Codenames vs The Resistance: Avalon
Side by side comparison of two top board games

Codenames
Codenames is a word-based party game where two teams compete to contact their agents first. Each round, a spymaster gives a one-word clue that can point to multiple words on the board. Their teammates must guess the correct words while avoiding the opposing team's agents and the assassin. Simple to learn but endlessly replayable.

The Resistance: Avalon
The Resistance: Avalon is a social deduction game where players are Knights of the Round Table on a quest to find the Holy Grail. Hidden among them are spies working for Mordred. Players debate, accuse, and vote to determine who goes on missions. This hidden-identity game is all about reading players and building trust.
Specification Comparison
| Spec | Codenames | The Resistance: Avalon |
|---|---|---|
| BGG Rank | 145 ✓ | 146 |
| Rating | 7.6 | 7.6 |
| Year Published | 2015 | 2012 ✓ |
| Price | 20 | 20 |
| Min Players | 2 ✓ | 5 |
| Max Players | 8 | 10 ✓ |
| Play Time (min) | 15 ✓ | 30 |
| Min Age | 10 ✓ | 13 |
| Complexity (1-5) | 1.29 | 1.77 ✓ |
Codenames wins in 4 categories, The Resistance: Avalon wins in 3 categories.