In addition to just the table presence, the box is bigger than most standard Euro game boxes, making it less convenient to cart around and more of an intrusion when suggested for a party. Functionally, there is no difference between Codenames and Codenames XXL. Codenames Duet ups the challenge by either lowering the number of rounds or penalizing teams for making contact with neutral agents. The only differences are related to size. Lost Ruins of Arnak Under Falling Skies Sanctum Through the Ages: New Leaders and Wonders Letter Jam Codenames Duet XXL Trapwords Adrenaline: Team Play DLC Pictomania Codenames Pictures XXL Codenames XXL Pulsar 2849 Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends - Etherweave expansion deck Through the Ages Digital Galaxy Trucker Rocky Road (a novel) That's a Question! The job of the spy is difficult enough with rival spy organizations working around you. Also worth asking are 3) will it annoy you that Codenames XXL is not as portable or break-out-able as the regular-sized version? Duet XXL’s clue card vs. Codenames XXL’s clue card. There’s less leaning, it’s easier to see all the words, and with the multiplayer cooperative Duet, it’s even easy for all the players on both sides to see and read the code card. We have discussed about another version of the game, Codenames vs Codenames Duet, so make sure to take a look. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Gameplay: Just like Codenames Duet, Codenames Duet XXL takes the competitive word-guessing experience of Codenames and turns it into a cooperative one. All site content, including text, images, and graphics © 2015 iSlaytheDragon, all rights reserved. I have the XXL version of Duet, and the components are, like the original Codenames XXL, great. $8.49 + $6.06 shipping . Codenames XXL is literally the same game as Codenames, only larger. I prefer it that much (and I also found a suitable storage solution for both games: an expansion box for the game Scythe). A key card gives you 9 words to give clues for and 3 words your partner must avoid. and 4) will it annoy you to store the larger version in your collection? In the original game, the cards are all words. Even when a spymaster has tried to be creative, looping in multiple words, the guessers in my family have become sheepish enough that they’d rather sit on guesses for another round. Players try to get their team to guess different words from the 1-word clues. The answer is: inclusivity. The spymaster usually has to lean a little to make sure they’re seeing all the words before forming their clues. We did this for every board, and while it’s not the most elegant solution, it was a way we could all enjoy the game together. Your partner also gives you clues for the words you need to … Once you’re no longer thinking about storing the beast of a box or about how players may or may not be able to eat their lunch around a table with these cards on it but are just playing the game, you realize that the XXL treatment works so well. While I’m not in love with the artwork, I don’t mind it too much. Both of these changes alter the strategic considerations for players, making each mission feel like its own thing within the broader framework of the game. Other options New from $34.95. But the usability gains and fun table presence make this one worth keeping on hand, especially for larger groups. If you are unfamiliar with how the series plays you can read my review and overview here. They place a clue card on its stand and set it between the players. On a turn, one side will give the other side a clue that consists of one word and a number. iSlaytheDragon would like to thank Czech Games Edition for providing us with a copy of Codenames Duet XXL for review. For me, even though I already have Codenames and Codenames Duet and Codenames Pictures, I will probably keep Codenames XXL (and, because of portability/small space concerns, I will probably keep regular Codenames as well). Codenames is excellent; Codenames XXL is excellent and big. Works well with groups too Codenames XXL has arrived not a moment too soon. Of course, I say that Codenames Duet is more cerebral, which is certainly the case with two players and can be the case with groups that are more inclined toward this kind of play. Skill – Complexity. And diminishing eyesight is only going to be more of a concern in my family. $19.99 + shipping . The most obvious difference is right in the title of the game – Pictures. 01 $39.99 $39.99. Sure, it’s cumbersome. Jeu de 54 cartes à jouer géantes XXL "Les cartes des garçons !" But Duet can also be more interactive. All told, Duet is a wonderful addition to the Codenames family. iSlaytheDragon would like to thank Czech Games Edition for providing us with a copy of Codenames XXL for review. Go Undercover! Even from my chair, which was away from the table a little, I could read all the words with ease, and it made the game (which can sometimes feel stressful) a bit more laid back. Again, the dual-sided clue card is an ingenious twist, the three assassins keep the two players on their toes, and the intimacy of the game makes allowances for long pauses, hopeless gambits, glorious victories, and ignominious defeats. Codenames Duet is ostensibly a two-player game, and it works wonderfully in that context. Learn how your comment data is processed. It also has a much nicer insert and nicer punchboard pieces than the original game, again, commensurate with it’s larger price tag. The game ends when