If it wasn’t the wordcraft that turned you off Codenames then I think Decrypto is a much better execution. The opposing team is also trying to make guesses using your information, which makes it more of a spy game, and there is less RNG involved in being dealt good words.

Other than that I enjoy Coup and Citadels, basically any Mafia style game, as well as games where everyone is dealt a similar hand like Libertalia and Oriflame.

The Resistance is a my preference for the secret role/social deduction style party game. One thing I really like is that it has no player elimination mechanics, you don’t have to worry about getting knocked out in round 1 and then just watching your friends play the remaining rounds.

Not necessarily spycraft, but Sheriff of Nottingham is a really fun bluffing game where you are trying to smuggle goods past the titular Sheriff.

coup

I didn’t get a chance to play it, just watch, but Coup looked really fun and is basically a game about bluffing about which cards you may or may not have.

Shadow Hunters is a secret roles type game with RPG elements to spice it up

Bluffing: Battle for Rokugan. It’s a territory control and strategy game in the vein of Risk but actually playable and not luck based.

Also bluffing, Spicy. It’s a €10 card game that’s great to start a board gaming session or something fun to do with a group that aren’t board gamers.

I quite enjoy secret hitler. It is quick and dynamic, like a snappier version of werewolf.

I don’t like codenames either. There’s a counterintelligence game I’m trying to find, though.