Decoded — Describe words with emojis. Race to decode them.
Decoded is an emoji charades party game for 3-16 players. One player becomes the Describer and picks up to 5 emojis to hint at a secret word — everyone else scrambles to decode them first. Play in Team Race mode where a host judges guesses, or Free-for-All where the Describer rotates. Seven word categories, five languages, and a 1,700+ word database mean no two games repeat. Rounds move quickly since guessers can keep guessing after a miss, and with seven categories in rotation, a themed round of movies or LoL champions plays very differently from a round of everyday objects.
Decoded is a free online party game for 2+ players — no download, no sign-up. It runs in any browser on desktop, tablet, or mobile.
How to Play Decoded
- Pick your emojis — The Describer sees a secret word and picks up to 5 emojis from a 1,700+ emoji library to hint at it. No text, no sounds — just icons. A good clue balances obvious icons with a couple of unexpected ones — five emojis that are too literal give it away instantly, while five too abstract ones stall the round.
- Decode the clue — Guessers race to type the word. First correct answer gets 1st place, then 2nd and 3rd — speed matters.
- Judge the round — In Team Race mode, the host judges each guess. In Free-for-All, the Describer judges. Wrong guesses don't cost anything — keep trying.
- Score and rotate — Points go to the first three correct guessers plus the Describer. The role rotates next round. After the set number of rounds, the highest scorer wins.
Features
- Emoji charades for 3-16 players
- Team Race (host judges) and Free-for-All modes
- Seven word categories: food, movies, places, actions, objects, people, LoL champions
- 1,700+ word database across 5 languages
- In-browser play with built-in WebRTC video chat
- Streamer broadcast window for OBS
- Full i18n: English, German, Spanish, Portuguese (BR + PT)
- Session reconnect — refresh mid-game and keep your role
Frequently Asked Questions
How is Decoded different from Charades or Pictionary?
Decoded is text-free and language-agnostic — you communicate with emojis instead of acting or drawing. That makes it faster to learn and works across language barriers. It also runs in your browser with video chat built in, so no app store or setup.
How many players work best?
Free-for-All starts at 3 players. Team Race needs at least 5 (host + two teams of two). The sweet spot is 4-8 players — enough variety of guesses without anyone waiting too long.
Can I use my own word list?
Not yet — for now, Decoded pulls words from a curated 1,700+ word database in your chosen language. Custom word lists are on the roadmap.
Is Decoded free to play?
Yes. The core game — all categories, both modes, and the full word database — is free. Premium adds exclusive avatars, an ad-free experience, and early access to new games.
Do I need to download anything to play Decoded?
No. Decoded runs entirely in your browser, including the built-in WebRTC video chat, so there's nothing to install before you start a round.
Playing alone right now? Decoded needs 3+ players — start with BlindSpot, ThinkAlike or Zoomies instead: they play great with just 2 players or solo with bots.
About the Developer & Support
Decoded is developed and operated by GameBuddies.io, an independent browser party-game platform. Every game on the platform is free to play, runs directly in your browser, and gets regular updates.
Found a bug or have feedback about Decoded? Use the Feedback button on any page or reach us through the contact options on our About page — reports go straight to the developers.