Decoder

Two teams. One-word clues. Find your agents.

412 players · About 15 min

Decoder is a free Codenames-style word game you play on your phones. Two teams, two codemasters, a grid of 25 words and one trap card. The codemaster types a one-word clue plus a number, teammates tap the cards they think it points to, and the first team to uncover all of its agents wins.

How to play Decoder

Two teams, two codemasters

Split into Red and Blue. One player per team is the Codemaster — only they see which of the 25 words belong to which team.

One-word clues

The Codemaster types ONE word plus a number — a hint linking that many of their team’s words on the board.

Tap to guess

Agents tap cards to guess — any teammate’s tap counts instantly! Your color: keep guessing (clue number +1 bonus). Neutral or enemy: turn over.

Dodge the trap

One card hides a trap. Tap it and your team loses on the spot. Codemasters, choose your clues carefully…

How to win

First team to reveal all of their words wins. The team that goes first has 9 words, the other has 8.

Game details

Players
412
Time
~15 min
Difficulty
Medium — shines with 6+

Questions

How is Decoder different from Codenames?

Same core idea — one-word clues that point at several words on a shared grid — but built for phones. Everyone taps on their own screen, the board syncs live, the app tracks whose turn it is and scores the round, and a single trap card replaces the assassin.

Is Decoder free to play?

Yes. Every game on Game Night Derby is free to play in the browser, with no accounts, no downloads and no ads.

How many players can play Decoder?

4 to 12 players. A game takes about 15 minutes.

Do we need to download an app?

No. One person hosts from a phone or laptop, and everyone else scans the QR code or types the 4-letter room code into any browser.

Can we play remotely?

Yes. The room syncs over the internet, so friends can join from anywhere. Talk-heavy games are best with a voice call running alongside.

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Game Night Derby is an original party game collection and isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Codenames.