Codenames Pictures Board Game

OverviewWhile most party games are built around trivia, Codenames opts for something different - getting to know other players better. A word-based puzzler relying on association, it's one of the best board games if you're looking for an icebreaker. Splitting players into two sides with a spymaster overseeing each one, the aim is to make contact with your team's secret agents first… all while avoiding an assassin hiding amongst them. At its most basic, the result is a breadcrumb trail: someone makes single-word clues that guide their teammates toward particular cards on a grid. These hints can range from rhymes to synonyms, but you're only allowed to use one word and aren't able to help in any other way. That means the spymaster will have to watch in despair as their team talks itself out of the right answers. It's a hilarious experience that'll get everyone chatting in no time. This game tells you a lot about your friends, too; discovering why someone chose the clue they did gives you a better idea of who they are as a person. Namely, anyone associating the word 'blue' with 'milk' is probably a Star Wars fan. That makes Codenames great as a warm-up or with a new group. There are plenty of alternate versions out there as well, be it from Disney or Harry Potter. You can even get a cooperative 'Codenames Duet' if you want a more collaborative experience.