🔤Code Words: the team clue-giving word game
A team word-association and clue-giving game.
Code Words splits everyone into a red team and a blue team around a grid of 25 words. One player on each team is the spymaster and can see which words belong to whom. They give one-word clues that link several of their team’s words, and their teammates guess – without hitting the word that ends the game.
- 👥4–14 players
- ⏱️15–20 minutes
- 📱One phone or everyone on their own
- 🧠Spymaster clues
You might know it as: Codenames-style word game · Spymaster game · Team word association game
▶ Play Code Words freeNo download, no sign-up
How to play Code Words
- Pick teams and spymastersJoin the room, choose red or blue and nominate one spymaster per team. Only spymasters see the colour key.
- Give a one-word clueThe spymaster says one word and a number: the word links that many of their team’s words, for example “Ocean, 3”.
- Guess the wordsTeammates tap the words they think the clue means. Each right guess lets them keep going; a wrong guess ends the turn.
- Avoid the assassinOne word is the assassin. Tap it and your team loses immediately.
- Reveal all your words firstThe first team to reveal all of their words wins the round.
Rules and options
- Clues can be typed into the app (everyone sees them) or spoken out loud – the host chooses.
- The clue must not be one of the words on the board.
- The 344-word Global list plus regional and Indian-language packs means repeated words are rare, and the room avoids reusing words until the list is used up.
Tips
- Link just two words with a very safe clue before trying for four.
- Remember the assassin when you choose a clue – check that it does not also point at it.
- Spymasters should keep a poker face when teammates are thinking.
Frequently asked questions
How many players does Code Words need?
At least 4 – two on each team – and up to 14.
Do spymasters need a separate device?
No. Each person uses their own phone, and only spymasters’ phones show the colour key.
Is there a Hindi, Gujarati or Tamil version?
Yes. Add a language pack and choose it in the game settings. Words appear in Latin letters with the native script underneath.
Can I play with just two teams of two?
Yes, four players is the minimum and works well with short clues.