# Codenames: Authors & Games

## General Info
- **Year Published**: 2016
- **BGG Rating**: 6.2
- **BGG Rank**: —
- **Players**: 2-8 (Best with: 6)
- **Duration**: 15-0 min
- **Weight**: 1.33 / 5
- **Designers**: Vlaada Chvátil
- **Publishers**: Czech Games Edition (CGE), Frosted Games, Heidelberger Spieleverlag
- **Categories**: Deduction, Expansion for Base-game, Party Game, Spies / Secret Agents, Word Game
- **Mechanics**: Memory, Pattern Recognition, Push Your Luck, Team-Based Game

## Verdict
If you love Codenames and want a trivia twist, this expansion is for you!Fun memory gameDesign challengeVersatile useCuriosity soundtrackSmall sizeDoesn’t replace coreLimited card varietyRECOMMENDED

## Description
Codenames: Authors & Games is the official expansion that adds 32 cards featuring titles of famous board games and the names of their designers. Rather than regular word cards, each card has a game title on one side and the creator’s name on the other, turning it into a memory and pattern‑recognition challenge. You can shuffle these cards into the original Codenames deck and use them as normal tiles, or play a standalone memory game: shuffle, flip, and match title‑designer pairs. The core mechanic stays the same: two teams of spymasters and field operatives race to identify their team’s words mientras avoid opponent words and the assassin. Games last 15‑25 minutes and support 2‑8 players. The expansion adds a trivia twist for fans of board‑game lore, but it doesn’t replace the base game’s experience. If you love deduction, a dash of humor, and want to learn more about iconic game designers, this add‑on will delight you.

## FAQ
### How many players can play with this expansion?
It works with the same range as the base game: 2 to 8 players, splitting teams evenly.

### How long does a game last with the author cards?
Games stay in the 15‑25 minute range, depending on team pace and how many cards you use.

### Does the expansion replace the original Codenames deck?
No, you can mix the author cards with the original deck or use them as a standalone memory game.

### Is it hard to learn the new mechanics?
The core mechanics stay the same as Codenames, so anyone who knows the game can jump in. The memory part is optional.

### Do the cards have a theme beyond designer names?
Yes, each card shows a famous game title and its creator, giving a trivia twist about board‑game history.

### What if I don’t have the base game?
You can play the author cards as a standalone memory game, but you’ll miss the full Codenames experience.