# Codenames: Word Board Game — user reviews > 444 indexed App Store user reviews of Codenames by CGE Digital s.r.o., rated 4.70/5 from 1,150 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenames-word-board-game/id1055650930/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/codenames-word-board-game/id1055650930.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,005 · 4★ 71 · 3★ 29 · 2★ 12 · 1★ 33 ## Is Codenames safe? Codenames: Word Board Game appears safe based on user ratings. The AppsHunter Safety Score for Codenames is 94 out of 100. This assessment is based on 1,150 user ratings, with an App Store average of 4.7 out of 5. Of 1,150 App Store ratings, 93.6% point to a safe experience, 2.5% suggest some concerns, and 3.9% point to a risky experience. ## Is Codenames legit? Codenames: Word Board Game appears to be a legitimate app. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Codenames is 100 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data. ## What do users think of Codenames? Reviews of Codenames are mostly positive: the game is rated 4.7/5 from 1.2K App Store ratings. What users like most: smooth and intuitive gameplay, excellent visual design. Top complaints: long wait times for other players, connectivity issues and server problems. Summarized from real user reviews. **Pros** - 🚀 Smooth and intuitive gameplay - 🎨 Excellent visual design - 💰 Good value for money - 🕹️ Engaging single-player modes - 🤝 Enjoyable multiplayer experience - 🔓 No microtransactions or ads **Cons** - ⏱️ Long wait times for other players - 🌐 Connectivity issues and server problems - 🌍 Cultural differences and language barriers - 🔒 Restrictive clue-giving rules - 🤖 Jury system allowing questionable words **Commonly reported bugs** - Initial launch with only Czech language support - Occasional app crashes and server disconnections **Most requested features** - Add Codenames Duet mode - Implement AI/bot players for faster games - Allow custom word packs and themes - Add a 'speed mode' for faster gameplay - Improve the jury system to maintain game integrity ## Newest reviews (14 of 444) ### 3/5 — Amazing Game, Decent App *2026-11-09, version 2.6.4702* I don’t mind paying a few bucks for a game if it means there aren’t any ads. This app layout is well designed, with plenty of fun goals/rewards to chase. Really the only problem is how long you have to wait for opponents to play back. I’d like to see them add some sort of game mode where you have to stay “live” or add some sort XP/incentive for players who play back fast. Overall it’s a great game with a decent app adaptation, but I hate waiting for others. I have 30+ games going at once and still I’m left with hours in between making moves. It makes it very hard to strategize and leads to a lot of words being repeated. ### 4/5 — Duet *2026-10-11, version 2.6.4702* So happy Duet is here! While this doesn’t hurt the star rating I have to admit I didn’t realize was going to have to pay for it as I understood once bought the app got everything… but it’s not a micro transaction or anything and worth the price! My main complaint is the achievements in Duet when playing with friends. I bought this game and especially duet to play with friends, not strangers. But because of that I can’t get most of the Duet Achievements… I realize this is probably because clues aren’t checked and you can chat so lots of ways to cheat … which once I wasn’t receiving achievements I got more liberal with! But I wish you could toggle that on and off each time you play … decide if want chat and more liberal clues but not achievement progress… or if you want that stuff like a stranger game and can work on achievements. That’s what I’m missing the most since I would much rather play with friends than strangers but it would be fun to be able to work towards achievements. ### 4/5 — Great Game…But There Needs To Be Fixes *2026-08-24, version 2.6.4579* I just started playing this game a couple of days ago, and I love it! I really like the adaptation of the board game and the additions of side games and achievements. It makes for a captivating game that you can spend a long time on. However, there is one issue that I have with this game which is the long wait times for a lot of the games. I mean some take hours to days to play. I know that the developers encourage to keep multiple games open so that you can play more, but I don’t that enjoy a whole lot. The reason why is that most of the games end up stalling near the last move and it clogs up the inbox. I would rather have games where I could complete all the way through with one play-through. So if there is a way to optimize the experience that would be great. With all that I said, I do recommend this game if you are a fan of the board game since it is really fun to play! Just be aware of waiting for a while for some games. **Developer response:** Hi there, Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you are enjoying the app as much as the original board game, along with all the additional features and achievements we've built into it. As you mentioned, we do encourage players to have multiple games running at once, but we completely understand that this playstyle might not suit everyone. The app is intentionally designed this way to offer flexibility: a huge portion of our players love being able to step away to put their kids to bed, cook a meal, or take a break during work or school without any pressure. If you prefer continuous, uninterrupted gameplay with just one match, we recommend building up a list of in-game friends and scheduling a specific time to jump into Friendly Missions together. Another great way to fill any downtime and sharpen your clue-giving skills is with the Daily Challenges. Also, we have some exciting news: very soon, we'll be releasing the Duet expansion! Since it is designed specifically for just two players, your wait times should be cut in half, and we are confident you are going to love it. Thanks again for your recommendation and support. We wish you many more fun hours building your secret agent career! Best regards, Your CGE Team ### 4/5 — Fantastic! *2026-08-23, version 2.6.4579* Really enjoy this game! Lots of opportunities for different words and challenges. My only real issue is the verdicts. So many non-words get approved simply because “ish” or “like” are added as suffixes to real words. Like cubed > cubedish and webbing > webbinglike. In most cases, the actual English words are a fine clue. Cubedish doesn’t add much to the word cubed and you could use webbed or webbing instead of webbinglike. It’s a cheap way to add a potential modifier to a word. For example you can’t say “not x” or “non x” as a false prefix for something it’s not. Why do people have such a hard time just sticking to the rules and English in these games? ### 3/5 — Brilliant adaptation but read the reviews first! *2026-08-22, version 2.6.4579* It’s a great adaptation of the party game BUT, I wish I had dug into the reviews before buying. There is some limited offline content but it is - as the devs say repeatedly in their responses here - primarily an asynchronous multiplayer game where your opponents will step away for apparently hours (days?) at a time If you’re looking for a faithful adaptation to just fire it up and play a quick game this is not that ### 4/5 — Good *2026-08-21, version 2.6.4579* App is good can we steer away from potentially racist/sexist clueing is there a way around it ? In the challenges I’ve noted some answers lean this way. **Developer response:** Dear Agent, thank you for bringing this to our attention. Creating a safe and welcoming environment for everyone is a top priority for us. We regularly review and monitor clues in the game, but we strictly enforce our community standards. If you ever encounter clues or behavior that are racist, sexist, or otherwise offensive, please report it to us directly at appsupport@czechgames.com (ideally with a screenshot or player details). Our team takes these reports seriously — we review all flagged content, issue warnings to players breaking the rules, and take further action (including temporary or permanent bans) when necessary. We really appreciate your help in keeping the game fun and fair for everyone! Your CGE Team ### 3/5 — So much fun, but do wish there was like a computer automatic system that could play the opposing sid *2026-08-12, version 2.6.4579* I do love this app. I just wish there was a way you could like. Kind of play with a computer because having to wait for people to respond is kind of annoying but I do get it. ### 3/5 — Fun but … *2026-08-12, version 2.6.4579* This is a fun game, but apparently it is not played in real time. After waiting over an hour for the other operative to play, I left the game to cook dinner. Then I got a message that if I left games I would be considered an “unreliable player “. How long am I expected to wait? I was going to ask friends to get this game so we could play together, but now I don’t think so. ### 2/5 — 日本語追加して欲しい *2026-06-09* お願いします **Developer response:** こんにちは！Codenames Appをご利用いただきありがとうございます。何かお困りのことや、サポートが必要な点がございましたら、お気軽に appsupport@czechgames.com までメールでお問い合わせください。喜んでお手伝いさせていただきます！エージェントとしてのキャリア開発において、楽しい時間をたくさん過ごせることを願っております。