Codenames
Two teams, twenty-five words. Spymasters give one-word clues; their teams try to find all their agents without touching the assassin.
4–20 players · free · no app to installHost a gameCodenames is the team word game where one clever clue can link three words at once. Two teams, Red and Blue, face a grid of 25 words. Each team's spymaster knows which words are their agents and gives one-word clues to point their teammates at them, while everyone tries to avoid the single assassin.
It's a natural fit for phones. Only the spymasters see the secret key, on their own screens, so there's no card to peek at and no need to sit on one side of the table. Everyone else taps their guesses, and the board updates for both teams.
Four to twenty people can play, which makes it one of the best games here for office parties and big groups of friends. Pick the Classic pack of everyday words, a Bollywood pack of films, stars and songs, or a mix of both.
How to play
- 1
Teams and roles
Four to twenty players split into Red and Blue. Each team has one spymaster; everyone else is an operative. Players pick a team and a role, or the host can shuffle the teams. Once the game starts, only the host can move a player to the other team, and spymasters stay put. - 2
The board
25 words are dealt from the chosen pack. The team that goes first has 9 agents to find, the other team 8. There are 7 bystanders and 1 assassin. Only the spymasters can see which is which. - 3
Giving a clue
On your team's turn, the spymaster gives one word and a number, like TIGER 2. The clue must be a single word of letters only. It can't be a word still showing on the board, another form of one (SUNNY or SUNS while SUN is showing), or one half of a compound on the board (SUN or FLOWER while SUNFLOWER is showing). Letters that just happen to sit inside a word are fine, like EAR for HEART. The number says how many words it points to; a 0 means unlimited guesses. - 4
Guessing
Operatives tap cards to reveal them. Your team can make up to one more guess than the clue's number. Hit your own agent and you can keep going; a bystander or the other team's agent ends your turn. You can also end the turn yourselves. - 5
Winning
The first team to find all its agents wins. A team that touches the assassin loses on the spot. - 6
Two taps to guess
With this house rule on, a second operative has to tap the same card before it's revealed, which stops one eager player guessing for the whole team. - 7
Timers
The clue timer is 3 minutes by default; the host can pick 1, 2, 3 or 5 minutes, or turn it off. The guess timer runs from 30 seconds up to 3 minutes, or off. When the clue timer runs out, the spymaster passes; when the guess timer runs out, the team's turn ends. - 8
If someone leaves
If a spymaster leaves or gives up the role, an operative on that team can take over and sees the key from then on. A spymaster who gives up can still guess. If everyone on one team leaves, the other team wins.
Host options
- Word pack
- Classic (everyday words like TIGER, CASTLE, PIANO), Bollywood (films, stars, songs and characters) or Mixed.
- I'm playing too
- The host joins a team on their own phone.
- Two taps to guess
- A second operative must tap the same card to confirm a guess.
- Clue timer
- Off, 30 seconds, 1, 1.5, 2 or 3 minutes. When it runs out, the spymaster passes.
- Guess timer
- Off, 30 seconds, 1, 1.5, 2 or 3 minutes. When it runs out, the team's turn ends.
Hosting tips
- Six to ten players is ideal: enough for real debate on each team, small enough that everyone gets a say.
- Put the board on a TV so both teams can argue in front of the same screen.
- A 2-minute clue timer keeps an over-thinking spymaster honest without rushing a good one.
- Turn on Two taps to guess in big groups so one fast tapper can't guess for the whole team.
- Swap spymasters between games so everyone gets a turn at giving clues.
Themes & packs
Questions
Is Codenames online free here?
Yes. It's free to host and play, with no app to install.
Do we need an app?
No. It runs in each phone's browser after a one-time Google sign-in.
How many players do you need?
At least 4, and up to 20, split into two teams.
Does everyone need a phone?
Yes. Spymasters see the secret key on their own phone, and operatives tap guesses on theirs. A TV view is optional.
Can we play on a TV?
Yes. Open the TV link from the waiting room on any big screen with a browser to show the board to the room.
What does a clue of 0 mean?
Zero means unlimited: your team can keep guessing until it hits a wrong card or chooses to stop.
Which clues aren't allowed?
Clues must be a single word using letters only, and can't be part of any word still showing on the board.
Is there a Bollywood version of Codenames?
Yes. Pick the Bollywood word pack for films, stars, songs and famous characters, or Mixed for both packs together.