Codenames: Board Game Buying Guide and Spin-Offs
Due to its easy-to-teach rules and quick playtime, Codenames has quickly become a recommended choice as one of the best party board games available. While many games in the genre struggle with or don’t even support more than a few players, Codenames thrives with groups of four or more. However, the team behind Codenames didn’t settle with creating the ultimate party game; they also released several iterations of Codenames: Duet, a cooperative version of Codenames for just two players.
Like other popular board games, it can quickly become difficult to sift through all the various spin-offs and re-releases in the Codenames series. That’s why we crafted this handy guide to walk you through the various versions of the game. It should be noted that, with Codenames, there really isn’t a bad place to start. The different iterations play the same, more or less, but with minor tweaks. Some are better for younger gamers, some for older, and, of course, some have been reskinned to feature branding from popular franchises like Marvel, Disney, and Harry Potter.
The Base Game
Codenames
MSRP: $24.99 USD
Age: 10+Players: 2-8Play Time: 15 mins
Each game of Codenames begins with players forming two teams and placing 25 cards with codenames on them in a five-by-five grid. Teams then choose one spymaster each who will give clues for that game. The rival spymasters sit next to each other and pull a key card that only they can see, which contains the locations of all the spies on a grid representing the 25 cards. The goal of the spymaster is to give one-word clues that will point to as many of their spies as possible. The spymasters take turns giving clues until one team locates all nine of their spies.
Sure, it all sounds straightforward enough, but the trick is to give clues that will only point to your team’s spies. Selecting the wrong codename may help the other team locate their spies or even end the game by stumbling across the assassin card, resulting in an automatic loss. What makes this simple word association game so ingenious is that spymasters can decide how many codenames they want their team to try and guess. Players can go for an easy clue and a relatively safe number of cards or risk it all with a broad code and ask their teammates to guess at a larger number of spaces on the grid. These decisions should also be weighed against what the other team is doing. Remember, though, spymasters can only give one-word clues.
While the box says Codenames is for two to eight players, it works best with even-numbered groups of four or more. Luckily, the good folks at Czech Games Edition created a great two-player version of the game, which we will talk about next.
Codenames Spin-offs
Codenames Duet
MSRP: $24.95 USD
Age: 11+Players: 2Play Time: 15 mins
Codenames: Duet plays similarly to the original game, but this iteration is cooperative rather than competitive. Both players take turns operating as the spymaster, trying to get their teammates to guess cards using different sides of the same key. This time, players attempt to uncover their 15 spies without encountering one of the three lurking assassin cards.
While Codenames is best as a party game, Duet offers the same addictive core gameplay to just two people. Additionally, for players who already have the original, Codenames: Duet introduces 200 new cards that are also compatible with the base game. That said, this version is a standalone box that doesn’t require the original to play, so no worries there. If you’re looking for other great titles to play with just you and another person, see our recommendations for the best two-player board games.
Codenames: Pictures
MSRP: $24.95 USD
Age: 10+Players: 2-8Play Time: 15 mins
As the name suggests, Codenames: Pictures uses images instead of words. This might seem like an arbitrary modification, but it serves several notable purposes. Firstly, images give players more things to describe, opening up even more possibilities for potential keywords. Additionally, the lack of reading potentially lowers the age requirement for Codenames (despite what the box might tell you). For more recommendations on titles targeted at a younger demographic, see our picks for the best board games for kids.
Outside of switching to a five-by-four grid, Codenames: Pictures plays the same as the original. In fact, players with both iterations can mix picture and word cards together for a bit of an advanced session. Again, however, Codenames: Pictures is a standalone package that doesn’t require other games.