CGEチーム ### 4/5 — Can you please add the DUO Version as gameplay? *2026-06-06, version 2.5.4497* The game is so promising and well designed. A bit tough to get into but nice! Really waiting for the Duo Version where you can play 1:1 ### 4/5 — Over all a fun game *2026-05-29, version 2.5.4484* I had a fun time playing it with family and strangers the only downside about playing with strangers is that you have to wait a long time to actually play but a very fun game. ### 3/5 — Persian Language *2026-05-21, version 2.5.4469* I really enjoy playing Codenames on your website, and I think it is a great game. It would be amazing if you could add Persian language support to the app as well. Thank you! **Developer response:** Dear agent! Thank you so much for your kind words and love for Codenames! Unfortunately, due to capacity limits, we're unable to support all requested languages in the app. However, we hope you can find a language you enjoy among the 8 options currently available (English, German, French, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Arabic and Czech)! Wishing you lots of fun developing your agent career! your CGE Team ### 5/5 — تطوير اللعبه *2026-05-14, version 1.57.4430* اتمنى يكون فيه لاعبين اونلاين ماننتظر كثير باللعبه يصير طفش ### 5/5 — Worth it *2026-05-13, version 1.57.4430* Great but wish it were vertical instead of horizontal ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Do not recommend *2026-11-01* If you want to play Codenames:Duet — this is a paid dlc which you should buy inside the game, which costs more than original game. Solo queue extremely weird: there is a limit of 24h on a turn. So the game could run anywhere from 5 minutes to 3 days. No way to play solo queue with more comprehensible time limits. A lot of trashy achievements, cutscenes, solo puzzles and other attention traps, which you don’t need to have in such an extremely simple board game. ### 1/5 — Waste of money *2026-10-13, version 2.6.4702* Well that was a waste of money. I can’t tell if I’m playing against humans or bots. And there’s no timer for the games so I’m forever waiting on the opponent team to make a move and the game never progresses or finishes. **Developer response:** Dear player, We are really sorry to hear that the game didn't meet your expectations. To clear things up, there are no bots in Codenames—you are always playing with real people or your friends. The game is designed to be asynchronous, meaning each player has up to 4 days to make their move. Some players take their time, while others play faster. Many people jump into the game 2–3 times a day—while riding the bus, during a break between meetings or classes, during commercial breaks on TV or at night when the kids are finally asleep and they get a quiet moment for themselves. Some play for hours in one sitting, others in small bits throughout the day. That’s the beauty of its flexibility and freedom! To get the absolute most out of the app, we recommend: Playing more than 5 games simultaneously so you always have an active turn waiting for you. Trying the Daily Challenges, which are great for honing both your giving and guessing skills. Creating exciting clues—giving a clue for 5 cards is much more engaging and inviting for your team than a clue for just 2! Long story short, we would be thrilled if you gave the game another try with these tips in mind. We wish you many enjoyable hours developing your secret agent career! Best regards, Your CGE Team ### 1/5 — Not accessible with screen reader *2026-09-21, version 2.6.4579* I couldn't even get past the initial screen I see buttons on there with low vision but the screen reader rates absolutely nothing at all even on the initial screen great so disappointing because board games are otherwise easier with vision issues. And I have played this game on zoom with SIGHTD friends reading stuff so the gameplay is definitely accessible but yeah very very disappointing ### 1/5 — محد موجود اونلاين عشان يلعب! *2026-06-24, version 2.5.4507* اللعبه حلوه بس مشكلتها ما فيه لاعبين اون لاين، افتح القيم الحين له ٤ ايام مو قادرين نكمل لان ما فيه لاعبين! حسافة الفلوس فيها ### 1/5 — Makes No Sense *2026-06-21, version 2.5.4507* I played the game and enjoyed it up until I had to start creating clues… the game makes no sense. There should be a better tutorial or something…. Also, there is no explanation as to why certain words are associated with clues. It’s just blind guessing at times. ### 1/5 — Online play *2026-05-26, version 2.5.4475* Absolutely would not have paid for a game that is online play only. Fully defeats the purpose of a phone game. This was not listed anywhere I could find on the app page and I am very disappointed that gameplay is not accurately described anywhere in its listing. ### 1/5 — Dog water *2026-04-24, version 1.57.4396* At first, I thought I’d give this game a week to preform. I’ve had it two hours since installing for $5 and it’s the worst game i’ve ever paid for, let alone ran. It’s crashed 6 times since i unlocked the spymaster feature. An hour ago. This game is clearly full of bots. Don’t waste your money. There’s no real people. You will always play against ai. Worst $5 i’ve ever spent. For that amount of money without real players, atleast fix the game thrives. ### 1/5 — Broken Gameplay in Arabic Version – Exploited and Unfair *2026-04-23, version 1.57.4396* The Arabic version of