Boardgame review: Codenames (word game)
Codenames is a game where to the goal is to be the first team to contact their spies by using one-word clues, while avoiding the assassin and the other team.
Players: 2+
Age: 10+
Gamelength: ± 15 minutes
Price: ± € 16,- / $ 18,- (varies per country)
Boxsize: 23,2 x 16,2 x 5,2 cm. / 9,1 x 6,4 x 2,0 inches
The two rivaling secret services know the secret identities of the 25 spies. Their teammates only know these spies by their codename.
The blue team starts, checks the grid and has to contact one spy more than the red team. The spymaster has got to give a one-word clue to its teammates and the amount of cards that relate to this clue. The spymaster isn’t allowed to respond to his teammates. When one team has finished their turn, it’s the other teams turn.
Blue team clue: Jacky Chan (2) (names, cities, coutries etc. are allowed)
Red team clue: Food (3)
The goal is to be faster than the other team, so you want to combine as many words as possible into a one-word clue.
Every turn you are allowed to guess the amount of cards that the spymaster has mentioned, plus one extra. In the first turn this doesn’t make sense, but when you made a wrong guess in a previous turn, you have to remember that clue. Because you have one extra guess in the next turn.
When you touch a card, that is the selected card. So don’t touch it by accident!
If you make a wrong guess, it’s the other teams turn. When you are lucky, you find a “blank” card, but you can also find the other teams card! Or even worse: if you find the assassin, your team will loose immediately!!!
Possible final impression
Personal opinion:
If you want a game that brings fun to the table, this is it.
It’s different every time you play it because of the different grids and cards with words. Since everyone has different thoughts and knowledge, the combinations are limitless, hilarious, frustrating and far-fetched! But sometimes you have to push it, to win the game.
The game is best played with 4+ and the bigger the teams, the better. When there is more people to guess, a discussion will start about what’s right and what’s wrong. And sometimes you pick the wrong card because of your teammate!
The only downside this game has is that is isn’t really suitable for dyslectic people. But recently they released Codenames Pictures, which is only pictures in stead of words.
Christmas is coming, and Codenames is just a great game to play with the people around you.
Dave
Previous reviews:
Card games:
The Game
Dice games:
Qwixx
Gambling games:
Manilla
Deduction game:
Love Letter