either players have made contact with all the agents on both sides of the clue card or the timer/bystander tokens have been claimed, or players have made contact with an assassin. Duet is more open to this sort of thing than the team-based Codenames, which has a clearer delineation of duties. I also love that both people are the Spymaster. But Duet can also be more interactive. The trick is, you don’t know which is which, but as the round progresses, you can begin to make more intelligent guesses. Learn how your comment data is processed. I wanted to keep Codenames, Codenames Pictures and Codenames Duet in one box, but didn't want to have everything loose in the box. Great adaptation of the game for two players It has a beautiful presence on the table, but for everyday use, at least right now, I’ll stick to the basic Codenames. I think cooperative multiplayer Codenames is great in Duet, but there are some things to be aware of. Codenames – Duet Alchemists: … And with multiple assassins waiting around every corner. First the key cards are double-sided and they have three assassins. What could go wrong? Second, multiplayer Duet can be a bit fragile, as players will want to deduce information from their side of the clue card and discuss this with their teammates, but they’ll need to do so without giving information to the other side–which is tricky. (Since the game is the exact same, if you’re interested in gameplay details or opinions, I’ll point you to my earlier review and say Codenames has only gotten better with age.). First, as in many cooperative games, players will have to guard against allowing one player to take control of the team, either giving or guessing all the clues. "The XXL treatment for Codenames appeals both to function and form: it is easier to play in its giant configuration. See your ad here: Contact Us for pricing! So releasing a new, giant, “deluxe” version just makes sense. Before I answer that question, let’s return to my family. $37.01 $ 37. Because of the large cards (and the tendency people have to hover around games of Codenames anyway), it’s a set piece as well as a game. The photos of Codenames XXL in this review were taken on my folding table that we set up for board game overflow if lots of people come to game night or if we’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Codenames: Duet includes 400 new words so you do not need any other Codenames game to play. OEJ ~ Codenames Duet XXL ~ Top Secret Co-Op Word Game. You and your partner are on a secret mission to a crowded city. See your ad here: Contact Us for pricing! Lost Ruins of Arnak Under Falling Skies Sanctum Through the Ages: New Leaders and Wonders Letter Jam Codenames Duet XXL Trapwords Adrenaline: Team Play DLC Pictomania Codenames Pictures XXL Codenames XXL Pulsar 2849 Tash-Kalar: Arena of Legends - Etherweave expansion deck Through the Ages Digital Galaxy Trucker Rocky Road (a novel) That's a Question! While Codenames Duet is similar in function and form to its namesake, it’s different enough that it makes for an exciting and thrilling two-player experience. Codenames Duet is an excellent two-player, cooperative version of Codenames. After the smash success of the original edition came a version with pictures, several licensed versions like Disney and Marvel and Harry Potter, and the unassuming Duet, which is a return to simple word cards. Because of the dual-sided clue cards, Codenames Duet is, if possible, an even more cerebral experience than regular Codenames. Codenames Duet includes 400 new words (200 new double-sided cards), which is worth it for the expansion to Codenames alone. People who would regularly roll their eyes at Catch Phrase, Taboo, or Password will sit down with Codenames and request to keep playing. This works great at the board game meetup, but it’s a little less practical for home use, especially if you’re playing the two-player game or even a game between couples. So I really like Codenames XXL. When a side is guessing, only the spymaster for that turn’s side of the clue card matters. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The dual-sided clue card shows a different setup of agents, bystanders, and assassins on both sides. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Codenames isn’t the best game of the year–it may not even be the best game of Gen Con–but it is probably the most versatile. This year has been a great year for social games with the release of Mysterium, Spyfall, and Codenames. Codenames Duet | Board Games | Party & Family | Zatu Games UK Like most giant versions of board games (which typically originate as publisher demo copies), Codenames XXL is for the super fan. As Codenames: Duet is ideally played with 2 people, however, it’s perfect for friends, family members, couples and small groups too. Fortune favors the bold, and now Codenames does too. Codenames Duet further challenges groups by offering a, for lack of better term, “campaign mode.” A tear sheet of maps is included with the game that show different locations in the world and different requirements to win in that place. The XXL treatment for Codenames appeals both to function and form: it is both easier and more satisfying to play in its giant configuration. It captures all the fun of the original design, but converts it into a game where the players win or lose together. Codenames is the party game that just keeps giving. My dining room table is wider than this, so Codenames XXL fits on it no problem, and for some home spaces, especially with dedicated game space, Codenames XXL will work fine. I'll try anything once, but my favorite games are generally middleweight Euros. There are some changes in this version though. 