WRDSPY

🎯 Setup & Teams

• Players split into two teams: Blue and Red.
• Each team picks one Spymaster. Everyone else is an Operative.
• A grid of codename cards is placed on the table. The default is 5×5 (25 cards), but you can also play 4×4 (16) or 6×6 (36).
• The cards are divided among team colors, neutral cards, and 1 deadly Assassin. The starting team always gets one extra card.
• The team with more cards goes first.

🕵️ Spymasters - Giving Clues

• Only Spymasters can see the color of each card (toggle Spymaster View).
• On your turn, type a ONE-WORD clue and a NUMBER into the clue input box.
• The number tells your team how many cards relate to your clue.
• Example: Clue is "WATER 3" - your team should look for 3 cards related to water.
• You cannot use any word on the board as your clue. No gestures, no hints beyond the one word and number.
• Made a typo? Click the ✕ button next to your clue to undo it and try again.

👥 Operatives - Guessing

• After hearing the clue, Operatives discuss and click a card to guess.
• If correct (your team's color): the card flips to reveal its color and you may continue guessing.
• You can make up to NUMBER + 1 guesses per turn. The extra guess lets you catch up on words from previous rounds.
• If you hit a NEUTRAL card (gray): your turn ends immediately, but nothing bad happens.
• If you hit the OTHER TEAM's card: your turn ends AND you help them by revealing one of their words!
• You can press "End Turn" at any time if you don't want to risk more guesses.

🏆 Winning & Losing

• Reveal all of your team's cards before the other team to win.
• You also win if the other team accidentally picks the Assassin.
• The score shows how many words each team still needs to find.

🌐 What is WordSpy?

• WordSpy is a free, browser-based online multiplayer word game inspired by the hit board game Codenames. No downloads, no sign-ups -just share a room link and start playing instantly.
• It works on desktop, tablet, and mobile. Play with friends, family, or coworkers -perfect for game nights, parties, team-building, or casual fun.
• WordSpy supports 37 languages, 3 board sizes, 8 themed word packs, optional turn timers, and real-time multiplayer with no player limit per room.

⚡ How is WordSpy different from Codenames?

• WordSpy is 100% free and runs entirely in your browser -no app install, no account required.
• Unlike the physical board game, WordSpy handles the board setup, card shuffling, scorekeeping, and turn management automatically.
• Unique features include: themed word packs (Movies, Food, Tech, etc.), 3 board sizes, 37 language support, configurable turn timers, sound effects, dark/light mode, and a spymaster view toggle.
• Play remotely with anyone in the world -just share your room URL via WhatsApp, Messenger, or any messaging app.

🧠 Advanced Strategy Guide

• As Spymaster, prioritize clues that connect 2-3 cards while avoiding neutral words, the opposing team's words, and especially the assassin.
• Count-zero clues (e.g., "OCEAN 0") are legal and tell your team that NO cards relate to that word -useful for steering them away from the assassin.
• As an Operative, discuss guesses with your team before clicking. The extra +1 guess per turn is powerful -use it to revisit clues from earlier rounds.
• Watch the other team's clues carefully. If they say "ANIMAL 2", cards like DOG or CAT are probably theirs -avoid them.
• On smaller boards (4×4), games are faster and riskier -the assassin is proportionally more dangerous. On 6×6, multi-word clues become essential.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions