Codenames Duet keeps the basic elements of Codenames -- give one-word clues to try to get someone to identify your agents among those on the table -- but now you're working together as a team to find all of your agents. Players work together to reveal all fifteen agents -- without revealing an assassin -- before time runs out in order to win the game.
Either player can decide to give the first one-word clue to the other player, along with a number. Whoever receives the clue places a finger on a card to identify that agent. If correct, they can attempt to identify another one. If they identify a bystander, then their guessing time ends. If they identify an assassin, you both lose! Unlike regular Codenames, they can keep guessing as long as they keep identifying an agent each time; this is useful for going back to previous clues and finding ones they missed earlier. After the first clue is given, players alternate giving clues.