Codenames vs Cypher
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.
Cypher
A secret word guessing game where players use a single word and a number to communicate clues. Connect with friends locally or stream the game to a larger screen for group play.
- Single word and number clues
- Local multiplayer
- Apple TV streaming
- Secret word guessing
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One word, one number - your favorite secret word game is now on iOS! Grab some friends to connect and play locally, or stream the board to your Apple TV.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Cypher at Free against Codenames's $4.99. Cypher also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 66%) and update cadence (every 3 days vs fortnightly). Codenames's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 14). On rating, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Cypher is free to download; Codenames costs $4.99 up front. Cypher sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Codenames 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 Cypher. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codenames has 1.1K ratings behind it against 14, 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 88% of Cypher's.
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Cypher every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Codenames | Cypher |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.6 (14 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.3% of reviews | 87.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 14 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #11 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 221 MB | 1 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CGE Digital s.r.o. | Pitou Technologies, LLC |
Customer experience
Codenames
Cypher
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
Cypher
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Codenames
No in-app purchases
Cypher
- Small tip$1.99
- Medium tip$4.99
- Large tip$9.99
