Codenames review – “Connecting the words”

Codenames the board game is now on mobile
Collect a bunch of upgrades and trophies
Play as the Games Master or as the guesser

As a seasoned gamer with a soft spot for both board games and mobile gaming, I can confidently say that Codenames on mobile has been a game-changer (pun intended) for me. Having spent countless hours around physical tables with family and friends trying to decipher cryptic hints, the transition to my phone feels like a natural progression. The convenience of playing with people worldwide while still maintaining the charm of the original board game is simply delightful.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve noticed an exciting trend: Many beloved tabletop games have been transformed for mobile devices, opening up the opportunity to play with people from around the globe without requiring my family and friends to physically travel to my home. One such game is Codenames, which originally graced our physical game boards, but now can be easily downloaded onto your phone and offers a similar experience.

As a devoted enthusiast of Codenames, I can tell you that the essence of the game lies in its straightforward yet captivating premise. On your playfield, there’s a grid filled with cards, some of which are my targets, others belong to my opponent. Scattered among these are innocuous bystanders and an assassin, the latter causing instant defeat if either player turns it over. My objective is to successfully identify the specific cards corresponding to their code names, guided only by hints provided by the Game Master about relevant words and the number of cards each clue applies to.

After selecting a card that you believe matches the given word, simply tap it once to choose. If you’re confident about your guess, double-tap to confirm. The cards will then flip over to reveal if you were correct. This game is essentially about finding the word with a similar meaning to the one provided. When you finish your turn, feel free to leave the game and explore another or work on their daily challenges.

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In Codenames, it’s possible to engage in multiple games simultaneously, but this could potentially be risky because you might forget past clues that could aid you when you’re left with only a few moves. Over time, as you progress through various levels, you can also take on the role of the Game Master for certain rounds, though your initial role in a new round is randomly assigned and not chosen by you.

Codenames review - "Connecting the words"

Daily (or approximately every few hours), you’re presented with a handful of case files to work on. These are similar to standalone challenges, where you’ll find a clue at the bottom of your screen, several cards to choose from, and then you proceed to solve it as you would any regular level.

Codenames is pretty simple to get stuck into, taking on turn after turn in any number of games. As you finish levels or daily quests, you can earn points that level you up. This sort of takes it beyond the board game; you’ll find yourself finding items and then needing to gather keys to unlock them or gathering fragments of paper that create VIP passes, allowing you to go into a special round of the game where you then can gain more points and more premium rewards. There are also trophies you can earn and display. Sometimes, when you level up, you will have a choice to make via two cards, after watching a little cut-scene. These can give you more XP going forward or otherwise help you play.

Codenames review - "Connecting the words"

This board game adaptation is incredibly immersive. I appreciate the feature that allows me to tap on unknown words for instant lookup, sparing me the awkwardness of asking for definitions in front of my family. Additionally, if you linger too long during your turn, you’ll be replaced – ensuring uninterrupted gameplay and no opportunity for others to deliberately slow down the game against you!

2024-09-12 15:48

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