Find the Perfect Clues for Codenames Every Time

Hey there! So, we’ve been playtesting a bunch of different approaches for Codenames clues. It’s kind of interesting because every group seems to have their own take on what they prefer. You know how it goes – different strokes for different folks and all that jazz. It’s all about finding what works best for you and your crew.

Firm Rules: The Code of the Game

Hey there! Let’s talk about the ground rules for this game so that we can all play fair and square.

First off, we need to make sure that the clues we give are on point. Your clue should be all about the meanings of the words involved. So, no sneaky moves. We can’t use the clue to talk about the individual letters in a word or where it sits on the table. For example, if the word is ENGLAND, saying “Gland” won’t cut it. We gotta think deeper and go for the meaning of the word.

Now, let’s clear the air on another thing. Letters and numbers can be used as clues, but again, they need to point to meanings. So, you can totally say “X: 1” as a clue for the word “RAY.” And guess what? “Eight: 3” can be a super cool clue for words like “BALL,” “FIGURE,” and “OCTOPUS.” Get creative!

But here’s the catch, folks. The number you say after your clue can’t be treated as a clue on its own. So, if you say “Citrus: 8,” it won’t work for the words “LEMON” and “OCTOPUS.”

When it comes to playing games, it’s important to remember a few rules. First, you must play in English. I mean, come on, we’re all in this together, and it just wouldn’t be fair if someone started using words from another language. Unless, of course, it’s a word that people in your group would actually use in an English sentence. Like, I don’t know, if you’re all really obsessed with strudel or something.

But here’s the thing, you can’t just go around saying any word you want. Oh no, there are some restrictions. For example, you can’t say any form of a word that’s already on the table. So, let’s say there’s a card with the word “BREAK” on it. Until that card is covered up, you can’t say break, broken, breakage, or even breakdown. They’re all off limits, my friend.

And there’s more. You also can’t say just part of a word. So, let’s say the word on the table is “HORSESHOE”. Until that word is covered, you can’t say horse, shoe, unhorsed, or even snowshoe. Nope, not allowed. Gotta wait until it’s covered up.

Let’s talk about homonyms and spelling now. Brace yourself.

So, English is a pretty crazy language. We’ve got a whole bunch of words that sound the same but have different meanings. Like, seriously, why do “night” and “knight” sound exactly the same but mean completely different things? It’s a mystery, my friend.

Oh, and here’s a fun twist. If a word sounds the same but is spelled differently, we consider them different words. So, you can’t give clues related to knights for the word “NIGHT”. Nope, not allowed. Gotta find a different way to give a clue.

Have you ever noticed how some words can mean multiple things, even though they’re spelled the same way? It’s like a little linguistic puzzle! Take the word “bow,” for example. It can refer to the act of bending forward to show appreciation or respect, like actors do after a performance. But “bow” can also be part of a ship, like the front part that cuts through the water. Fascinating, right?

Here’s where the fun comes in: you can use these words with multiple meanings to give clues in a game of Codenames. Let’s say you want your team to guess two words: THEATER and SHIP. You could give them the clue “bow” without specifying which meaning you’re referring to. It’s like a secret code!

And the best part? You can even spell out your clue if you want to! Let’s say you’re not sure how to pronounce “bow” or you just want to be extra sneaky. No problem! Just spell it out: b-o-w. That way, your teammates can figure out the words without any confusion.

But what if someone asks you to clarify your clue? Maybe they’re not quite getting it, or they just want to make sure they’re on the right track. Well, don’t worry! You can always ask the other team’s spymaster for help. It’s all part of the game, and everyone’s there to have fun.

Here’s a helpful tip: spelling can come in handy not only when words sound the same but also when the environment is noisy or people have different accents.

Don’t be too strict

Did you know that the word “England” is related to “island”? It may seem surprising, but in this modern time, “island” can actually be a clue for “England.” Even “land” itself can be a valid clue for “England.” If someone tells you that you can’t use “sparrow” as a clue for “ROW,” they’re just trying to stir up trouble.

