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About Codenames: Pictures
Codenames: Pictures is Vlaada Chvátil's spy word game remade with picture cards from Czech Games Edition. Two spymasters each try to lead their team to their own agents using one-word clues, while avoiding the other team's cards, the bystanders and the assassin. The pictures are strange mash-ups, so each one can be read many ways, which makes clueing more creative than in the original. The grid is smaller, so a game is quick and works well for groups new to Codenames.
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Is Codenames: Pictures Right for You?
Best for
Codenames: Pictures is for groups who enjoy Codenames or want a version that is less about vocabulary. It is best with four to six players split into two teams, and it works up to eight. Because the pictures do not depend on language skills, it suits mixed ages and players who are not native speakers.
Maybe skip it if…
Groups who want everyone involved at all times may find the guessing team does most of the talking while the spymasters sit quietly. With very large teams, a few loud guessers tend to take over.
How to Play Codenames: Pictures
Setup
Split into two teams and pick a spymaster for each. Lay out 20 picture cards in a 5×4 grid and put a random key card in the stand where only the spymasters can see it.
On Your Turn
- The spymaster gives one word and one number, such as "water 2", pointing to their team's pictures.
- Their team touches pictures one at a time. A correct guess lets them keep going, up to the number plus one.
- Guessing a bystander or the other team's picture ends the turn; the other team's picture also counts for them.
- Touching the assassin loses the game immediately.
How to Win
The first team to find all its agents wins. The starting team has 8 to find, the other 7.
💡 Strategy Tips
Clue a detail, not the whole picture. A tiny wheel or a feather in the corner can link two cards nobody else would connect.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Describing the whole picture. Most cards combine two odd things, and clueing one detail is often the way to link two cards.
- Ignoring the assassin. Check your clue against the assassin card before saying it.
- Using the extra guess too often. It is meant for catching up on earlier clues, not for gambling on new ones.
- Spymasters reacting to guesses. Keep a straight face, or the game stops being fair.
Advanced Strategy
- Look for shapes and colours as well as objects. A clue like "round" can link cards that seem unrelated.
- With a smaller grid, a safe clue for two is often better than a risky clue for three.
- Guessers should talk through every option before touching. The spymaster cannot help, but they can hear when a guess is going wrong.
- Late in the game, think about clues that rule out the assassin as much as clues that point to your agents.
Variants & House Rules
Two- and three-player variant
Like the word version, the game supports two or three players with a cooperative variant, where a single team plays against the board.
Original Codenames
The word version uses a 5×5 grid and plays the same way. Pictures is a standalone game, not an expansion.
Video Guides
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Our Verdict
Codenames: Pictures is a great twist on a modern classic. We recommend it to groups who find the word version too dry or too dependent on vocabulary, and it plays a little faster too. For most groups, either version is a fine buy; this is the more playful of the two.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need the original Codenames to play?
No. Codenames: Pictures is a standalone game with everything you need.
How many players is it best with?
Four to six, split into two teams. It works up to eight, though bigger teams mean fewer people get to guess.
How is it different from the word version?
It uses 20 picture cards in a 5×4 grid instead of 25 words, so games are a little shorter. The pictures also allow more creative clues.