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Codenames is for groups who want a party game that everyone can join without a long rules explanation. Two teams each have a spymaster who knows which of the 25 word cards on the table belong to their team, and they give one-word clues plus a number to get teammates to guess the right words while avoiding the other team's agents and the assassin card.
The rules are simple, but the clue-giving gets clever and competitive fast, so it works for casual players and serious gamers alike. Random layouts keep every game fresh, and games are short enough to play several in a night. This 2nd Edition from Czech Games Edition, the original publisher, adds revised words, refreshed art, a better box insert and a streamlined rulebook.
It is at its best with four or more players, and many fans say it really shines at six or more, so it is not a great pick for two people; Codenames: Duet is the two-player version. There can be quiet stretches while spymasters think up clues, and it is more of a thinking game than a loud one. The box says ages 14 and up, so families with younger kids may prefer Codenames: Pictures.