CODENAMES companion vs Action Codenames
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.
Action Codenames
A fast-paced, team-based word association game for parties and gatherings. Players give and guess clues based on a 5x5 grid of words, aiming to identify their team's secret words before the opposing team or hitting a losing card. Offers offline play and multiple languages.
- Team-based word association gameplay
- 5x5 grid of secret words
- Spymaster clue-giving mechanic
- Offline play support
- Multilingual options
- Built-in rules and strategy tips
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Codenames is a fast, team‑based word association game built for parties, family nights, study breaks, and quick office fun. Two teams—Red and Blue—race to find all of their secret words on a 5×5 grid of 25 cards. The twist: touch the black card and you lose instantly. Each round has two roles. The Spymaster sees the entire key and gives exactly one clue: a single word plus a number. Operatives discuss and guess based on that clue. With “Animal 2”, you may guess up to three times (number + 1). Picking your color lets you continue; choosing an opponent or neutral card ends your turn; hitting the black card ends the game on the spot. Red needs 9 words; Blue needs 8. A clean, modern interface keeps everyone focused: a clear current‑turn indicator, crisp card layout, smooth animations, score cards with progress bars, and handy one‑tap controls (New Game, End Turn, View Team). The dedicated Team view lists your team’s words—revealed and remaining—so you can decide whether to press your luck or bank the lead. If the game ends, a friendly Game Over screen summarizes the result and lets you restart immediately. Built‑in rules cover the objective, setup (9/8/7/1 split), roles, “clue + number” format, restrictions, and examples. Practical tips and an advanced strategy section help Spymasters craft multi‑card clues (categories, hypernyms, shared context) and help Operatives debate links, avoid traps, and converge on the safest picks. Robust local word libraries power high replayability: fruits, vehicles, school supplies, animals, weather and nature, places and buildings, family, sports, seasons and nature, food and drinks, colors, occupations, electronics, clothing, toys and games, gems and minerals, and more. Every new game shuffles a fresh 25‑word grid with the asymmetric distribution that keeps tension high and choices meaningful. Multilingual and classroom‑friendly: English, German, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, and Korean. Switch languages instantly; the grid regenerates on the spot. Fully playable offline—no sign‑up or connection required—so you can play anywhere. Why you’ll love it: Quick to teach, deep to master; perfect for mixed groups Laughs, tension, and real “aha!” moments in minutes Fast turns and near‑infinite replay value Thoughtful design that prioritizes readability Start a new game in seconds, give your first clue, and watch the table come alive. This digital adaptation pays homage to the classic party word game by Czech designer Vlaada Chvátil—faithful to team spirit and clever associations.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: CODENAMES companion at 50% against Action Codenames's 0%. CODENAMES companion also leads on ratings volume (54 vs 1) and rating (3.2 vs 3.0). Action Codenames's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
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 holds the better App Store score, 3.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CODENAMES companion has 54 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of CODENAMES companion's written reviews are positive against 0% of Action Codenames's.
CODENAMES companion ships an update every 2 months, Action Codenames every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CODENAMES companion | Action Codenames |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.2 (54 ratings) — better | 3.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 54 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 135 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CGE Digital s.r.o. | 梦成 李 |
Customer experience
CODENAMES companion
Action Codenames
In-app purchases
CODENAMES companion
No in-app purchases
Action Codenames
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is CODENAMES companion free?
Is Action Codenames free?
Which has better reviews, CODENAMES companion or Action Codenames?
Do CODENAMES companion or Action Codenames have ads?
Which is updated more often, CODENAMES companion or Action Codenames?
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