Codenames vs Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
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.
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
Work with friends to defuse a bomb by verbally communicating instructions from a manual. Solve challenging, procedurally generated puzzles under a time limit. This is a local multiplayer party game that tests communication and puzzle-solving skills.
- Challenging puzzles
- Procedurally generated bombs
- Local multiplayer party game
- Mobile portability
- One copy needed
- Mission and Free Play modes
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You’re alone in a room with a bomb. Your friends, the “Experts”, have the manual needed to defuse it. But there’s a catch: the Experts can’t see the bomb, so everyone will need to talk it out – fast! Rounds are fast-paced, tense, occasionally silly, and almost always loud. Whether it’s defusing a bomb or deciphering information from the manual, everyone has a crucial role to play. Put your puzzle-solving and communication skills to the test as you and your friends race to defuse bombs while attempting to communicate quickly before time runs out! Features • Challenging puzzles – Test the limits of your communication skills… and friendships? • A different bomb every time – Procedurally generated puzzles keep the action fresh. • A pocket party game for two or more local players – Bring it to your next game night, party, or event to play with friends. • Mobile portability – Shield your screen from the prying eyes of your Experts. • Only one copy of the game needed – Have friends join in as “Experts” with their own device. Share the Defusal Manual using AirDrop or visit bombmanual.com • In-person, multiplayer only – A team game intended for players in the same physical space. Online play is not supported. • Mission and Free Play Modes – Missions increase in difficulty as players face new modules and constraints are introduced. Unlock Freeplay Mode to set your own pace by creating custom bombs. Bomb Defusal Manual can be printed or viewed for free at www.bombmanual.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes at none against Codenames's 1. Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes also leads on review sentiment (81% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Codenames's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 8 months) and price ($4.99 vs $9.99). On rating, ads, monetization model and chart position 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 Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes $9.99 up front. Codenames sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Codenames against 4.6 for Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codenames has 1.1K ratings behind it against 85, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 81% of Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes's.
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes every 8 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Codenames | Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.6 (85 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | 80.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 85 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 8 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #13 — better | #25 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 221 MB | 210 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | CGE Digital s.r.o. | Steel Crate Games |
Customer experience
Codenames
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
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
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
From 85 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Highly fun and engaging
- 🤝 Great for parties and groups
- 💰 Worth the price
- 🤯 Intense and adrenaline-inducing
- 👨👩👧👦 Strengthens friendships
Room to improve
- 🗣️ Can be awkward in public
- ⚫ Screen sometimes goes black
- 🔊 No sound on iPad without headphones
- ❓ Morse code difficult to understand
- 🐛 Buggy in certain modules
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
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
Reported bugs
8 issues- Screen sometimes goes black
- No sound on iPad without headphones
- Complicated wires module issues
- Morse code difficult to understand
- Cut wire instruction bug
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Turkish language verification code issue
- Fixed back button on mobile
- Cut buttons next to wires on mobile
Requested features
8 requests- More levels
- Add sound to Morse code
- Visual suspense for bomb explosion
- More languages
- Add mods for iPad/Apple phones
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Update for complicated wires module
- Add voice update to mobile version
- More bomb types and modules
In-app purchases
Codenames
- Krycí jména: Duet$4.99
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Codenames free?
Is Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes free?
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes?
Do Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes have ads?
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes?
Which is more popular, Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes?
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