Advertisement
Netflix has another game for subscribers looking for something to play together. This time, it's Codenames: Party, a digital take on the popular word-association board game. The familiar guessing game is back, but a new mode changes the usual team-based formula.
If you've played Codenames, you already know the basic idea: players use clues to connect words and figure out which ones they're looking for. The challenge is finding the right connection without leading everyone toward the wrong answer.
The digital version keeps the classic team mode, where players must identify their team's words while avoiding rival agents and the assassin. There's also Case Files, a mode that uses prepared word and clue sets instead of having players take on the usual Spymaster role.
But the biggest change comes with Party Mode.
Instead of dividing players into teams, Party Mode gives each person eight words selected from the same pool of 16. Each player must come up with a clue linking their words, while everyone else tries to work out which words belong to them.
Correct guesses earn points, and players can also score when others identify their own words from a clue.
It's a different kind of challenge from the original game. Rather than relying on a teammate to follow a shared strategy, players have to make their own connections understandable to everyone else. The fun comes from seeing whether other people think along the same lines—or take a clue somewhere completely unexpected.
Codenames: Party supports one to 10 players and is available to Netflix members. You can play on supported TVs and computer browsers, using a smartphone as the controller.
An internet connection is required, so offline play isn't supported. Cloud saves are available, and the game supports more than 12 languages.
Developed by Czech Games Edition, Codenames: Party gives Netflix subscribers another option for a casual game session. Its new mode offers a different way to enjoy the familiar word-puzzle formula, especially for groups who like testing how well they can understand one another.
