The Best Games Like Codenames

If you love word-guessing games but want to expand your game closet a bit, you may want to check out some other party games and card games like Codenames. These each have elements similar to your favorite game of hidden spies but give some different takes on the concept, have different playing times, or allow more or fewer players for your group. Some are also a bit less kid-friendly and so work perfectly for the grown-up adventures at game night, while others are perfect for family night play.

Introduction to Codenames Alternatives

If you’re looking for games similar to Codenames, you’re in luck! There are many amazing games out there that offer similar gameplay experiences. Codenames is a popular party game that involves word association, deduction, and teamwork. If you enjoy playing Codenames, you’ll likely enjoy other games that challenge your communication skills, strategic thinking, and luck. In this section, we’ll introduce you to some of the best Codenames alternatives that you can play with your friends and family. These games are perfect for game nights, gatherings, or just a fun evening at home.

Absolute 10 Best Games Like Codenames

Banned Words

Age: 12+ Players: 4-99 Time: 30 minutes

In Banned Words, players are put into two teams, with the game accommodating between 4 and 99 players – the perfect party game for a crowded night. Folks 12 and up can easily complete this wordy game in about 30 minutes, too, meaning you’ll have plenty of time for other games or activities. Everyone has so much fun playing, as it promotes teamwork and strategy, creating an enjoyable atmosphere.

To play: players are put into teams for 3 rounds, roughly lasting 10 minutes each. At the start of every round, each team (blue and red) receives a card that contains 5 words or phrases on it. Team members then have to write down up to 16 words they think someone else on the opposing team might use while trying to give clues on the hidden words. After these “banned” words are put down, one person on each team must then swap cards and become the clue-giver. The clue giver on one team must then get their team to guess the hidden word without saying the 16 words the opposing team gave them. If the clue-giver uses any of those words, they don’t get the point for the hidden word. For every hidden word guessed, the team receives one point. The other team then takes their turn using the same rules. After three rounds, whichever team has the most points wins the game.

The Chameleon

Age: 14+ (Community 8+) Players: 3-8 Time: 15 minutes

While the official game states The Chameleon is for players 14 and up, the board game community says kids as young as 8 can enjoy this bluffing deduction secret word game. In the game, players have two missions to fulfill each round, depending on who’s The Chameleon and who’s hunting them. The first mission: If you’re The Chameleon, you must blend in and not give away your identity and work out the secret word. The second mission: If you’re not The Chameleon, you have to work out who is without giving away the secret word.

At the outset of each round, players receive a card revealing their identity. Then, two dice are rolled and these give everyone (except The Chameleon) the coordinates to the secret word on a Topic Card. Each Topic Card contains 16 related words (like names of countries or types of food) – and every player must then fulfill their mission. Those who are hunting must now say a word that relates to the secret word without revealing it – and The Chameleon must guess which one of them is it.

Unusual Suspects

Age: 14+ (Community 10+) Players: 3-16 Time: 20 minutes

For a fast-playing small to large crowd game like Codenames, grab a copy of the hilariously fun Unusual Suspects. The board game community says kids as young as 10 will enjoy this game. The premise: a thief has managed to go undetected for months, despite a team of detectives trying to solve the crime. But now they have a secret weapon: a previously unknown witness. But, well, this witness is kinda weird: they don’t remember anything about what the thief looked like and only knows their habits and behaviors. The game accommodates varied player counts, making it perfect for different group sizes.

Your mission in Unusual Suspects is to suss out the offender via the clues given by the Witness. One player takes on this role, while the rest become the investigators on the case. The investigators must ask questions and the Witness must do their best to give clues that lead the team in the right direction and not into accusing the innocent.

The game can be played cooperatively or competitively, depending on what folks feel like on game night. If played collaboratively, a grid of 12 suspects is created and every round reveals a question card that the witness must answer. The team then removes suspects based on the answer, trying to find their way to the thief.

Monikers

Age: 17+ (Community 14+) Players: 4-16 Time: 30-60 minutes

For a more intellectually challenging game like Codenames, your go-to is going to be Monikers. Originally, the game was played under the name of Celebrities, a public domain option, but it’s been upgraded and shifted into a formalized option with headier choices. During the game, players take turns trying to get their teammates to guess the names of famous people from history by describing or imitating these folks.

During round one, clue givers can say whatever they want, except for the famous person’s name itself. Then, in the second round, clue givers must carefully and wisely choose only one word clue to share. Then, in the final round, clue givers may only use charades and gestures to get their teammates to guess who this famous person is. Whichever team gets the most correct answers wins.

Just One

Age: 8+ Players: 3-7 Time: 20-60 minutes

Taking anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour, Just One is a fun word game like Codenames perfect for smaller crowds of 3 to 7 people. The cooperative game draws players together to guess as many mystery word games as possible, via the help of a teammate’s best clues. The twist: all identical clues are canceled! After a few plays, players will start to notice the importance of unique clues and strategic thinking, revealing the game’s depth.

One game of Just One is completed using 13 cards. The goal, of course, is to guess as many of the 13 words as possible. If the teammate guesses the correct answer, they score 1 point. If the teammate guesses a wrong answer, they lose the current card as well as the top card of the deck, which means losing 2 points. If they give no answer, they only lose 1 point (the current card). And, of course, whichever team has the most points in the end wins.