Codenames: Disney Family Edition
MSRP: $24.99 USD
Age: 8+Players: 2-8Play Time:
Codenames: Disney – Family Edition is a themed version of the modern classic board game displaying words and images from the studio’s animated films. Because cards are double-sided featuring words and images, Codenames: Disney can be played like the original title, Pictures, or a mixture of both. Codenames: Disney has a couple more tricks up its sleeve to make it even more family-friendly. The Disney-themed iteration also offers an easier four-by-four grid mode with no assassin card (referred to as a ‘game over’ card in this iteration) to make Codenames even more accessible for younger audiences and new players.
Codenames: Marvel Edition
MSRP: $24.99 USD
Age: 9+Players: 2-8Play Time: 15 mins
Death, taxes, and Marvel-themed iterations of popular board games. (Hey, I’m not knocking it, as I own my fair share, but you had to know this was coming.) Like Codenames: Disney, the Marvel Edition features images and words from the immensely popular comic book universe. This time, however, the two teams are represented by S.H.I.E.L.D. and HYDRA rather than simply red and blue. Besides that, the Marvel Edition plays the same as either the base game or Codenames: Pictures, depending on which side of the cards you choose to play with.
Codenames: Harry Potter
MSRP: $24.99 USD
Age: 11+Players: 2Play Time: 15 mins
Codenames: Harry Potter is a bit different than the previous two themed entries in that it follows the gameplay from Duet. In other words, rather than being a party game like Codenames: Disney or the Marvel Edition, this Harry Potter iteration is a cooperative two-player title. Like the previous two iterations, however, cards feature both images and words, which offer Codenames: Harry Potter players a bit more variability. See our list of the best Harry Potter board games for even more great recommendations set in the magical universe.
Other Versions
Codenames: XXL
MSRP: $39.95 USD
There isn’t much to add here; Codenames: XXL is exactly the same as the base game, but the cards are twice the size. This is an option for those with poorer eyesight, but the cards in the base game are big enough for most to read from across the table. Essentially, think of Codenames: XXL as a nice accessibility option.
Codenames: Duet XXL
MSRP: $39.95 USD
Copy and paste my sentiments from Codenames: XXL, but apply it to Codenames: Duet XXL. These iterations are great for players who want larger cards that still fit just about any board game table.
Codenames: Pictures XXL
MSRP: $39.95 USD
The last title to get the super-sized variant is Codenames: Pictures XXL. Like the two previous entries, Codenames: Pictures XXL is simply Codenames: Pictures, but with larger cards.
How to Play Codenames Online
Czech Games Edition has also released a free online version of Codenames. Players can join rooms online or invite their friends to play with them. Sure, it’s not quite as interactive as getting loved ones in the same room, but it’s a great option for those who don’t live in the same area, especially when combined with Discord for chatting. CGE also plans to release an app version of the game for iOS and Android soon.
Discontinued Versions
There have been several iterations of Codenames over the years, and unfortunately, some of those games are no longer in print. Two examples are Codenames: Deep Undercover and Codenames: The Simpsons Family Edition. The former is an adult-themed version of Codenames complete with sexual references and double entendres. Codenames: Deep Undercover also saw a 2.0 release designed for better balance that is easier to find on retailers like Amazon. Codenames: The Simpsons Family Edition, on the other hand, is yet another themed edition of the popular title. It might not be in print anymore, but it is still easy enough to find from secondhand sellers.
Bottom Line
Codenames is one of the best party games on the market. It’s easy to teach and plays quickly at around 15 minutes. Despite what the box might tell you, Codenames is best for groups of four or more, but Codenames: Duet and the Harry Potter variant are great for two players. There are plenty of themed iterations for fans of various franchises and even XXL versions for those who want easier-to-read cards.
Check out our recommendations for the best family board games for even more titles for all ages. Luckily, many of the titles listed above can be found well under MSRP at retailers like Amazon and Target, so make sure to bookmark our board game deals page to score great deals on your next purchase.
Bobby Anhalt is a contributing freelancer for IGN covering board games and LEGOs. He has more than 8 years of experience writing about the gaming industry with bylines at Game Rant, Screen Rant, TheXboxHub, and Ranker. You can follow him on Twitter.
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