Comparison

Codenames vs Bandido

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

Bandido

A cooperative strategy game where players work together to block a prisoner's escape route through tunnels. Easy to learn, it offers quick setup and engaging gameplay for families.

Highlights
  • Cooperative gameplay
  • Strategy and route building
  • Family-friendly
  • Quick to learn rules
  • Card-based mechanics
Features
Read full description

A high-security prisoner is trying to escape through tunnels starting underneath his cell. Will you be able to join forces and cards to stop him? Bandido is a cooperative game of strategy and route building for the entire family. It takes 30 seconds to explain the rules and start having fun!

Screenshots

Codenames4 screens
Bandido4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Codenames at fortnightly against Bandido's every 5 months. Codenames also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 9). Bandido's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Codenames costs $4.99 and Bandido $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Codenames holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codenames has 1.1K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 50% of Bandido's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Bandido every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Codenames versus Bandido: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodenamesBandido
Price$4.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better4.3 (9 ratings)
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K — better9
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#10 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.010.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size221 MB131 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Helvetiq SA

Customer experience

Codenames

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

Bandido

All ratings9 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative22.2%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

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

Bandido

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Codenames

No in-app purchases

None

Bandido

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Codenames free?
Codenames costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bandido free?
Bandido costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Bandido?
Codenames is rated higher. Codenames averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Bandido averages 4.3 from 9 ratings.
Do Codenames or Bandido have ads?
Neither Codenames nor Bandido shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Bandido?
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Bandido every 5 months. Most recently, Codenames was updated on October 15, 2026 and Bandido on October 6, 2026.

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