Codenames: Pictures is another fun and simple game I’m fond of. It reminds me of some games we played in my childhood, when the Internet was something that existed only in Hollywood movies. Damn, I’m getting old.
Codenames: Pictures – Game Overview
Codenames: Pictures is the second game in the Codenames family. The mastermind behind it is Vladimír (Vlaada) Chvátil, a Czech board game and video game designer. The game was published in 2016, following the success of the original Codenames, which won mountains of awards. Since then, it has been published by many board game studios, from Brain Games to Hobby Japan.
Codenames: Pictures is a fun card game that includes deduction and a pinch of imagination. Hence, it’s a perfect party game—but more on that later.
Theme and Aesthetics
As expected from a game in the Codenames family, the theme is James Bond-esque: spies, assassins, and secret agents. I gotta say, the theme fits perfectly for this kind of game. You can reveal double agents, make a mistake with common bystanders, or get assassinated if you’re not careful. It just wouldn’t work with dwarves and elves.
How to Play Codenames: Pictures
Let’s say you have 4 players, which is the best option. That means you have two per team. One in each team is a spymaster; the other is a field operative. You have a pile of cards with illustrations that look like a fever dream. You shuffle them and arrange them in a 5×4 grid. Then, take a pile of smaller cards with two-color patterns, shuffle ’em, and give them to the spymasters.
Spymasters should sit on the same side of the table—but usually end up sharing a corner. The card with the pattern, also called the key card, determines which pieces of your 5×4 grid are blue agents, which are red agents, and which are bystanders or assassins.
Players take turns. As a spymaster, you give your teammate a one-word hint, so they can find the agents—cards that your hint refers to. You can choose to be dull and give hints for one card, or be a fun player and try to cover as many cards as possible with a single hint.
As you can see in the picture, the red spymaster can give a hint: Glass, four. If their field operative is on the same wavelength, it’s easy-peasy.
How Complex Is It?
Codenames: Pictures is a relatively simple game, as long as you stick to the rules and don’t try to be a wiseass. This rule applies to all other board games too.
It’s marked as a 10+ game—not for profanity, but for the mental gymnastics it demands.
As for the rules, they may look daunting, but they’re pretty simple. Our man Vlaada has a unique way of writing game rules—with lots of humor—and he does it in almost all his games. All the rules fit into a small 12-page guide, full of illustrations.
There are rules for giving valid clues—AKA how not to be an asshole while playing. However, you can always incorporate house rules, as long as everyone’s OK with it.
Game Length and Replayability
Rounds can go slow or fast, depending on how sharp—or intoxicated—the players are. It’s not a bad idea to limit thinking time, as I’ve played with some sloooow people, and it kills the mood (at least for me).
Codenames: Pictures is infinitely replayable. You get a decent amount of cards, which you shuffle and combine in new ways each time. To spice things up, you can even combine Codenames: Pictures with the original Codenames game, which uses words instead of illustrations.
Who Is It Best For?
Since it requires some mental gymnastics, Codenames: Pictures isn’t exactly meant for children—but you can always give it a go. Theoretically, the game can be played by two or more players, but in practice, it shines with four. Especially good for couples’ board game night or a night with friends.
Codenames: Pictures – Portability and Setting
Codenames: Pictures won’t fit in many pockets, but it’s fairly portable. As for a pub setting—it’s not ideal, especially if you didn’t sleeve your cards. However, it works great in a quieter setting with a small square table, like a park or a nice café.
Where to Buy Codenames: Pictures
I bought mine on AliExpress, as part of my still-ongoing investigation into AliExpress board games. Bad decision—the paper quality is subpar. I paid around 65 NOK and still feel like I overpaid. At the time of writing (13.5.2025.), the best price I found is 184 NOK, and you can find it on Gamezone and Proshop.
You can also check best places to buy board games in Bergen.
Codenames: Pictures – Pros and Cons
PROS
- Endlessly replayable
- Simple rules
- Doesn’t take up much space
- Great price-per-fun ratio
CONS
- You can be an asshole and literally say what’s on the picture, killing the fun
- You can be a grammar nazi or a wiseass
Is It Fun?
I find it extremely fun, as I love this type of game. If you play with someone who thinks like you, you’ll be literally unstoppable. The rounds don’t take long, and the game is easygoing—but not that easy to win.
Final Thoughts
Codenames: Pictures is one of those smaller board games that’s perfect for couple vs couple or friends vs friends. Its replayability and affordability make it a great addition to any board game collection.