So Clover!

Age: 10+ Players: 3-6 Time: 30 minutes

Another cooperative word association game like Codenames, So Clover! is the perfect choice for families aiming to make “learning” language fun. The players are split into teams, aiming to get the highest score to win. Players are given keywords and then must secretly write their common features on a special dry-erase Clover board. These are your clues that then help you work together to figure out each other’s Keywords on the game board. After you write out the words, your teammates try to guess your words. Each correctly guessed Keyword earns a point.

The game also comes with a Record of Legends for keeping track of long-term high scores – so be sure to update every time a score is beaten.

Werewords

Age: 8+ Players: 4-10 Time: 10 minutes

For a quick-playing game like Codenames, grab a copy of Werewords, which combines secret words with hidden identities for a close, ridiculously fun match. In the game, players have to guess the secret word by asking closed questions (can only be answered “yes” or “no”). From these answers, players must guess the magic word before the timer runs out. If you guess correctly, you win! But one of the players is actually a secret werewolf! And that werewolf is probably working against you and knows the word. So, you’ve got a challenge ahead: figure out the secret word or figure out who the werewolf is. One player that may help players guess is the Seer, who knows the secret word. But the Werewolf could trip things up by unveiling the Seer before the other players guess the secret word. So, this fun game offers a variety of challenges in just 10 minutes, meaning it’s the perfect filler or game night opener. The game mechanics and endings vary depending on the player count, adding to its flexibility.

For additional playability and difficulty levels, download the free iOS/Android app that contains thousands of other secret words.

Dixit

Age: 8+ Players: 3-8 Time: 30 minutes

In Dixit, a card game that encourages social interaction and creativity, one player takes on the role of storyteller and chooses one of six cards in their hand to begin the play. They express an idea through sounds or words to reflect the card’s image. Then they place the card face down on the playing surface – and other players must then select cards in their own hand to best match the expression given by the storyteller. They place their cards face-down as well and pass them to be shuffled. All the cards are then shuffled together, then the storyteller overturns them. Each player then, apart from the storyteller, must secretly guess which card belongs to the storyteller of the round. If the storyteller did too good a job of describing it and everyone guesses the card, the storyteller gets no points and everyone else gets 2 points. If only some guessed the card correctly, the storyteller and those who guessed correctly score 3 points each. Every other player also receives one point for every guess their card received. When the deck is empty or one player has scored 30 points, the game ends. Whoever has the most points in this secret word game wins the game.

Dixit comes with 84 cards and many expansions exist, each with another 84 cards which can be mixed into the base game. So, if you love this game but want even more replayability, you’ve got loads of options.

Spy/Deduction Games

Spy/deduction games are a great fit for fans of Codenames. These games involve using clues and strategic guesses to deduce the answer, often with a thrilling theme of espionage or mystery.

Modern Board Games with Strategic Depth

Modern board games have come a long way in terms of strategic depth and complexity. If you’re looking for games that offer a similar level of challenge to Codenames, you might enjoy these strategic gems.

Cooperative Games for Team Players

Cooperative games are perfect for players who enjoy working together towards a common goal. These games require teamwork and communication, much like Codenames.

Travel-Friendly Games

Travel-friendly games are perfect for players who want to take their gaming experience on the go. These compact games are easy to learn, play, and pack, making them ideal for travel.

Montage

Age: 13+ (Community 12+) Players: 4 Time: 60 minutes

2 players take on 2 other players in Montage, a “partnership game.” On each turn, players think of a word, and then “spell” it on the crossword-esque grid using color-coded tiles. Each color corresponds to 1 vowel and 5 or 6 consonants (like: yellow is A/D/G/Q/R/Z and green is E/F/P/S/T/Y). The player then gives a clue to help their partner attempt to guess what word they’ve “spelled” out before the opposing team figures it out. The dynamic interactions during these game plays create engaging social connections and strategic deception.

Montage is probably the most complex secret word game on this list, so it’s not for the casual player looking for a fast filler. Instead, it makes for a great thinker-y game that’s loaded with competition for word lovers and takes about an hour to play.

Mysterium

Age: 10+ (Community 8+) Players: 2-7 Time: 45 minutes

Sink into the dark alternate history of Mysterium where psychic abilities abound and murder on the Scottish moors come into play. It’s time for a seance with the most eminent mediums of the time to solve the murder in less than 7 hours before the ghost who can give clues vanishes.

The ghost needs help but can’t remember the details of their demise and that’s where you, the players, come in. Your gifts as mediums offer up visions presented by the ghost that help you all determine facts and clear away the fog…

Visions from the seance are represented by illustrated cards with subtle clues offered up by one player, The Ghost, who is unable to speak during the game. The other players must use the “visions” from the cards to decipher the clues offered by The Ghost to solve the crime. Who dunnit? Where did they do it? And with what weapon?

Play the game cooperatively or semi-competitively, depending on your crowd’s preferences, but know that the more people cooperate together, the faster the case is solved.

Conclusion

Grab copies of these secret word games like Codenames for the ultimate game night. You’ve got loads of themes and vibes galore, so something’s bound to fit your gathering’s mood. Or just whip one out for a quick, fun night with the family or roommates. You’ll get a hint cleverer every time you play, too, thanks to all the language skills invoked. Can’t beat that!

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