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COOPERATIVE VERSION OF THE BESTSELLING PARTY BOARD GAME

Codenames: duet

Team up with other covert operatives in the hit cooperative version of Codenames. Two cooperating players or groups exchange clever clues to collectively reveal their agents while sneaking past enemy assassins.

YOU’RE IN THIS TOGETHER NOW

Whether you’re giving clues or making guesses, cooperative gameplay means little downtime as you’re always part of the action!

A Cooperative
Mission

Every player takes on the role of both Spymaster and Operative, with everyone working together to locate all their agents!

Prepare the
Team’s 5x5 Grid

25 words representing agents, innocent bystanders, and multiple assassins! A double-sided key card shows each side of the team which words they need the operative(s) across from them to locate.

Communicate
Your Clue

The active clue-giver(s) says a one-word clue followed by a number (e.g., "weather: 2") connecting multiple cards for your fellow operative(s) to guess.

Make Your
Guesses

Whether playing with two or a larger group, those on the other side of the key card use the clue to guess the words representing your agents.

Just like standard Codenames, a wrong guess ends your turn, and hitting an assassin ends the game instantly!

Complete the
Mission
Before
Time Runs Out

Each half of the team alternates turns giving clues and making guesses. You have 9 - 11 turns to locate all 15 agents without revealing one of the five deadly assassins!

MISSION MAP

If you like trying new challenges, check out the mission map in the Codenames Companion app!

The free Codenames Companion app includes a mission map for Duet

The mission map offers new challenges for players who have mastered the standard 9-token mission.

Some missions encourage you to give clues that stretch to 3 or 4 agents. Others can be won only with caution and precision.

Beginner missions unlock trickier missions, and you can find the challenge that works best for you.

Video showcase

Codenames: Duet Complete Overview

We put a cooperative spin on the classic game!

In Codenames: Duet, you're no longer competing — you're teaming up with a fellow operative, or operatives in a group game, for an exciting cooperative experience. The mission? Work together to find all your secret agents hidden among a grid of mysterious codenames. The twist? You each see part of the key — and neither of you has the full picture.

Here’s how it works: Lay out 25 word cards in a 5×5 grid. Between you is a shared key card — each half of the team sees one side. On your side, nine words mark your agents, three mark deadly assassins, and the rest are innocent bystanders.

You’ll take turns giving one-word clues paired with a number, pointing the operative(s) across from you to specific words on the grid. Guess right? Keep going. Guess a bystander? Your turn ends. Guess an assassin? Mission failed — game over. But as long as your guesses are correct, you can keep going, even revisiting past clues.

The game is played over a series of 9 turns, but can be increased to 11 turns for operatives who may need a little more time as they improve their skills.

Your goal: Find all 15 agents — without triggering an assassin — before you run out of time!

The game includes 400 new words that can be combined with those from standard Codenames.

  • Style
  • Cooperative Party Word Game
  • Number of Players
  • 2 (or more)
  • Age
  • 11+
  • Length
  • 15 minutes

Codenames: Duet Gallery

Reviews & Awards

Codenames has captivated players and critics alike with its clever gameplay and endless replayability. Here's what the world is saying—and the honors it’s earned along the way.

I’d say yes. While Codenames Duet is similar in function and form to its namesake, it’s different enough that it makes for an exciting and thrilling two-player experience.

David McMillan, Meeplemountain.com

If you don’t often have extra players around and you have an itch to play Codenames with just two, Duet is the way to go!

tabletop_4world

This is a phenomenal two-player game. The timer mechanism, or the missions as we call it, is great.

DiceTower.com

This is my version of Codenames. I love it... It’s a game full of tension and mental gymnastics, all bundled into a highly accessible package.

Tony Mastrangeli, Boardgamesquest.com

total of 29 awards

READY TO BRING HOME THE FUN?

Buy Codenames: Duet

Order Codenames: Duet from your favorite online retailer, local game shop, or straight from our official site. With various editions—and translations in 49 languages—it’s easier than ever to bring the thrilling, award-winning word game to your table, wherever you are!


Available at 60+ Retailers Globally

Explore the Codenames Family

Whether you're decoding clues in the classic game, teaming up in a cooperative mission with Duet, going visual with Pictures, or taking your mission digital — there’s a Codenames edition for everyone. Pick what’s right for you and let the agent hunting begin!

UPCOMING

Codenames: Back to Hogwarts

A brand new edition of Codenames with thematic gameplay inspired by the Wizarding World.

Codenames

Codenamess is a social word game with a simple premise and challenging game play.

Codenames: Pictures

A twist on the base game that uses unique illustrations instead of words, challenging players to think visually and make creative connections.

Codenames App

The Codenames app brings the hit word game to your iOS or Android device with a sleek, intuitive design perfect for spontaneous play. Whether you're playing with friends or connecting with new agents, there's always a game waiting for you. Daily challenges and new game modes make the Codenames app a must-have for fans who want a fresh twist on the classic game, anytime and anywhere.