Free online multiplayer word game
Codenames Online — Play Free With Friends
Codenames is a free online multiplayer word game you play straight in your browser — no download, no sign-up, no account. Two rival spymasters each see the secret identities of 25 hidden agents; their teammates see only the cover words. Give a one-word clue, uncover your team's agents, and pray you never flip the assassin.
Play Codenames free ↑ 4–20 players · private rooms · real time
How to play Codenames online
- Create a room and share the code. Type a name, press Create room, then send the four-character room code to your friends. Anyone with the code joins in one click from phone, tablet or laptop.
- Split into Red and Blue teams. Each team needs one spymaster and at least one operative. The host starts the match once both sides are ready.
- Read the secret key (spymasters only). Only the two spymasters see which cards are red, blue, neutral or the assassin. Everyone else sees just the 25 cover words.
- Give a one-word clue and a number. The active spymaster types a single word plus the number of cards it points to — for example OCEAN 2. The clue cannot be a word that is already on the board.
- Guess the cards. Operatives tap cards on the board. A correct guess keeps the turn alive, up to the clue number plus one. A wrong guess ends the turn — and the assassin loses the game instantly.
- Uncover all your agents to win. The first team to reveal every one of its cards wins the match. Hit the assassin and it is over.
The board and the secret key
Every Codenames board is a 5×5 grid of 25 random words. Hidden underneath is the key that only the spymasters can see. It is always made of the same four colours, and the counts never change:
- 9 red agents and 8 blue agents — the cards each team must find.
- 7 neutral bystanders — harmless cards that end a turn but cost nothing.
- 1 assassin — the black card that loses the game for whoever flips it.
Teams and roles
Spymaster
One per team, and the only player who sees the key. The spymaster thinks of a single word that links several of their own cards at once without accidentally pointing at the other team's agents, a bystander or the assassin. Getting the clue right is the whole game.
Operative
Everyone else. Operatives debate the clue out loud, then guess together by tapping cards. Good teams talk through the clue before the first tap so everyone agrees on the plan.
Clues, numbers and guesses
A clue is always one word plus a number, and the number is how many cards the word points to. A clue of OCEAN 2 means "two of our cards relate to ocean". Operatives may guess up to the number plus one — so OCEAN 2 allows up to three guesses, a reward for finding the extra link. You may always choose to stop early and pass the turn.
How a turn ends
- An operative guesses a card that belongs to the other team — it helps them and ends your turn.
- An operative guesses a neutral bystander — the turn simply passes.
- The team uses up its guesses (clue number plus one) and the turn passes.
- The team chooses to stop early with End turn.
- Someone flips the assassin — the game ends immediately and their team loses.
Codenames strategy tips
For spymasters
- Start safe: a two-card clue on your turn one beats a risky four-card swing.
- Always check where the assassin is and clue away from it — never gamble on a card next to it.
- Save one great clue for the endgame instead of spending it early.
- Use a number bigger than you need to hint at a follow-up without giving it away.
For operatives
- Say your reasoning out loud before tapping — the best guess is rarely obvious to everyone.
- On your own turn, guess the surest card first and let the riskier reads come later.
- When you have more guesses than confident reads, stop. A wrong guess hands the turn over.
Want the full playbook? Read our Codenames strategy guide and the rules explained.
Play with friends in a private room
Every match runs in a private room behind a four-character code — share it and only your friends can join. There is global chat and a team-only channel, so the spymaster and operatives can talk strategy without leaking it to the other side. If someone drops mid-game, the seat is held so they can reclaim it and the match carries on.
Codenames vs the physical board game
This is an independent, free browser game inspired by classic word-association party games, not an official digital edition. What you get here: instant setup, automatic key handling, no scoring arguments, and games with friends anywhere in the world. What you keep from the tabletop original: the same clues, the same 25 cards, the same assassin. New to it? Start with our guide on how to play Codenames online.
Frequently asked questions
Is Codenames free to play online?
Yes — Codenames at etoo.in/codenames is completely free. No download, no sign-up, no account, and every mode including private rooms with friends costs nothing.
How many players do you need for Codenames?
At least four — one spymaster and one or more operatives on each team. Six to ten players is the sweet spot, and a room can hold up to twenty.
How do I play Codenames online with friends?
Create a room, share the four-character code, split into Red and Blue, pick a spymaster per team, and the host starts. You play in real time on any device.
Do I need to download anything?
No. It is an HTML5 and WebGL browser game. Open the page, type a name and play — nothing to install and no account to create.
What is the assassin card?
The single black card hidden on the board. Flip it and your team loses instantly, no matter how many agents you had already found.
What are the Codenames card colours and counts?
The 25 cards hide 9 red agents, 8 blue agents, 7 neutral bystanders and 1 assassin. The team that goes first has one extra agent to find.
Can I play Codenames on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The game is fully responsive and touch-friendly: operatives tap cards, spymasters type a one-word clue, and the board reshapes to any screen.
What is a spymaster?
The one player per team who sees the secret key, and the only person who gives clues. Their job is to link several of their own cards with a single word without leading teammates astray.
How does a turn end?
A turn ends when a team guesses a card that is not theirs, uses up its guesses, or stops early. A correct guess lets them keep going up to the clue number plus one.
Is this the official Codenames board game?
No — etoo.in is an independent free browser game inspired by classic word-association party games, not affiliated with any physical board game publisher.
More free games on etoo
Codenames is one of a whole shelf of free multiplayer browser games. If you like word and deduction games, try Words of Wonder, the Werewolf party game for 4–20 players, or Pictionary online. For something bigger there is Ticket to Train, Monopoly, Settlers and much more on the etoo game hub.