Bookish Challenges discussion
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2025 Codenames Reading Challenge
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2025 Codenames Reading Challenge Signups
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Rules Welcome to the Bookish Codenames Challenge! This game will test your bookish instincts and reward you with exciting reading tasks. Here's how to play:
Objective
Your goal is to complete as many tasks as possible, earn points, and avoid penalties. The game ends when all connection tasks, word in title and word in cover are revealed.
Setup
The List: The game features a list of 25 words (everyone will receive a different set). Each word is secretly assigned a category:
Connection Tasks (5 words): Choosing these will mean you would need to read any book that somehow connects to that word
Cover Tasks (5 words): Choosing these will mean you need to read to have that particular object on cover
Word in Title Tasks (5 words): Choosing these will mean you need to read to have that particular word in the title
Neutral Words (5 words): These have no effect—just your lucky break! You need to read any book that meets general guidelines
Penalty Words (5 words): Landing on these triggers a penalty. You need to either give 2 points or complete one of the penalty tasks
Clue master will provide clues to guide you through the list (Be aware and make the correct choice as sometimes clues can make you tempted on penalty words).
How to Play
Clues and Turns:
The clue master will give you a one-word hint (e.g., Magic). The clue master's objective is to hint toward words which are related to connection tasks, cover tasks, or words in title tasks (avoiding the neutral and penalty). The hint relates to one or more words in the list.
Based on the clue, you pick a word from the list that you think matches.
Revealing Words:
If the word is a Connection Task / Cover / Word in title , you will complete the challenge.
If the word is Neutral, nothing happens, just read any book that meets general guidelines and you move to the next turn.
If the word is a Penalty, you must complete a small penalty task.
Scoring
Connection Tasks: 2 points each
Cover Tasks: 4 points each
Word in Title Tasks: 3 points each
Neutral Tasks: 1 point each
Penalties: -2 points or complete one of the penalty tasks from below
Wild Words: 4 randomly assigned words may have special powers:
1- Swap a task for another eg: if you have "home" as cover - you can switch it to word in title / ask for challenge / change to neutral - you will get points based on the task you change it to
2- Skip a task completely
3- Skip a penalty completely
4- Substitute that word with any other word and complete that challenge accordingly eg: if you "home" as cover but you are reading a book with "girl' on cover you can change the word home to girl and complete that challenge
Skips
1 free skip is available, then 4 points per skip
Sample game Example List:
1. Magic
2. Romance
3. Detective
4. Hero
5. Library
6. Castle
7. Fantasy
8. Rivalry
9. Treasure
10. Dragon
11. Witch
12. Journey
13. Villain
14. School
15. Adventure
16. Quest
17. Girl
18. Prophecy
19. Warrior
20. Author
21. Books
22. Love
23. Power
24. Danger
25. Kingdom
Round 1: Cluemaster hint: Fantasy
Player chooses Dragon
The task was related to cover tasks so the player has to read for the dragon on the cover. Wins 4 points
Round 2: Cluemaster hint: Princess
Player chooses Romance
This was a penalty ( clue master was hinting towards castle)
Round 3: Cluemaster hint: Potion
Player chooses Witch
This was a related to connection tasks. Player reads any book connected to witch and wins 2 points.
Round 4: Cluemaster hint: Duel
Player chooses Warrior
This was a neutral word but this is also a wild word and gives you the power to skip a penalty task( cluemaster was hinting towards rivalry )
Wins 1 point
.. and the game goes on till you have finished for the 15 tasks: 5 cover, 5 words in title and 5 connection tasks
Participants 1. Anastasia
2. Richard
3. Fiona
4. Melissa
5. Elena
6. Shubham
7. Jasmine
8. Beth
9. Cat
10. Tori
11. Lucy
12. Jennifer
12. Leslie Ann
All threads updated with your 25 personalised words. Please note that your list is curated per your TBR - however you can read any book that fits the challenge
You will receive your first 3 cluemaster hints soon! Only books completed from 01st Feb will be accepted :)
Thread's up and first 3 cluemaster clues are posted for you to start guessing!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Sign-ups will close on July 31st 2025
The challenge is open-ended.
Only books completed from 1 February 2025 will be counted! You will get your first tasks before though to plan ahead
Comment here to sign up and I will create a challenge thread for you. Don't worry if the rules are not clear, I will guide you through :)