
There is deeper strategy involved in this game than most would expect 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 pictures 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 ones. 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, this is a very fun game.

To play with younger kids

Don't use picture clues that kids will not understand.
The pictures on the clue cards intentionally combine unrelated things to provide more options for the spymaster, which means even young kids will recognize some aspect of most clues. However, there can still be some items kids may never have seen before. If there are clue cards that your kids would not understand, don't hesitate to swap them out for another clue when setting up the game.

To play cooperatively

Combine with Codenames Duet.
Some people may want to play the game cooperatively instead of against each other. While there is a section in the rules that has a suggested Two-Player game format that will allow this, it's not the best way to play cooperatively. The Codenames Duet version of the game was designed as a cooperative game for two players and is a much better way to play this way. Just swap out the word clue cards from Duet for the picture cards used here and you'll have a great cooperative game that even young kids will be able to join in on.

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
• Codenames Duet
• 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