Codenames setup guide

Generate a Codenames key card for spymasters: random 5x5 team layouts with the assassin, starting team and a shareable code. Free and instant.

How to use the Codenames tool

1. Generate a key card and check which team starts.
2. Keep the 5×5 key visible only to the spymasters and align it with your word-card grid.
3. Use the team colors, neutral spaces and assassin position while giving clues. Share the code only with someone who may see the key.

This tool generates the secret team key; you still need the word cards and the game rules to play.

What this setup tool prepares

The Codenames key card assigns the visible word grid to the two teams, neutral spaces, and the assassin. It is the secret information layer of the setup, not a replacement for the words themselves. Generate the key only after your group knows who the spymasters are, and decide how the top of the key corresponds to the top of the table.

Before you start playing

Check the key orientation and starting team before the first clue. Rotate the physical word grid or the viewing device only if both spymasters agree on the resulting orientation. Keep the screen and any shared key code away from guessers: revealing even part of the key changes the information available during play.

Free to use, with no account required. Use your physical game components and the rulebook for the complete rules.