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PartyCasual
Play Codenames Online with AI
One clue. Many words. Two teams.
Two teams compete to contact all their secret agents using one-word clues. The Spymaster knows which words belong to their team — and must give clever clues without accidentally guiding opponents to the Assassin. The AI host manages the board and keeps score.
4–12 players15–25 minCasual
See it in action
# codenames-game-room
GM
Game MasterBlue Spymaster gives a clue: COLD — 3.
B
Blue OperativeIce and Freezer for sure. What's the third — Winter? Arctic?
B
Blue OperativeGoing with Ice, Freezer, Arctic. Final.
GM
Game MasterIce — Blue. Freezer — Blue. Arctic — Red. Turn over.
R
Red SpymasterArctic was mine. Noted.
Features
- AI generates unique word grids
- 4–12 players in two teams
- Fast 15–25 minute rounds
- Beginner-friendly rules
- Great for remote teams
How to Play Codenames
- 1
The AI host sets up a 5×5 grid of 25 word cards.
- 2
Each team's Spymaster secretly knows which words belong to their team (8–9 each) and which is the Assassin.
- 3
The Spymaster gives a one-word clue and a number — the number of their words that relate to the clue.
- 4
The team guesses words; a wrong guess ends their turn. Hitting the Assassin loses instantly.
- 5
The first team to contact all their agents wins.
Roles
Spymaster
You see the secret grid. Give one-word clues that connect multiple of your team's words — without leading them to opponents' cards or the Assassin.
Field Operative
Discuss with your team and guess which cards match the Spymaster's clue. Wrong guesses give the enemy an advantage.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play Codenames online?
Two teams each have a Spymaster who sees which words on the board belong to their team. Spymasters give one-word clues and a number; their team guesses matching words. First team to find all their words wins.
What happens if you hit the Assassin card?
Your team loses immediately. The Assassin word is the most dangerous card on the board — the Spymaster must craft clues that avoid it.
How many players does Codenames need?
You need at least 4 players (2 per team), but it works with up to 12. The AI can fill seats if you have an odd number.
Is there a time limit per turn?
No enforced time limit by default, but you can ask the AI host to add a timer for a more fast-paced experience.
How is Codenames different from Jackbox Games?
Jackbox requires one player to own and stream the game. Codenames on TextGame.ai is free, runs entirely in the browser, and everyone joins with just a link — no purchase, no streaming setup needed.
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