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CODENAMES

Players: 2 teams (min 2 players each)
Age: 8+
Objective: word guess
Skills: explaining
Learn: vocabulary and speaking 
Time: 15 - 25 mins

RULES

  1.  Split players into two teams: red and blue

  2.  Select one player of each team as the team's spymaster; the others are field operatives.

  3.  Place twenty-five code name cards in a 5×5 rectangular grid on the table.

  4.  The cards represent 17 red and blue agents, 1 black assassin and 7 yellow civilians.

  5.  Give the spymasters a random map card showing a 5×5 grid of 25 squares of various   colors, representing the agents, assassin and civilians. (see point 4)

  6.  Teams take turns. On each turn, the team's spymaster gives a one word hint about the       words on the respective cards.     

  7. Each hint may only consist of one single word and a number. The spymaster gives a hint   that is related to as many of the words on his/her own agents' cards as possible.   The number tells the field operatives how many words in the grid are related to the word   of the clue.

  8. NOTE: At elementary levels or with kids substitute the one word hint with full description as in taboo games. The one word hint is way too challenging for them. And from the experience they love this game, so lets adapt it for them.

  9.  Field operatives must make at least one guess per turn, risking a wrong guess and its           consequences. 

  10.  Field operatives make guesses about which code name cards bear words related to the   hint and point them out, one at a time.

  11.  When a code name card is pointed out, the spymaster covers that card with an appropriate identity card – blue and red agents, yellow civilians, or the assassin card – as indicated on the spymasters' map of the grid.

  12. If the assassin is pointed out, the game ends immediately, and the given team lost.

  13. If an agent of the other team or civilian is pointed out, the turn ends immediately, and the other team takes turn.

  14. The game ends when all of one team's agents are identified.

Codenames agents.PNG
codenames maps.PNG

Agents

Maps

To play the game you need a set of 8 red agents, 8 blue agents, 1 double agent, 7 civilians, 1 assassin, 8 blue team maps and 8 red team maps.

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If you already have the agents and maps, print out only the vocabulary cards you want to play with below.

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Trinity 10 Vocabulary

Intended for advanced levels. Vocabulary covers topics: science, politics, social issues, recycling, stress management, discrimination.

Topic

Grammar

Age

Trinity 10

Vocabulary

16

+

Type

Codenames

Players

4-12

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Trinity 4 Vocabulary

Intended for elementary levels. Vocabulary covers topics: holidays, shopping, school and work, sports and hobbies, food, weekend and seasonal activities.

Topic

Grammar

Age

Trinity 4

Vocabulary

10

+

Type

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Players

4-12

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Trinity 2 Vocabulary

Intended for basic levels. Vocabulary covers topics: rooms and houshold objects, pets, body parts, days and months, school objects

Topic

Grammar

Age

Trinity 2

Vocabulary

8

+

Type

Codenames

Players

4-12

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