Codenames is a popular word game that involves two teams competing to identify their agents among a grid of words. The game is played with a minimum of four players and a maximum of eight players. Each team appoints a spymaster who gives one-word clues to help their team identify the words that correspond to their agents. The spymaster needs to be strategic in their clues to avoid leading their team to the opposing team's agents or the assassin. The first team to identify all their agents wins the game. Codenames is a game of deduction, teamwork, and communication that can provide hours of fun for players of all ages.
Best Family Board Games of July 2024
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Rating is 5 out of 5
Chuckle & Roar - Family Charades - Family Game Night Classic - Switch charades for Group Acting - Great for Kids 5 and up
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3+ Players
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Includes images for non-readers so everyone can get in on the action.
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Includes 750 charades across both games (300 Classic, 450 Switch)
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Includes 250 total cards, 1 sand timer and 1 scoring pad
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Rating is 4.9 out of 5
Do You Really Know Your Family? A Fun Family Game Filled with Conversation Starters and Challenges - Great for Kids, Teens and Adults
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Get ready for the best family game night as you laugh and learn new things about each other with this fun card game.
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See who really knows the family best as you answer fun questions about each other while sparking interesting conversations.
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Create hilarious family memories as you compete and perform silly challenges together.
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Super easy to learn and play - a perfect game for families with kids 8 and up, teens and adults.
3
Rating is 4.8 out of 5
WHAT DO YOU MEME? Family Edition - The Best in Family Card Games for Kids and Adults, Easter Family Games
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Our Bestseller — Now For Families! The hilarious game you know and love, now with all the R-rated content removed for family-friendly fun.
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Back to School Gifts for Family Fun:Family Fun: This family game is designed for ages 8+ and is encouraged to be played with 3+ players (of all ages).
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How To Play: Compete with your friends and family to create the funniest memes. Do this by using one of your dealt caption cards to caption (get it?) the photo card in each round.
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How To Win: The winner of each round is decided by a rotating judge. Pro tip: pick your caption card to match the judge’s sense of humor. Extra pro tip: Make sure the judge shuffles the cards for anonymity.
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What's Inside: Each game contains 300 caption cards and 65 photo cards and instructions.
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Brought to you by What Do You Meme?: We also make other family party games inspired by pop culture. Check out our store for more good stuff.
4
Rating is 4.7 out of 5
Hedbanz 2023 Edition Cards Picture Guessing Board Game- Family Games , Games for Family Game Night, Kids Games , Card Games for Families & Kids Ages 6 and up
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SIMPLE TO PLAY: Pick a headband, place a card in it and play to figure out what’s shown on your card. Using yes/no questions, be the first to guess 3 cards correctly and you win!
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SPIN MASTER PUZZLES, TOYS & GAMES: A world of jigsaw puzzles and family board games for kids, teens, and adults. Plus strategy, cards, and classic board games like dominoes, mahjong, or a chess set.
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Includes 6 Headbands, 6 Headplates, 16 Scoring Badges, 1 Timer, 69 Picture Cards, 3 Sample Question Cards, Instructions
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Covered by the Spin Master Care Commitment. See below for full details
5
Rating is 4.6 out of 5
DSS Games You Laugh You're Out - The Official Family Game Where If You Laugh, You Lose. Great for Big Groups & Kids
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You Laugh You're Out is a lively addition to your family party game night. Act out ridiculous challenges to try to make each other laugh. But if you laugh, you lose!
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Includes 125 prompt cards, 36 laugh tokens, and 1 sand timer
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From the creators of Who's Most Likely To party game
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For 4+ players ages 14+
6
Rating is 4.5 out of 5
Monopoly Game, Family Board Games for 2 to 6 Players & Kids Ages 8 and Up, Includes 8 Tokens (Token Vote Edition)
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FAST-DEALING PROPERTY TRADING GAME: It’s a Family Game Night staple! Players buy, sell, dream, and scheme their way to riches with the Monopoly board game
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WHAT’S YOUR TOKEN?: Includes 8 tokens: the Top Hat, Rubber Ducky, Scotty, Hazel, Race Car, Penguin, Battleship and either the Thimble
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Rating is 4.4 out of 5
Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza
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PLAY IT ANY TIME ANY PLACE- Convenient take anywhere size game.
