Tips & Tricks For Codenames

Are you looking for the upper hand in Codenames? Want to take your tactics to the next level? Then look no further than this useful list of top tips for Codenames!

Over the years, this exciting competitive word game has become a family favourite across the globe and has expanded the series to include many film and video game franchises that we all know and love.

In this feature, I’ll be discussing a variety of techniques in Codenames that you can use to up your game and find those answers like a pro. To make things easier, I’ve split the list into three sections, Spymaster, Operative and both. That way you can familiarise yourselves with the tips for individual roles and try your hand at that role before moving onto the next.

So without any further ado, let’s begin this masterclass!

Playing As Spymaster

• Choose your words carefully and act tactically. If you and your opponent both have words that share a theme, try to hold off on clearing that word for as long as possible so they don’t have an easier time.
• Listen carefully to what your operatives are saying when they’re trying to guess. What words have they said that are close to the answer? Why not reuse one of those words to show they were in the right area with their guesses. This pulls them in the right direction and could even open the opportunity to cover a few more answers at the same time.
• Start your first turn with a large clue number. AIming in the ballpark of three or more gives the opportunity to clear a lot of answers off the board from the get go. This will also give you a smaller amount of answers in the late game to clear with more precise clues.
• Are your opponents getting close to grabbing that victory? Then it’s time to go all out before they do. If it looks like your opponents could win next turn, take the time to find a clue that covers all your remaining answers to try and get there first. Not only can you potentially grab the win, but if your opponents don’t finish the game on the following turn, you can bolster your previous clue with a more precise one to secure the win.
• Under no circumstance should you risk leading your operatives to the assassin. So make sure to choose your clues carefully and avoid the assassin's answer at all costs. If the assassin word could relate to your clue, however vaguely, choose a different clue.
• Make the most of the whole board. Don’t let yourself get distracted by a few obvious words in the center of the board. Take a moment to look at all the words you have available and then work out a game plan from there.

Playing As Operatives

• Remember that the Spymaster’s communication is restricted, and they are limited to what they can say or ask. But you are not. If you work out that there’s only three answers remaining, prompt the spymaster for a 3 clue to try and get all of them in one before your opponent does.
• How likely is your answer to be correct? It can always be useful to order your potential guesses from likely to unlikely and make the most likely your first guess for the round. This rational thinking prevents you from wasting guesses on long stretch answers that are only vaguely related.
• Keep track of how many unguessed clues your opponents have left. If they’re down to
• Pay attention to your opponents clues and guesses. If you’re able to catch on to what one of their answers is, you can make sure to avoid it so you don’t accidentally give the point away.
• Don’t forget to use zeros. Zeros are a great way of blocking off potential themes and answers that your operatives are tempted to guess. Knowing that a range of words are completely shut off to them can make guessing the correct answers so much easier.

Golden Tip For Both Roles

Be sure to have a go at playing both the Spymaster and Operative roles. Although this might be daunting, and you may have a knack for a certain role, it’s useful to see how both parts of Codenames work, and what types of clues are the most useful.