17,5 x 12 cms. A Game of Thrones: Mother of Dragons #UpliftAndrew, Complete Listing (temporarily unavailable), Ruel’s Rundown, September 23, 2020: Three Games I’ve Enjoyed, Ruel’s Rundown, September 9, 2020: Three Games I’ve Enjoyed, Ruel’s Rundown, August 27, 2020: Three Games I’ve Enjoyed, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Sure, you need to plan ahead for space and attention concerns. Codenames Duet follows many of the same rules as regular Codenames. I think she would be fine with multiplayer Duet, but two-player Duet would never be her first choice. Even when the game involves just the two of us, she doesn’t like feeling locked up when giving a clue, and she doesn’t like the added pressure of the deduction offered by the dual-sided card. Also, because of the blurred lines between spymaster and guesser, players giving the clues are looser in their talk in Duet than they are in Codenames, which has the strict mandate that spymasters are to be silent and stone-faced. Again, this is fine, as long as you know what you’re getting yourself into. But it’s even more difficult to go it alone. The overlap of agents/bystanders/assassins is standard for each card. Duet is the best of the series, in my opinion. I'll try anything once, but my favorite games are generally middleweight Euros. Das Spielzubehör ist hier von der Qualität her identisch mit dem Zubehör von Codenames (Grundspiel, Pictures oder auch Undercover). Incidentally, the quality of the components is top notch. Codenames remains one of the very best party games, and Duet is another proof of the versatility of the system. What has surprised me, though, is how those who play games as a more serious hobby have taken to Codenames. Teams may privately discuss their clues to come up with the perfect one! But the inevitable question is, Do you need it? Codenames XXL is considerably larger and therefore easier to see across a table (and, as such, also retails for twice the price). Accessible to a wide range of ages and experience levels. Both players and reviewers positively evaluated the bigger version. Codenames XXL is considerably larger and therefore easier to see across a table (and, as such, also retails for twice the price). But the experience is a little more fragile, and it’s helpful to discuss these behaviors up front. Since then, I’ve passed along the regular-size edition and use the XXL version exclusively. This clue corresponds to the agents that they see on their side of the card. It also keeps players more engaged in the game. If the card is a bystander, the spymaster places one of the double-sided bystander/timer tokens on the card with the arrow facing themself–it’s possible this card might be an agent for the other side, so it can still be touched. So, is Codenames XXL right for you? Jouet Abacusspiel XXL jeu de Carte en famille amis 2 à 6 joueurs Langue FR/DE/EN. The guessing side may keep guessing as long as they like as long as they keep touching agent cards. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. “I can’t think of a clue.” “Just try something.” “I don’t want you to mess up.” “It’s Codenames. (And I’ll come back to this.) Codenames: Duet is a cooperative word game for two or more players. I don’t call any of these negatives, per se: I’d still gladly play Duet with a group of players. A clue is only one word, but it can point to multiple words that you want your partner to guess. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and the limited rounds in Codenames Duet allow all groups to enjoy the creativity that Codenames is supposed to engender. 4.1 out of 5 stars 23. If your answers are yes, yes, no, and no, then Codenames XXL is absolutely right for you. The main change from regular Codenames that makes Codenames Duet work as well as it does is the clue card, which unlike regular Codenames, is double-sided. Vlaada Chvátil and Scot Eaton really knocked this one out of … Two teams compete by each having a "spymaster" give one-word clues that can point to multiple words on the board. Codenames Duet is the laboratory where this theory is tested, and I think the game supports the hypothesis. Codenames: Duet is best suited to older children and adults. Yes, I like pretty games, but if it plays well, that’s what matters. Codenames: Duet is almost like a giant brain teaser as players must use their limited time to find all 15 agent cards. Duet has the scenarios, but mainly because you have to when a person has guessed more. The box was gigantic, and storage concerns immediately came to mind. Little did I know that just three years later, Codenames has not only appeared on the shelf at Target, but it has had its own Target-exclusive edition; that Codenames would more-than-crack the top 100 on Board Game Geek (currently sitting at #48 after a fall from the teens); or that my family would become utterly obsessed with the game. Each side has one assassin in common (which always makes guessing a word that is an assassin on your side tense), three agents in common, and seven bystanders in common. The biggest difference between Codenames and Codenames Duet is that in Duet there is only one team. From the two games interchangeably the concepts of the assassins lines up on both of. 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