Comparison

Codenames vs Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Turn-based multiplayer
  • One-word clue system
  • Teamwork and deduction
  • Multiple game modes
  • Spymaster and Operative roles
  • Logic and creativity challenges
Read full description

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.

About

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.

Highlights
  • Challenging puzzles
  • Procedurally generated bombs
  • Local multiplayer party game
  • Mobile portability
  • One copy needed
  • Mission and Free Play modes
Features
Read full description

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

Codenames4 screens
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Codenames versus Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodenamesKeep Talking & Nobody Explodes
Price$4.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better4.6 (85 ratings)
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews80.6% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better85
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#13 — better#25
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size221 MB210 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Steel Crate Games

Customer experience

Codenames

All ratings1,129 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews442 reviews
Positive66.3%
Neutral14.5%
Negative19.2%

Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes

All ratings85 ratings
Positive87.1%
Neutral7.1%
Negative5.9%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive80.6%
Neutral8.1%
Negative11.3%

User reviews

Codenames

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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 more
  • 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 more
  • Update for complicated wires module
  • Add voice update to mobile version
  • More bomb types and modules

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Codenames

One-time1
  • Krycí jména: Duet$4.99
None

Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Codenames free?
Codenames costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes free?
Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes?
Codenames is rated higher. Codenames averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes averages 4.6 from 85 ratings.
Do Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes have ads?
Neither Codenames nor Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes?
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes every 8 months. Most recently, Codenames was updated on October 20, 2026 and Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes on October 19, 2026.
Which is more popular, Codenames or Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes?
Codenames currently peaks at #13 in the App Store charts, and Keep Talking & Nobody Explodes at #25. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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