Codenames
A 2-8 player team-based, push-your-luck game where you help your teammates find hidden agents in the field with one word clues.
Playtime
Year
9.99
BGG Score
BGG Rank
99
Mechanics
Mechanics
Designers
Designers
OVERVIEW
The Good
Simple rules, laid out clearly in the rule book
Easily readable cards for all parties
Can support as many players as you can tolerate on each team
The Bad
Depending on the type of player, being the clue giver can be overwhelming, which can lead to long turns as they try to choose their best word
Diagnosis
8/10 Board Game Doctors Recommend
FURTHER READING
A sure thing for moderate to large sized gatherings (which aren't happening during COVID), but you can look forward to playing after the vaccine!
Codenames is a fantastic party game. While the box says 2-8, there really aren't any limits to how many people can play, it just limits whether or not everyone will have a chance to be the clue giver.
If you think codenames fits your personality, it's worth checking out the spin-offs, including Codenames Pictures, Disney, Marvel, and Codenames Duet.
I'm not sure whether this is all bias from quarantine, but Codenames Duet is my favorite iteration of the game. It plays as a two-player cooperative game where each player gives clues to their partner, fighting against the clock, to find all of the undercover agents together! It's definitely worth a try!
Codenames has certainly cracked to code to a great party game!
Game data provided in part by BaordGameGeek.com