Code Words Party Game

Why it works as a party game

Code-word party games reward the friend who knows how the rest of the group thinks. That is a better party trick than knowing more facts.

How to play

1. Lay out a grid of 25 ordinary words. Secretly assign each word to team A, team B, a neutral pile, or one trap word.
2. The clue-giver says a single word and a number, the number of grid words the clue is meant to hit.
3. Their team guesses that many words, plus one optional extra. A wrong team's word ends the turn. The trap word ends the game.
4. Teams alternate until one side has found all of its words.

Hosting tips

• Clue-givers must see the key. Everyone else must not, so share the key in a private message.
• Proper names and any word printed on the grid are illegal clues.
• Play two grids. The second game is when teams get brave.