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SIMPLE AND HILARIOUS- Fast paced laugh out loud fun for any get together.
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WILDLY POPULAR- Perfect for all-ages.
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GET ROLLING IN SECONDS- Takes only a minute to learn and gameplay lasts for about 10 to 15 minutes.
8
Rating is 4.3 out of 5
Hasbro Gaming Jenga Classic Game with Genuine Hardwood Blocks, Stacking Tower Game for 1 or More Players, Kids Easter Basket Stuffers, Ages 6+
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Pull out a block without crashing the stack to win at Jenga
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Includes 54 Jenga hardwood blocks, stacking sleeve with instructions
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It takes skill, strategy, and luck. Challenge yourself or play with friends
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Win by being the last player to remove a block without causing the stack to crash
9
Rating is 4.2 out of 5
Hasbro Gaming Sorry! Game
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Ditch the TV, and re ignite family night with the get together amusement of a Hasbro game
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Hasbro gaming imagines and produces games that are perfect for every age, taste, and event
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Includes game board, 12 Sorry Pawns, 44 cards, and instructions
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Party it up, and surprise guests at your next event with laugh out loud game from Hasbro gaming
How to avoid giving away clues in Codenames?
- Avoid making any facial expressions or gestures that could give away information about the cards on the board.
- Use neutral language when giving clues, and try not to emphasize any particular words that could be related to the cards.
- Be aware of the other team's possible interpretations of the clue, and try to avoid giving a clue that could be interpreted in multiple ways.
- Avoid using specific names or references that could give away information about the cards, stick to more general concepts or associations.
- Consider giving clues that are more abstract or metaphorical, rather than direct and specific.
- Practice being mindful of your body language and tone of voice to ensure you are not inadvertently giving away clues.
- Communicate clearly and calmly with your team to avoid slipping up and giving away unintended hints.
What is the ideal playing environment for Codenames?
The ideal playing environment for Codenames is a well-lit, quiet room where all players can easily see and reach the game board and cards. It is best to play at a table where everyone can comfortably sit and have a clear view of the board without any obstructions. Additionally, having enough space for players to move around and communicate with their teammates without disturbing others is important. It is also helpful to have minimal distractions and background noise to enhance the focus and enjoyment of the game.
What is the ideal number of players for Codenames?
The ideal number of players for Codenames is 4-8 players. However, the game can accommodate 2-12 players by adjusting the teams and number of clue-givers if necessary.
What are the different rules for the spymaster in Codenames?
- The spymaster cannot give any verbal clues or signals to their teammates. They can only give a single word as a clue to connect multiple words on the board.
- The clue given by the spymaster must be a single word that is related to the meaning of the words they want their teammates to guess.
- The spymaster must also provide a number with their clue, indicating how many words on the board are related to that clue.
- The spymaster must avoid providing clues that could lead their teammates to guess words that are related to the opposing team or the assassin word.
- The spymaster can only sit back and watch as their teammates discuss and guess the words based on their clues.
- The spymaster should try to think of creative and strategic clues that will lead their teammates to guess multiple words in a single turn.
How to create a grid for Codenames?
To create a grid for the game Codenames, follow these steps:
- Start with a rectangular grid of 5x5 squares, creating a total of 25 squares.
- Label each square with a word or picture that corresponds to one of the game’s cards (they can be random words or pictures, just make sure they are not included in the game’s original set of cards).
- Divide the grid into two teams: red and blue. Assign one team to the rows and the other team to the columns.
- Choose one player from each team to be their Spymaster. The Spymaster will give clues to their team to help them guess which words or pictures on the grid correspond to their team’s cards.
- Place a card with the grid layout on the table for reference, so players can keep track of which words or pictures have been guessed.
- Play the game following the regular rules of Codenames, where the Spymasters give one-word clues and a number to their teammates to guess the correct words or pictures on the grid.
- Continue playing until one team has correctly identified all of their team’s words or pictures, or until one of the teams mistakenly identifies the assassin word or picture, which results in an instant loss.
By following these steps, you can create a grid for Codenames and enjoy playing the game with your friends and family.
