Comparison

Codenames vs Clue

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

Clue

Experience the classic murder mystery board game digitally. Gather evidence, interrogate suspects, and solve the crime. Offers multiple game modes for solo or multiplayer play.

Highlights
  • Digital board game adaptation
  • Gather evidence
  • Interrogate suspects
  • Solve murder mysteries
  • Classic and new game modes
  • AI and global multiplayer
Features
Read full description

Join fellow detectives all over the world in the official digital board game version of Clue! Gather crucial evidence, interrogate suspects and solve the original murder mystery. Follow Miss Scarlett, Colonel Mustard, Professor Plum, Chef White, Solicitor Peacock and Mayor Green through the iconic Tudor Mansion, unlocking their motives and alibis as you go. Enjoy Clue the way you remember it in Classic Mode, or jump in for a quick game with Clue Cards mode. Alternatively, if you want to really test your sleuthing skills, try a new investigation format available exclusively to Clue – Ultimate Detective. In Ultimate Detective Mode, everyone answers suggestions at the same time…but secretly! Face your suspects in a direct interrogation as you rely on your skills of deduction to get to the truth. Experience the mystery, solve the murder and become a top-tier detective! HOW TO PLAY CLUE: 1. Three cards are dealt face-down and set aside – this is the solution to the crime! 2. Everyone is dealt three cards. These are automatically crossed off your clue sheet, as they can’t be part of the solution. 3. Roll the dice and move around the board. 4. When you enter a room, you can make a suggestion – select who you think the murderer is, what weapon they used and where the crime happened. 5. Other players will then aim to disprove your suggestion; if one of your suggestions matches a card in their hand, they show you that card to disprove it. 6. Use your clue sheet to keep track of which characters, weapons and rooms have been disproven. 7. Think you’ve figured it out? It’s time to make an accusation! Be careful though – if you’re right, you win, but if you are wrong, you’re out! FEATURES - THE CLASSIC TUDOR MANSION – Play the beloved original board game, now rendered in stunning 3D animation and entirely ad-free! - A BRAND-NEW GAME MODE – Exclusive to the digital version of Clue, Ultimate Detective Mode lets you interrogate multiple characters at once. - MULTIPLE MODES – Compete against cutting-edge AI opponents that adapt to your skill level for the perfect game, or challenge detectives around the world. - ADDITIONAL ORIGINAL CONTENT – What happened after the shocking events of Tudor Mansion? Find out in a series of original new crime scenes designed specifically for the digital version of Clue! New characters emerge, bringing with them new clues, motives and case files to consider as you travel around the world in search of the truth. Sharpen your mind with the iconic murder-mystery board game, now available on mobile!

Screenshots

Codenames4 screens
Clue4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Codenames at none against Clue's 27. Codenames also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). Clue's advantage is ratings volume (4K vs 1.1K). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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 Clue $4.99 up front. Clue sells 26 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 Clue. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 59% of Clue's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Clue every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Codenames versus Clue: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodenamesClue
Price$4.99$4.99
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings)4.8 (4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.3% of reviews — better59.1% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K4K — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#10 — better#26
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size221 MB1.3 GB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Marmalade Game Studio Limited

Customer experience

Codenames

All ratings1,090 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral2.5%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews439 reviews
Positive66.3%
Neutral14.6%
Negative19.1%

Clue

All ratings3,988 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral2.8%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews164 reviews
Positive59.1%
Neutral20.7%
Negative20.1%

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

Clue

From 4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent graphics and animations
  • 👍 Variety of game modes and options
  • 🎨 Enjoyable character designs
  • 🕹️ Fun and engaging gameplay
  • 🕵️‍♀️ Challenging detective elements

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 📃 Small and hard-to-read clue sheet
  • 🕹️ AI opponents not challenging enough
  • 💰 Expensive DLC
  • 🔀 Character token movement issues

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

Clue

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Clue card progress not saving properly
  • Game freezing or crashing on certain actions
  • Incorrect character starting positions
  • Ability to make illegal moves not prevented
  • Online matchmaking not working as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Pass and play multiplayer mode
  • Ability to customize player name
  • Larger clue sheet with zoom option
  • Improved tracking of completed goals/tasks
  • More diverse character selection

In-app purchases

None

Codenames

No in-app purchases

26 purchases

Clue

One-time26
  • Black Adder Green$2.99
  • Black Adder Mustard$2.99
  • Black Adder Plum$2.99
Show 23 more
  • Black Adder White$2.99
  • Black Adder Scarlet$2.99
  • Black Adder CaseFile Revisited$2.99
  • Whispering Pines White$2.99
  • Tropical Pack$3.99
  • Black Adder Resort Crime Scene$4.99
  • Winter Ball Records$4.99
  • Halloween Records$4.99
  • Noir Crime Scene Location$4.99
  • Whispering Pines Crime Scene$4.99
  • Black Adder Character Pack$5.99
  • WhisperingPines Character Pack$5.99
  • Ultimate Edition Sale$7.99
  • Black Adder Resort Bundle$12.99
  • Whispering Pines Bundle$12.99
  • PolarStation Crime SceneBundle$12.99
  • 2016 Edition Character Pack$14.99
  • Welcome Offer$19.99
  • Clue 2 Epic Crime Collection$25.99
  • Clue 2 Epic Crime Collection$27.99
  • Clue 2 Epic Crime Collection$29.99
  • Clue 2 Epic Crime Collection$34.99
  • Ultimate Edition$39.99

Questions

Is Codenames free?
Codenames costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Clue free?
Clue costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Clue?
Clue is rated higher. Codenames averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Clue averages 4.8 from 4K ratings.
Do Codenames or Clue have ads?
Neither Codenames nor Clue shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Clue?
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Clue every 2 months. Most recently, Codenames was updated on September 29, 2026 and Clue on October 1, 2026.
Which is more popular, Codenames or Clue?
Codenames currently peaks at #10 in the App Store charts, and Clue at #26. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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