Codenames, the 16-million-selling word game from Vlaada Chvatil, is getting a cooperative campaign spin set in Critical Role's world of Exandria. Codenames: Critical Role Adventures, designed by Chvatil alongside Felix Podlesny, arrives Q3 2026 from Czech Games Edition.
This is not just a reskin with fantasy words on the grid. The game reworks Codenames into a fully cooperative experience where one player acts as game master, giving one-word clues to guide their party through branching missions. Three separate campaigns offer multiple paths and unique rules that twist the familiar Codenames formula in different directions. Each mission runs about 15 minutes, making sessions easy to fit into a game night.
Players pick three heroes from seven Critical Role characters: Jester, Grog, Percy, Vex (with Trinket), Nott, Dorian, and Fresh Cut Grass. Each character has unique abilities that unlock through XP, equippable items, and a character sheet that tracks progression across sessions. A d20 adds skill checks to the mix, so your word-guessing skills are not the only thing that matters.
A Vox Machina expansion pack launches alongside the base game, adding Keyleth as a playable character, new items, and 42 words themed around Critical Role's first campaign. Both debut at Gen Con 2026 before hitting retail. If your group loves both word games and tabletop RPGs, this could be the crossover you did not know you needed. Find a game night near you and put it on the list.
Sources: Czech Games Edition | Nerd Initiative