Codenames
4–8 players • 15 min • ages 12+ • White Goblin Games • 2016
- Publisher
- White Goblin Games · Czech Games Edition · Iello
- First published
- 2016
- Players
- 4–8 players
- Playing time
- 15 min
- Age
- 12+
How it plays
Codenames plays 4–8 players, takes about 15 minutes to play, and is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Codenames was designed by Vlaada Chvátil and published by Czech Games Edition in 2015, with the White Goblin Games edition following in 2016 for the Dutch market. Developed as a social word game, it was born out of Chvátil's desire to create a game that was accessible to casual players while still offering the deep, analytical challenge that defined his reputation as a strategy game designer. The concept centers on two rival spymasters who must communicate secret identities to their teammates using only single-word clues, a mechanism that balances linguistic association with tactical deduction.
The game's visual design, characterized by its stark, minimalist aesthetic and spy-themed iconography, was crafted to evoke the clandestine atmosphere of Cold War intelligence agencies. Upon its release, Codenames received widespread critical acclaim, quickly becoming a fixture in the hobbyist community and a crossover success in broader retail. It was praised for its elegance, high replayability, and ability to bridge the gap between complex board gaming and traditional party games, ultimately winning the prestigious Spiel des Jahres award in 2016.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real games collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Codenames
Codenames is a game in the Board Games catalog on collecto.rs. 4–8 players • 15 min • ages 12+ • White Goblin Games • 2016. Catalog data is sourced from Wikidata. No public games collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
How do you play Codenames?
Codenames is a board game for 4–8 players, running about 15 minutes. collecto.rs catalogues the game, not its rules — the rulebook is the publisher's to distribute, and their own site is the authoritative source: http://czechgames.com/en/codenames/
How many players is Codenames for?
Codenames is built for 4–8 players. That count comes from this catalog entry alone — nothing from an expansion or a spin-off is folded into it.
How long does Codenames take to play?
A game of Codenames is listed at about 15 minutes. Real sessions run shorter or longer depending on player count and how well the table already knows the game.
What age is Codenames for?
Codenames lists a minimum age of 12. That's a recommended starting age rather than a hard rule.
Who publishes Codenames?
Codenames is published by White Goblin Games, Czech Games Edition and Iello. The catalog gives its publication year as 2016.
Has Codenames won any awards?
Yes — the catalog entry for Codenames lists Spiel des Jahres, Gouden Ludo - best family game and MinD-Spielepreis.
How many collectors track Codenames on collecto.rs?
Codenames doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Codenames?
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Where does the Codenames catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Codenames is sourced from Wikidata. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
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