game codenames review
Okay, so today I decided to dive into the world of board games and give “Codenames” a try. I’ve heard a lot about it, so I figured, why not?
Getting Started
First things first, I grabbed the game box and checked out what’s inside. We’ve got a bunch of word cards, some agent cards (red and blue), a few innocent bystander cards, and that dreaded assassin card. Oh, and a grid stand to keep things organized. Nothing too crazy, feels pretty manageable.
Setting Up the Game
I teamed up with my friends. We split into two teams – Red and Blue. We laid out 25 word cards in a 5×5 grid on the table. Then, two of us became “Spymasters”. The Spymasters job? To give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the grid, helping teammates guess correctly.
We randomly chose a key card which shows which words belong to Red, Blue, innocent bystanders and which is an assassin card. Only the spymasters can see it.
Playing the Game!
Man, this is where the fun (and the head-scratching) began!
The Spymasters, took turns giving a one-word clue and a number. The number tells how many words on the grid relate to that clue. It is a brain exercise.
- My first clue attempt: I was the Red Spymaster. I saw “Planet”, “Jupiter”, and “Star” on our side. I said, “Space, 3”. Not bad, right?
- Team’s Guessing: My team started debating, some wanted “Planet”, other said “Star”. After a heated debate, they correctly guessed “Planet”, “Jupiter”, and “Star”. Awesome!
- Opponent’s Turn: Blue Spymaster then gave their clue, something like “Animal, 2”. Their team got one right, but then accidentally picked a bystander. Phew, close call!
- Back and Forth: We went back and forth like this, trying to be clever with our clues and careful with our guesses.
The Tricky Part
The hardest part? Avoiding the assassin! One wrong guess on that card, and the game is over, instantly. Also, trying not to lead your team to the other team’s words or the neutral bystanders. That’s a waste of a turn.
How It Ended
We were neck and neck, but then… disaster! The Blue team, on their turn, gave a risky clue, and their teammates guessed the assassin card. Game over! We (Red team) won! It was a bit sudden, but hey, a win’s a win.
My Final Thoughts
Overall, I get the hype. “Codenames” is a blast! It’s a good mix of being easy to learn but also makes you think hard. It’s perfect for a game night with friends or family, especially if you like wordplay and a bit of friendly competition. I’m definitely playing this again!