If the opposing spymaster gives their approval, your clue is considered valid. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to ask your opponent quietly (so that the others won’t know what you’re talking about).

Rules that allow for flexibility

Sometimes we have to decide what’s right and what’s wrong. Different people may have different ways of playing the game.

English has three ways of writing compound words. For example, “greenhouse” is spelled as one word, “pack rat” is two separate words, and “mother-in-law” is hyphenated. Technically, only “greenhouse” can be used as a one-word clue.

We can choose to allow any compound words, but we should never allow players to make up their own compound words. For example, “lunar squid” is not a valid clue for the words “moon” and “octopus”.

We should also consider how to handle proper names.

When it comes to playing the game Codenames, proper names can provide valuable clues if they adhere to the rules. For example, George could be a valid clue, but it’s important to specify which George you’re referring to, be it George Washington or George W. Bush. Of course, your group can agree to count proper names as one word, which would open up possibilities like using titles such as The Three Musketeers. Even if you don’t allow multiword proper names, you might want to make an exception for place names like New York.

However, it’s crucial that spymasters don’t create names themselves, not even names that turn out to be real. Clues like “Sue Mee” would not be valid for words like CHINA and LAWYER.

Acronyms and Abbreviations

While technically not one word, acronyms like CIA can be fantastic clues. You can also choose to allow common abbreviations like UK, lol, and PhD. Additionally, words like laser, radar, and sonar are always allowed, even though they originated as acronyms.

Homonyms

Hey there! I wanted to talk to you about an interesting and creative word game that you might enjoy. It’s called “Homonym Hunt” and it involves finding words that sound the same but have different meanings.

Get Rhyming!

Rhymes are a great way to come up with clues in this game. For example, if you’re looking for a word related to nighttime, you can use “knight” as a clue. It might make the game more fun and challenging!

There are also other types of rhymes that you can use. If a rhyme refers to a specific meaning, it’s considered valid. For example, “snail” can be a valid clue for “mail” because they rhyme and there’s a common phrase associated with it. Similarly, “snail” can also be a valid clue for “whale” because both are animals. However, “snail” wouldn’t be a valid clue for “scale” because their association is mainly through the sound of the words, not their meanings. Of course, if someone in your group happens to weigh snails for a living, then it would be a perfect clue for “scale”!

Now, some people like to make the game more liberal and allow any kind of rhyming clue without indicating that it’s a rhyme. In this case, the operatives will have to figure out that it’s a rhyming clue by themselves. It adds an extra layer of challenge to the game!

Ready for the Expert Clue? Let’s Go!

Hey there! Let me explain how this works in a super simple way. You can use the number 0 as part of your clue, which means that none of the words you’re thinking of are related to “feathers”. If you use 0 as the number, there’s no limit on how many words you can guess, but you still have to guess at least one.

If you’re not sure why this is useful, don’t worry, it’ll make sense soon!

Expert clue: unlimited

Sometimes, you might have multiple words that haven’t been guessed yet but are related to previous clues. If you want your team to guess more than one of them, just say “unlimited” instead of a number.

For example, “feathers: unlimited”.

The downside is that your team won’t know how many words are related to the new clue, but the upside is that they can guess as many words as they want.

Penalty for invalid clues

If the spymaster makes a mistake and gives an incorrect clue, the team’s turn is over right away. And as an extra punishment, the other team’s spymaster can hide one of their words with an agent card before giving the next clue.

But if nobody realizes that a clue is wrong, it still counts as correct.

Don’t give yourself away

The spymaster needs to keep a straight face. Don’t go for any cards while your teammates are thinking about the words. When a teammate touches a word, check the key card and cover the word with the corresponding colored card. If a teammate picks a word with the correct color, you should act like that was the word you intended, even if it wasn’t.

If you’re a field operative, your attention should be on the table as you make your guesses. Avoid making eye contact with the spymaster during this time to prevent giving away any nonverbal cues.

Remember, the game is designed for you to communicate with just one word and one number, so keep your information limited to match the game’s spirit.