Comparison

CODENAMES companion vs MadScientistWars

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

CODENAMES companion

This digital assistant enhances the physical board game by generating random key cards and providing an in-game timer. It streamlines setup and offers new grid configurations for a dynamic gameplay experience.

Highlights
  • Random Key Card Generator
  • Customizable Grid Setup
  • In-Game Timer
  • Device Sharing
  • Multi-Device Sync
Features
Read full description

This is a companion app, not a standalone game! To use this app, you’ll need a physical copy of Codenames, Codenames: Pictures, or Codenames: Duet. The Codenames Companion app is the official digital assistant for your favorite word association board game. Whether you're playing with friends or family, this app helps streamline your setup and brings new options to set up the grid. Features: Random Key Card Generator Set your preferences and generate unique key cards for every round. No two games will ever be the same! In-Game Timer Add some tension and keep things fast-paced. Set a custom time limit for players’ turns and keep everyone on their toes. Device Sharing or Sync Use one device for both spymasters, or sync across multiple devices using a simple code. Choose your preferred way.

About

MadScientistWars

Features
Read full description

2 player game. Opponent player can be on same device, nearby device, cloud or an AI. All possible moves are always visible to everyone all of the time. Goal is to capture the opponent's Mad Scientist OR get your Mad Scientist on the opponent's control node. To play, select a piece you'd like to move, and then one of the green-highlighted movement options. You can select ba move first and then see which pieces can perform that move.

Screenshots

CODENAMES companion4 screens
MadScientistWars4 screens

Verdict

The call

CODENAMES companion and MadScientistWars are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CODENAMES companion ships an update every 2 months, MadScientistWars every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
CODENAMES companion versus MadScientistWars: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCODENAMES companionMadScientistWars
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.2 (55 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews49.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings55 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size140 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Carl Cowan

In-app purchases

None

CODENAMES companion

No in-app purchases

None

MadScientistWars

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CODENAMES companion free?
CODENAMES companion is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is MadScientistWars free?
MadScientistWars is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do CODENAMES companion or MadScientistWars have ads?
Neither CODENAMES companion nor MadScientistWars shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CODENAMES companion or MadScientistWars?
CODENAMES companion ships an update every 2 months, and MadScientistWars every 5 weeks. Most recently, CODENAMES companion was updated on October 21, 2026 and MadScientistWars on October 15, 2026.

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