How to Play Codenames Duet
Codenames Duet turns Codenames into a cooperative game. Instead of opposing teams, two players work together to contact all fifteen agents — but each player sees a different key, so you take turns being the spymaster and the guesser.
A word that’s a safe agent for you might be an assassin for your partner, which makes careful clue-giving essential. It also plays well as two teams cooperating.
Last reviewed 2026-07-27
What's in the box
- 200 double-sided word cards
- Double-sided key cards showing each player a different map
- Green agent, bystander, and assassin cards
- A card stand and turn/timer tokens
Setup
- Lay 25 word cards in a 5×5 grid.
- Place a key card in the stand between the two players so each sees only their own side.
- Each side marks 9 green agents (with 3 shared by both sides for 15 total), plus bystanders and 3 assassins.
- Set the turn timeline — by default you have 9 turns to find all 15 agents.
How to play — the rules
You both give and guess
Unlike the original, there is no permanent spymaster. Players alternate: one gives a one-word clue and number from their key, the other guesses. Then you swap roles.
Because each of you sees a different map, you must combine your clues to uncover the agents you can’t see yourselves.
Two keys, hidden assassins
The two keys overlap on some agents but differ on others. A word that’s a green agent on your side might be an assassin or bystander on your partner’s — and vice versa.
If either player ever guesses a word that is an assassin on the guesser’s key, you both lose immediately.
Racing the clock
You share a limited number of turns (9 by default) to contact all 15 agents. Correct guesses let the current guesser continue; a bystander ends the turn and burns a token.
If you find all 15 in time you both win. If you run out of tokens, a short sudden-death phase lets you finish only if no clues are needed.
A turn, step by step
- The active player gives a one-word clue and a number from their key.
- Their partner guesses words one at a time.
- Keep guessing while correct, up to the number plus one bonus guess.
- A bystander ends the turn and uses a token; then players swap roles.
How to win
You win together by contacting all 15 green agents before the turn timeline runs out — a purely cooperative victory.
You lose together the instant either player guesses an assassin on their own key, or if you run out of turns with agents still hidden.
Strategy tips
- Remember the three shared agents are safe for both of you — great early, confident guesses.
- When giving clues, steer your partner away from words you know are assassins on their side if you can deduce them.
- Don’t always chase big numbers; a reliable clue for two keeps a token in reserve.
- Talk about which words felt risky after each turn to refine your shared mental map.
- Try the campaign mode: linked missions raise the difficulty and reward good teamwork.
Frequently asked questions
How is Codenames Duet different from regular Codenames?
It’s cooperative for two players (or two teams). Each player has a different key, you both give and guess clues, and together you race to find all 15 agents before running out of turns.
How many agents do you need to find in Duet?
There are 15 green agents to contact in total — 9 on each player’s key, with 3 overlapping. Finding all 15 within the turn limit is a shared win.
What happens if you hit an assassin in Duet?
You both lose immediately. Each player has assassins on their key that the other can’t see, so clue-givers must guide their partner carefully.
Can you play Codenames Duet with more than two people?
Yes. You can split into two cooperating teams, each handling one side of the key, and still play toward the shared goal.
House-rule ideas
- Adjust the difficulty by adding or removing turn tokens from the timeline.
- Play the campaign as a legacy-style series of escalating missions.
- Team Duet: two small teams take each side and discuss clues openly.
Buy Codenames Duet
Codenames Duet Game
The cooperative two-player Codenames with dual keys and a shared clock.
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