How to play Codeword

Codeword is a free team word game for 2 to 8 players, right in your browser, in English or Türkçe. Two crews, Red and Blue, look at the same 25 words. Only each crew's spymaster knows which words are theirs. One word and a number at a time, they lead their crew to them.

The board

  • 25 words from a pool of 621 English (or 711 Turkish) nouns. The crew that goes first owns 9 of them, the other 8; 7 are neutral and 1 is the Jinx.
  • Each crew has one spymaster, who sees the key: which word is whose. Everyone else guesses.

A turn

  1. The spymaster gives a clue: one word and a number, like “OCEAN 2”. The word links some of the crew's words. It may never be a word on the board, nor contain one. At the normal pace they have 90 seconds.
  2. The crew guesses together: tap a word to mark it for your crew; tap a marked word again to turn it over. You get the number plus 1 guess (75 seconds at the normal pace).
  3. A hit keeps you going, a neutral word or one of the other crew's ends the turn. You can end the turn early with words to spare.
  4. The Jinx ends the game at once: your crew loses.

Winning

The first crew to turn over all of its words wins. Turning over the Jinx loses on the spot, whoever did it.

Tips

  • As spymaster, look for two or three of your words with something in common before you look for one. A clue for one is a slow game.
  • Check every clue against the other crew's words and the Jinx, not just yours. A clue that fits the Jinx is how games end.
  • As a guesser, turn over the surest word first. The extra guess is for a word left over from an earlier clue.
  • If the clue has you between two words, stop. A turn kept is better than a word handed to the other crew.
  • Playing in Türkçe? The same rules hold: “elmalar” can't point at ELMA.

Questions

Is Codeword free?
Yes. It's free to play in your browser: no download, no signup, no ads.
What kind of game is it?
A team word game of clues and deduction. Two crews share a board of 25 words; each crew's spymaster alone knows which words are theirs and gives one-word clues to lead the crew to them.
How many players?
2 to 8, in two crews of 2, 3, 4. Bots fill both crews, so you can always play (even alone), and they're always labeled as bots.
Can I play in Turkish?
Yes. Türkçe is its own game mode: its own 711 Turkish words (not translations), Turkish clue rules, Turkish in-game text, and bots that play in Turkish. The host picks the language in the lobby; Quick Play matches you with rooms in your language.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, on phones, tablets and computers, held either way. The board fits the screen.
How do I play with friends?
Open the game, tap With friends and share the room's link. Friends who open it join your crews, and the host picks who plays which side.
What is the Jinx?
The one word on the board that loses the game for whoever turns it over. The spymaster sees it; the crew doesn't.
Do I need an account?
No. Your name and level are saved on your device.

Ready? Bots are always waiting on both crews.

▶ Play Codeword

Like games of clues? Try Oddmoon, our storytelling card game.