CODENAMES companion vs MadScientistWars
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Random Key Card Generator
- Customizable Grid Setup
- In-Game Timer
- Device Sharing
- Multi-Device Sync
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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.
MadScientistWars
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
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.
| Parameter | CODENAMES companion | MadScientistWars |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (55 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 49.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 55 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 5 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 140 MB | 13 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CGE Digital s.r.o. | Carl Cowan |
In-app purchases
CODENAMES companion
No in-app purchases
MadScientistWars
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CODENAMES companion free?
Is MadScientistWars free?
Do CODENAMES companion or MadScientistWars have ads?
Which is updated more often, CODENAMES companion or MadScientistWars?
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