Codenames vs Potion Explosion
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Codenames
Engage in a strategic word game of deduction and teamwork. Give one-word clues to help your team guess associated words before the opposing team. Enjoy a blend of casual fun and deep thinking with turn-based multiplayer matches.
- Turn-based multiplayer
- One-word clue system
- Teamwork and deduction
- Multiple game modes
- Spymaster and Operative roles
- Logic and creativity challenges
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Codenames is available in ENGLISH, GERMAN, FRENCH, ARABIC, ITALIAN, PORTUGUESE, SPANISH, and CZECH. Codenames is a clever word game of deduction, teamwork, and strategy, inspired by the popular board game loved worldwide. Give one-word clues, link multiple words, and read your teammates’ minds to win before the other team does. Easy to learn, hard to master Codenames is simple to understand and instantly rewarding. Every match tests your logic, creativity, and intuition — a perfect blend of casual fun and deep thinking. Play at your own pace Turn-based matches let you play whenever you want, as much as you want. Start several games at once and return when it’s your turn — perfect for busy players. Smart fun for sharp minds If you enjoy games that make you think, this is for you. Every clue and guess matters — there’s no autoplay, no idle waiting, just pure wordplay and deduction. Why players love Codenames • Turn-based multiplayer — play with friends or online opponents. • Based on a beloved board game concept: give one-word clues, guess multiple words. • Exclusive twists and new game modes available exclusively in this version. • Choose your role — Spymaster or Operative — and master both perspectives. • One-time purchase unlocks a full experience — no freemium grind, no intrusive ads—just the pure enjoyment for the price of a cup of coffee for the dev team. Join millions of players and test how well you can get into the minds of others. Download Codenames today — the top multiplayer word game for clever thinkers.
Potion Explosion
This is a digital adaptation of an award-winning puzzle board game where players collect magical ingredients to brew powerful potions. Engage in tactical gameplay, trigger chain reactions, and compete against AI or players worldwide to score the most points.
- Official adaptation of award-winning board game
- Solo mode against AI
- Online multiplayer with worldwide leaderboard
- Tactical gameplay with strategic depth
- The Fifth Ingredient expansion available
- Magical universe with enhanced digital elements
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"Voted best 50 mobile games of 2017" ** The Fifth Ingredient expansion is now available! You'll meet the Professors, concoct unbelievable new Potions and unleash a new ingredient, the Ghost Ectoplasm, in this madcap expansion! The Fifth Ingredient also adds Reward and Scolding tokens. ** The official adaptation of Potion Explosion, the award-winning puzzle board game. Play this game solo or against players from all over the world with Solo, Online and Local Pass & Play modes! In Potion Explosion, you will explode ingredients, trigger chain reactions and gather it all in your caldron. You will then use your hard-earned unicorn tears, fairy dandruff and other magical ingredients to craft powerful mixtures with wacky effects! May the best wizard win! HOW TO PLAY At the beginning of the game, each player is given potions to complete with specific effects and ingredients. You will have to select ingredients in the dispenser; once your selected ingredient is removed, the ingredients above will slide down. If two ingredients of the same nature collide, they explode and you get them too! You can then use your ingredients to cook up your potions. You only have a limited tank space to store remaining ingredients from one turn to another, so choose carefully! Once a potion is completed, you score points, get to use its powerful effect and pick another potion to craft. The wizard with the most points wins! PREPARE FOR THE POTIONS EXAM IN SOLO Play against up to 3 adjustable AIs to sharpen your potion crafting skills! OR PROVE YOUR MASTERY IN MULTIPLAYER MODE! Play against wizards from all over the world online and get to the top of the worldwide leaderboard! To sum up, the game features include: • The magical universe of the board game, fleshed out and digitally enhanced • A tactical gameplay, allowing for different playstyles and strategies • A Solo mode against up to 3 adjustable AIs • An online Multiplayer Mode with a worldwide leaderboard • The Fifth Ingredient expansion: new rules and even more challenges with the arrival of Professors, new Potions and the new Ghost Ectoplasm ingredient. Available from the game shop! To find more information about Asmodee Digital, please go to http://www.asmodee-digital.com/potionexplosion Having an issue? Looking for support? Please contact us: https://asmodee.helpshift.com/a/potion-explosion/ You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asmodeedigital/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/asmodeedigital Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asmodeedigital/ You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/asmodeedigital Languages available: English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese (Brazil), Polish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese. *IMPORTANT* Potion Explosion requires an iPhone 5 (or newer), iPad 4th Generation (or newer), iPad Mini 2 (or newer), or iPod Touch 6th Generation (or newer)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Codenames at 4.7 against Potion Explosion's 4.0. Codenames also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (66% vs 40%). Potion Explosion's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On update cadence, ads and device support 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
Codenames costs $4.99 and Potion Explosion $3.99 up front. Potion Explosion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Codenames asks for nothing beyond the download.
Codenames holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 273 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 40% of Potion Explosion's.
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Potion Explosion every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Codenames | Potion Explosion |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $3.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.0 (273 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.4% of reviews — better | 40.2% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 273 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #12 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 221 MB | 192 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CGE Digital s.r.o. | Horrible Guild |
Customer experience
Codenames
Potion Explosion
User reviews
Codenames
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive gameplay
- 🎨 Excellent visual design
- 💰 Good value for money
- 🕹️ Engaging single-player modes
- 🤝 Enjoyable multiplayer experience
Room to improve
- ⏱️ 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
Potion Explosion
From 273 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and animations
- 🧠 Engaging and strategic gameplay
- 🕹️ Smooth offline experience
- 💰 Good value for the price
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔌 Drains battery quickly
- 🕰️ Online games prone to freezing and synchronization issues
- 🤖 AI opponents too difficult or too easy
Bugs and requests
Codenames
Reported bugs
2 issues- Initial launch with only Czech language support
- Occasional app crashes and server disconnections
Requested features
5 requests- 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
Potion Explosion
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to complete online games
- Incorrect scoring and game state displayed
- Potions and ingredients not functioning as expected
Requested features
4 requests- Notification system for online games
- Ability to undo moves
- Random selection of professors
- More challenging AI opponents
In-app purchases
Codenames
No in-app purchases
Potion Explosion
- The Fifth Ingredient$1.99
Questions
Is Codenames free?
Is Potion Explosion free?
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Potion Explosion?
Do Codenames or Potion Explosion have ads?
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Potion Explosion?
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