Codename - Critical Role Adventures
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FroGames — Moments You'll Remember
The table falls silent as the Game Master reads the mission. Then come the doubts, the discussions, the desperate attempts to understand each other with a single word. And in the end, someone shouts: 'No, wait, not that one!'
WHAT IT'S ABOUT
Exandria meets the world's most famous deduction game
Vlaada Chvátil and Felix Podlesny bring Codenames to the world of Critical Role, the planet's most-watched role-playing series. It's not just a simple reskin: it's a completely cooperative system where a Game Master guides the party through dangerous missions, each with its own special rules and thematic word list. Three campaigns, seven iconic characters from the first three seasons of Critical Role, and a progression system that unlocks abilities and items.
At the table, you become Vax'ildan, Jester, Orym or one of the other heroes. The GM gives you clues to connect the correct words and avoid traps. Each mission changes the classic rules: different objectives, special conditions, plot twists. Between missions, you level up your character, equip items, and prepare your build to face the final boss. It's Codenames, but with a narrative structure that holds everything together.
What they're saying abroad
This game promises to bring the magic of Exandria to cooperative deduction. A challenge for fans of the series.
— FroGames
Critical Role Adventures reinvents Codenames as a campaign experience. Each mission is a story.
— FroGames
Codenames: Critical Role Adventures
FrogScore · FroGames editorial rating · based on rules, international reviews and play sessionsYour party of heroes
Seven characters, three campaigns, infinite combinations
Iconic characters
Vax'ildan, Jester Lavorre, Orym and other heroes from the first three Critical Role campaigns. Each has unique abilities that unlock as they level up.
Thematic missions
Each mission changes the rules: different objectives, special conditions, narrative plot twists. You never play the same game twice.
Items and upgrades
Between missions, you equip items, unlock abilities, prepare your build. The party truly grows, it's not just cosmetic.
Final bosses
Each campaign culminates in a final showdown against a legendary enemy. Perfect coordination and a bit of luck are needed to win.
At the end of the campaign, the party will have a story. It always happens when Codenames meets Exandria.
Come si gioca
Video dimostrativo di gameplay.
A five-act game
What happens at the table
Not the rules. The experience.
The mission begins
The GM reads the mission objective. The table looks at each other: what words should we connect? Which character to use? Who equips what? The first few seconds are all silent strategy, then someone breaks the ice with the first hypothesis.
The first clue
The GM gives the first word and number. The party discusses: what did they mean? Interpretations multiply. Some are convinced, some doubt. They vote, they choose. The card is flipped. It was correct. Or it was a trap.
The mission's twist
Mid-game, the special rule kicks in. Suddenly the board changes: new conditions, new dangers, new opportunities. The party must adapt. The GM must recalculate the clues. Everything accelerates.
The memorable mistake
Someone touches the wrong card. The party screams. The GM laughs. The mission is compromised, but not over. A special ability is pulled out, an item is used at the right time. A comeback is still possible. The table regroups.
Victory or defeat
The last card is flipped. The party wins or loses, but gains experience either way. Character sheets are pulled out, levels are added, abilities are unlocked. The next mission will be different. The party will be stronger. The campaign continues.
How to play
The flow of each cooperative round
The GM gives clues, the party deduces, the mission evolves. Repeat until victory, defeat, or special condition.
The Game Master observes the word grid, identifies the words to connect for the current mission, and gives ONE word and ONE number. The party cannot speak while the GM thinks.
Players interpret the clue, propose connections, vote. They can use character abilities to gain advantages (re-examine flipped cards, ask for partial confirmations, protect from errors).
The party touches the cards in order, one by one. Each correct card advances the objective. A wrong card triggers penalties or special mission conditions. This continues until the party stops or makes a mistake.
Some missions change rules mid-game, add timers, reveal new cards. The party adapts strategy, equips items, uses abilities. The GM prepares the next clue. The game restarts.
Why it's different from other Codenames
Six mechanics that make a difference
Characters with unique abilities
You're not a generic player: you're Vax'ildan with his ability to spy on hidden cards, or Jester who can turn mistakes into advantages. Each character changes how the party tackles missions. Builds really matter.
Three separate narrative campaigns
Not a series of disconnected games: three complete narrative arcs, each with its Exandria setting, its thematic missions, its final boss. Each campaign takes 6-8 games to complete. You can play them in order or jump to your favorite.
Real progression system
Win or lose, you gain experience. Characters level up, unlock new abilities, equip items found in missions. The difficulty curve grows with the party. It's not cosmetic: level 3 abilities radically change tactical possibilities.
Missions with changing rules
Each mission has special conditions: some limit the number of clues, others add timers, still others change the objective mid-game. You never play the same Codenames twice. Some missions require completely new strategies.
Thematic word lists
Not random words: each mission uses vocabulary related to Exandria. Places, characters, artifacts, events from Critical Role campaigns. Fans will recognize deep references, new players will discover the world by playing.
Cooperative boss fights
Each campaign culminates in a final showdown against a legendary enemy. Even more extreme rules, complex victory conditions, requiring perfect coordination. If you win, you unlock exclusive rewards for future games.
How it ends
How to win and how to lose
Each mission has specific conditions. In general, however, the party wins by connecting all objective words before running out of attempts or triggering too many errors.
Victory
- All objective words of the mission have been correctly identified
- The final boss has been defeated in compliance with the special conditions of the final mission
- The party reached the secret objective before the timer ran out (advanced missions)
Defeat
- The party touched too many wrong cards and triggered the mission's game over condition
- The mission timer ran out (if present) before completion
- The final boss completed its victory condition before the party
Win or lose, you always gain experience. The party grows, unlocks abilities, prepares for the next challenge. It's Codenames that tells stories.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ about Codenames: Critical Role Adventures
Do you need to know Critical Role to play?
No. The game works perfectly even if you've never watched the series. The mechanics are self-contained, the missions are self-explanatory, and the thematic words are understandable in context. That said, fans will recognize hundreds of references and will greatly appreciate the setting even more. If you know the series, the experience is richer.
Can I play the campaigns out of order?
Yes. The three campaigns are completely independent. You can start with the one that inspires you most, jump back and forth, or play all three in parallel with different parties. Each campaign has its own separate progression, so you don't lose continuity.
How long does a complete campaign last?
Each campaign requires 6-8 missions to reach the final boss. Each mission lasts about 25 minutes. So a complete campaign finishes in 3-4 hours of total gameplay, spread over multiple evenings. Perfect for groups who want progression without the commitment of a heavy legacy game.
Are character abilities really important?
Yes, they radically change tactics. Some characters are strong in the early stages (scouting and protection abilities), others shine in advanced stages (clue enhancements, card manipulation). The party's choice and build greatly influence the difficulty of the final missions. It's not cosmetic.
Is it available in Italian?
Yes, this is the Italian edition published by Cranio Creations. Rules, mission cards, word lists, and campaign materials are all translated. Character and place names follow Italian conventions where possible, while retaining original names for iconic elements.
Codenames: Critical Role Adventures is a cooperative deduction game for 2-4 players, lasting 25 minutes, recommended age 10+. Designed by Vlaada Chvátil and Felix Podlesny, published by Cranio Creations and Czech Games Edition. The game brings the Codenames system into the Critical Role universe, with three narrative campaigns, seven iconic characters with unique abilities, a progression system, and final bosses. Each mission modifies the classic rules with special conditions and thematic word lists related to Exandria. Perfect for Critical Role fans and groups looking for a light cooperative game with a campaign structure. Available on FroGames.it.
Codename - Critical Role Adventures
Frequently Asked Questions
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