Game mechanics and basic info

Codenames is a game about word associations. The primary team-vs-team mode is designed for four players (one spymaster and one operative on each team). Each team has some agents of its color in the grid of words. The team that contacts all their agents first is the winner. How do you do that? The spymaster aims to successfully match as many of their words as possible, by giving a single-word clue that connects them together. The operative tries to find the specific words the spymaster is attempting to connect to their clue, uncovering their selections one by one in hopes they've found the correct words. However, they must also try to avoid selecting the other team's cards (which can end their turn abruptly) and avoid uncovering the assassin (which ends the game immediately)!

As an operative, you must find the right words based on the clue you received from your spymaster. Once you are in the game, you can see your clue at the bottom. The clue consists of a word and a number, which tells you how many words are somehow connected to the clue. Read all the words in your grid and try to find a correct match, starting with the most obvious connection you can find. To uncover the identity of the word, double tap on it. If the word belongs to your team, your turn continues, and you can uncover another word. If you uncover a bystander or an agent of the opposing team, your turn ends. When you hit the assassin, your team will immediately lose the game. When you find all agents covered by the given clue, or you just don’t know and you don’t want to risk, tap the button next to the clue to end your turn. 

As a spymaster, you must prepare clues for your teammate. Read all the words in the grid and then try to come up with the word that can lead your teammate to some of your words (words in your team’s color). The more words you can connect by a single clue the better. But don’t stretch it too much - otherwise your teammate could be misled and hit the wrong words. When you find a good clue, mark words you would like to associate with the clue with a single tap. Then tap into the bubble at the bottom and write down your clue. Double-check the situation and if you are satisfied with your clue and selection of words, submit the clue by hitting the button in the bubble. Once you've submitted your clue, you must wait for your operative to see how it goes.

You must mark all words you want to associate with a clue for history log purposes. A single game can be played over the course of a few days. This feature helps you remember what you meant by the clue when you return to the game. You don’t need to worry - if your operative hits your agent who was not intended as a part of the clue, it doesn’t matter; it still counts as a valid turn. 

Yes. You can always guess one more than the number of the clue. This allows you to guess words you missed on previous turns.

Yes. There is a pointy banner hanging in the upper left corner of your mission screen. Tapping that banner will open a logbook that summarizes everything that has happened in the game so far.

Don’t worry. It doesn’t matter if your spymaster intended the clue for this card or not. It’s still a valid guess. Just keep in mind that blind guessing probably won’t make your spymaster happy, even when you hit the right word.

The app is designed for people who have time to play at least once a day. It is very likely that someone in your game has already made their move for the day and won’t make another move until tomorrow. Each player has 24 hours to play their turn (and up to three days of bonus reserved if they earned it through previous play).

If you would like to play a game that finishes faster, try Team vs. Assassin.

If you take on multiple missions at once, you will get to play many games when you log in.

Lots. Seriously, don’t limit yourself to one at a time. You can have a screen full. (There is a limit, and the limit goes up at higher levels. There is no achievement for hitting it.)

You can play in Czech or English, and more languages will be available soon. However, you must switch your game from one to another, and your progress is separated in each language.

You can add people from your own country to your friends list and invite them to games using the PLAY WITH FRIENDS button.

Yes. It’s one of the PLAY WITH FRIENDS options.

On your main screen, the button in the upper left corner will open your friends list. At the bottom is a place for you to type your friend’s in-game name. The friend has to own the game and share his nickname with you :-)