Games, Puzzles, & Books Codenames

In Codenames, two rival spymasters know the secret identities of 25 agents. Their teammates, however, only know these agents by their codenames — single, seemingly random words like “chocolate,” “sunflower,” or even “carrot.” (Yes, there's an agent out there codenamed "carrot.") The goal is simple: each spymaster wants their team to identify all of their agents first, without accidentally revealing the assassin.

To play, lay out 25 cards, each featuring a single word. The spymasters share a key card that shows which words correspond to agents from each team, innocent bystanders, and the assassin. They then take turns giving one-word clues followed by a number. The clue should relate to multiple cards that their team should guess, and the number tells teammates how many cards are linked to that clue.

Teammates guess one card at a time. If they guess correctly, they can keep going. But if they pick a card belonging to the opposing team or an innocent bystander, their turn ends. And if they choose the assassin? Game over.

Play continues with each spymaster offering new clues until one team successfully identifies all of their agents — or someone tragically uncovers the assassin.

Get ready for clever clues, bold guesses, and the ultimate race to uncover your team’s secret agents — Codenames makes every game night unforgettable!