Comparison

Codenames vs Clank!

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 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

Clank!

Embark on a thrilling deck-building adventure where you sneak into a dragon's lair to steal artifacts. Be quick and quiet to escape with your loot before the dragon awakens. Acquire new items and abilities to outwit your opponents and survive the dungeon.

Highlights
  • Deck-building mechanics
  • Dungeon exploration
  • Steal artifacts from dragon's lair
  • Competitive multiplayer
  • Cross-platform play
  • Tutorial and challenges
Features
Read full description

Burgle your way to adventure in the award-winning board game! A New Adventure Begins! Clank!, the iconic deck-building board game adventure, challenges daring thieves to sneak into a dragon’s lair, steal one of her precious artifacts, and escape – before you’re roasted to a crisp! Winning fans and awards around the world, Clank! is one of the most-beloved modern board games, with a wide range of expansions and adaptations for players to enjoy. How Deep will you Delve? The deeper you go, the more valuable treasures you’ll find…but the harder it will be to escape! So be quick and be quiet: One false step and – CLANK! Each careless sound risks drawing the dragon’s attention. You’re competing against your fellow thieves to claim the most valuable prize…but you can only enjoy your loot if you make it out of the depths alive! Choose Your Path You’ll need a good pair of boots, a sharp sword, and all your roguish skills to survive in the dungeon. Along the way, you’ll acquire new items, abilities, and allies that will help you achieve victory! Blending deck-building and exploration, Clank! offers a unique dungeon-delving adventure each time you play." Many Ways to Play Learn the ropes in a guided Tutorial, then hone your abilities by collecting Achievements and completing Challenges. Play cross-platform against friends, or compete in exciting new Heists that put you up against players from around the world! However you choose to enter the dungeon: Good luck!...you’re going to need it!

Screenshots

Codenames4 screens
Clank!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Codenames at none against Clank!'s 2. Codenames also leads on price ($4.99 vs $10.99) and chart position (#16 vs #95). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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 Clank! $10.99 up front. Clank! sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Codenames 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 4.8 for Clank!. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 1.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 71% of Clank!'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Clank! every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Codenames versus Clank!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodenamesClank!
Price$4.99 — better$10.99
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings)4.8 (1.4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.1% of reviews71.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K1.4K — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#16 — better#95
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size221 MB477 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Dire Wolf Digital

Customer experience

Codenames

All ratings1,090 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews437 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral14.9%
Negative19.0%

Clank!

All ratings1,394 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral1.6%
Negative1.6%
Written reviews83 reviews
Positive71.1%
Neutral13.3%
Negative15.7%

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

Clank!

From 1.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun deckbuilder
  • 👍 Great adaptation of board game
  • 🚀 Intuitive to use
  • 👍 Excellent port of base game
  • 👍 Well-designed app

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy multiplayer
  • 🔧 Lack of controller support
  • 👎 Text too small on iPhone
  • 🐢 Slow on mobile
  • 👎 Cramped UI

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

Clank!

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Multiplayer issues
  • Async multiplayer results not visible
  • Tutorial blocks instructions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add expansions from board game
  • Accessibility options to increase font size
  • Option to skip/speed up animations
  • Easier invitations for private games
  • Improved AI opponents

In-app purchases

None

Codenames

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Clank!

One-time2
  • Sunken Treasures$8.99
  • Mummy's Curse$8.99

Questions

Is Codenames free?
Codenames costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Clank! free?
Clank! costs $10.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Clank!?
Clank! is rated higher. Codenames averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Clank! averages 4.8 from 1.4K ratings.
Do Codenames or Clank! have ads?
Neither Codenames nor Clank! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Clank!?
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Clank! every 2 weeks. Most recently, Codenames was updated on September 23, 2026 and Clank! on September 25, 2026.
Which is more popular, Codenames or Clank!?
Codenames currently peaks at #16 in the App Store charts, and Clank! at #95. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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