Remez is the Jewish word game the Shabbos table has been waiting for - a beautifully designed, frum-to-the-core hidden-hint game where two teams race to uncover their remazim (hints) before the other side uncovers theirs. If you’ve ever loved a good Codenames-style word-clue game, Remez is what happens when that mechanic gets rebuilt from the ground up for Jewish families — 400 uniquely Jewish words, Torah concepts, Yiddish slang, Shabbos staples, foods, and an adorable Yetzer Hara trap that will knock your team out if you guess it.

No electricity. No writing. No screens. No muktzeh. Just cards, words, and the people around your table - which is exactly why Remez has quickly become the go-to Jewish family game for Shabbos afternoons, Yom Tov sedarim, Pesach hotel lobbies, winter Motzei Shabbos, camp color war breaks, and classroom chaggigas. Perfect as a Chanukah gift, hostess gift, bar mitzvah gift, or housewarming present.

How to Play - A Proper Walk-Through

The Mission. All around us are remazim: hidden hints, quiet connections, the kind of things the Torah is full of. In this game, your team’s job is to surface them - one word at a time — before the other team surfaces theirs. And try not to hit the Yetzer Hara along the way. (More on him in a minute.)

1 · Set the Board. Lay out 25 word cards in a 5×5 grid. Split into two teams - Gold and Navy. Each team picks one Remez Giver (the hint-giver). The guessers sit together, facing their Remez Giver. The two Remez Givers sit side-by-side so they can both peek at the single Key Card - the secret grid that tells them which words belong to Gold, which belong to Navy, which are neutral, and which one is the Yetzer Hara.

2 · Who Goes First? The Key Card decides. A gold border means Gold opens - and gets one extra word to find (9 instead of 8). First team, first pressure.

3 · The Remez. On your turn, the Remez Giver delivers one word and one number - the hint, and how many board words it connects to. “Pesach - 2.” That’s it. No gestures. No hints about the hint. Just a clue and a count.

4 · The Hunt. Your team huddles, debates, theorizes. (“Matzah? Korban? Afikoman?”) When you’re ready to commit, tap the card, and place a Cover Tile on it. Tap = final answer.

• Tap one of your team’s words? Nice - keep going, up to your clue number plus one bonus guess.
• Tap a neutral word? Turn ends. No damage, just a pause.
• Tap the other team’s word? Oof. You just helped them.
• Tap the Yetzer Hara? Game over. Instant loss. The trap word is real.

5 · Keep a Poker Face. The single hardest rule: Remez Givers must stay completely stone-faced while their team guesses. No wincing, no smirking, no “hmm” sounds. Giving it away with your eyebrows is a classic Remez mistake - and a classic Remez laugh.

6 · Winning. First team to uncover all their remazim wins the round. Then you shuffle, swap Remez Givers, and go again. (Warning: “one more round” rarely stays one more round.)

Just Two Players? There’s a Mode for That.

Remez includes a built-in cooperative two-player variant. You and a partner play as a team against a simulated opponent, racing to crack your remazim before a ghost team “covers” their board. Keep score by how many of their words were still unsolved when you finished - a surprisingly addictive solo-ish challenge for a quiet Motzei Shabbos.

What’s in the Box

• 400 uniquely Jewish word cards - Torah terms, Yiddish slang, Shabbos staples, foods, Jewish concepts, and more.
• 200 “Can’t Win” cards - the guessing team’s commit tokens.
• 25 double-sided Key Cards - the secret grid that tells each team who’s who.
• 25 Cover Tiles - navy and gold markers, neutrals, and the single Yetzer Hara.
• 1 Card Stand - holds the Key Card upright for the Remez Givers.
• Rulebook + Full Glossary — every one of the 400+ words explained in simple, friendly language so beginners and seasoned yeshiva guys feel equally at home.
• Premium Box — sturdy, beautifully designed, and gift-worthy straight off the shelf.

Why Remez Works on Shabbos & Yom Tov

Remez was designed with Shabbos in mind from day one. No electricity, no writing, no timers, no phones - nothing digital, nothing muktzeh. Built so a Friday-night table can play with a four-year-old on one side and a zaide on the other, and everyone ends up smiling. It’s quickly become a staple at Jewish family game nights, Shabbos and Yom Tov afternoons, Pesach programs, camp color war breaks, mother-daughter gifts, and Chanukah stocking-stuffers that actually get played.

How It Compares to Codenames

Fans of the classic word-clue genre will feel at home immediately - Remez has that same “one-word-clue-plus-a-number” spine. But this is not a reskin. The 400-word deck is built entirely from Torah, Yiddish, Hebrew, and Shabbos/Yom Tov vocabulary; the Yetzer Hara replaces the generic “bomb” card with something thematically perfect; and a full glossary means nobody’s left stranded on a word they don’t know. A thoughtful, fully Jewish Codenames alternative, designed for our tables.

At a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to know Hebrew or Yiddish to play?
No. A full glossary is included - every one of the 400+ words is defined in simple, friendly English. Beginners and native speakers play on equal footing.

How many players can play Remez?
2 to 12+. The game scales beautifully for family meals, camps, classrooms, and larger Yom Tov groups.

Is Remez Shabbos - and Yom Tov friendly?
Yes. Remez was designed specifically with Shabbos in mind - no electricity, no writing, no timers, and no digital components.

What ages is Remez best for?
Ages 8 and up. Easy for children, engaging for teens, and laugh-out-loud fun for adults.

How long does a game take?
A single round runs 15-25 minutes - but most families end up playing two or three rounds in a row.

Does Remez make a good Chanukah or bar mitzvah gift?
Yes. Premium boxed presentation, universal family appeal, and a clean price point make Remez a go-to gift for Chanukah, bar mitzvah, housewarmings, and Yom Tov hostess gifts.