this game has a serious gameplay issue that completely ruins the experience. Because Arabic contains many words and variations, players have found an easy exploit: they use the first letter of each word as a clue system. This basically bypasses the intended mechanics and turns the game into something unfair and uncompetitive. What’s worse is that a large percentage of players rely on this method—sometimes right from the start, but often switching to it when they begin losing. This removes any sense of skill, strategy, or fun. Instead of clever wordplay, the game becomes about exploiting a loophole that the system doesn’t seem capable of detecting or preventing. As a result, matches feel pointless, especially for players who want to play the game as intended. Until this issue is addressed—either by improving moderation, restricting certain clue patterns, or adapting the system for Arabic—the game will continue to feel broken in this language. I hope the developers take this seriously, because in its current state, the Arabic version is not enjoyable to play. ### 1/5 — Can’t actually play this game *2026-04-21, version 1.57.4396* I bought this expecting an offline game, but it’s online-only. Quick to find a match, but players don’t engage. I’ve waited 30+ minutes multiple times for spymasters to give clues or for players to answer. It’s infuriating. I feel like I wasted my money on a game I can barely play.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ ### 1/5 — Waiting for data. *2026-01-31* It was a good game but I cannot connect to servers due several weeks from different places and IPs (Russian or European over VPN). What’s wrong? Developers, you are losing players. Do you notice this situation? **Developer response:** Hi! We’re sorry for the trouble. We’ve faced intermittent short-term outages recently, but our team has resolved these server issues. Please give the game another try; it should run smoothly now! We value our players and hope you’ll stay with us. If you still face hiccups, let us know. Thanks for your patience! Your CGE Team ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Worth the money! *2026-10-02, version 2.6.4579* Developers are funny with updates, and have created a genuine and fun game. I very rarely get hooked to a game, and i can see my self playing this and improving my brain! ### 5/5 — Love this game *2026-08-22, version 2.6.4579* We often play the board game Codenames with our friends. This is a great alternative when you don’t have 4 people. We play games when we camp. The board game doesn’t work in wind, but the electronic version is a great alternative. ### 5/5 — Needs more to do *2026-08-09, version 2.6.4579* It’s a great game. Very well designed. The issue is: too many times there’s nothing to do. I’m waiting for other players to make their move. ### 5/5 — Great game with lots of added interest *2026-06-15, version 2.5.4507* I love the board game and was made-up to discover the online version. It can be a bit frustrating wait for responses, but overall it’s so much fun. ### 5/5 — Improvement upon the board game *2026-06-12, version 2.5.4507* I expected the regular board game but as online experience, what I received instead was a compelx system of progression, achievements, games and even some sort of decor. ### 5/5 — the best mobile game *2026-06-10, version 2.5.4497* Soo good to killl. time and whatnot; just wish there was more stuff to do offline, like maybe downloading daily cases also would like better image sharing functionality like being able to share hints you gave to previous games/rounds without it showing the answers to show off how cool of a hint u made ### 5/5 — Saving me $$$$$ *2026-06-07, version 2.5.4497* This has replaced gambling and other expensive go to’s. Plus it’s building my linguistic skills. ### 5/5 — Top game *2026-05-21, version 2.5.4469* I have hardly ever written an app or a game review but I must do it for Codenames. We own physical board versions which are among the most popular in our family. The digital version adds a whole lot of new features and game modes. I am totally addicted and keeping my eyes open for other CGE games! ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2026-05-19, version 1.57.4430* The online version of this game is beautifully designed and super intuitive. It reflects the board game version fantastically. My Only gripe is I feel that the $5 price tag scares some people away (even though it’s worth it). Hopefully one day the price can go down so more new players will start. ### 5/5 — Incredible game with an incredible community *2026-05-19, version 1.57.4430* I can’t praise this game highly enough! It is polished, gorgeous, and well worth the one-time cost to purchase. But what really makes the game shine is the strong community of thoughtful players. --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-11-13.*