Codenames: Back To Hogwarts

Codenames: Back To Hogwarts, by Vlaada Chvatil and Czech Games Edition is a strategy game for 4 to 8 players, ages 10+ which takes about 15 minutes to play, in which two teams compete to be the first to identify all of their team's cards. Cluemasters give clues in the form of a code word to help their teammates find the card or cards in question. Be careful not to decipher a code incorrectly or you might help the other team.

Codenames: Back to Hogwarts is the first competitive, house-vs-house Codenames game inspired by the Wizarding World. It puts a fresh spin on the classic Codenames word association gameplay, while offering thematic new mechanics to change up the gameplay for both longtime fans and new players alike.

As new first-year students at Hogwarts, players will be sorted into two rival houses, each with their own prefect who knows the secrets of the fabled school’s mystery card grid. On their turn, prefects give their team of students a clue consisting of a single word and a number suggesting how many cards are associated with that word. Students must then follow these clues to explore Hogwarts by guessing the corresponding words and revealing one card at a time.

If they’re correct, they can keep guessing words up to the stated number of times. If they encounter a card for the rival house, a dead end, locked door, or other obstacle, they’ll end their turn. Take care not to get caught by groundskeeper Argus Filch, however, as that ends the game and marks a win for the rival house. Every win also earns points for their house, which can be tracked across multiple play sessions in the House Cup.

Beneath the surface, this should sound very familiar to existing fans of Codenames—at least mechanically.

Codenames: Back to Hogwarts also adds new layers of strategic depth onto the classic Codenames gameplay in the form of unique asymmetrical abilities.