Codenames vs Ticket to Ride®
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 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.
Ticket to Ride®
Embark on a digital train adventure connecting cities across various countries. Compete with players worldwide, friends, or AI in this classic board game adaptation. Enjoy strategic gameplay with multiple modes, including asynchronous play and local couch co-op.
- Online multiplayer with global matchmaking
- Asynchronous play for busy schedules
- Single-player mode against advanced AI
- Local couch play option
- Strategic route building and ticket completion
- Multiple country maps and expansions
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Play the ultimate digital version of the multi-award-winning modern classic board game Ticket to Ride! Journey across various countries, connecting their vibrant cities and exploring their unique gameplay mechanics and bonuses on the way. Ticket to Ride offers a variety of game modes to suit you. Want to get competitive? Head online to challenge other players around the world and climb the leaderboards, or play with friends further afield in a private game. Got a packed schedule? Set up or join an asynchronous game and play across multiple days – we’ll notify you when it is your turn, so you can go at your own pace. Test out new strategies or keep it casual in single-player mode against state-of-the-art AI opponents. You can even make a game night of it with friends and family in couch play! Get to know a cast of unforgettable characters, each bringing their own tales to the table. Add new locomotives and carriages to your fleet with every expansion, and cement your name in railway history on the leaderboard! Become a railway legend in the iconic, fan-favourite modern classic! HOW TO PLAY TICKET TO RIDE®: Players are dealt a number of tickets and must pick a certain number to keep (depending on the map). Players are also dealt four train cards of various colours. This number can also vary depending on the map you’re playing on, but don’t worry – the AI takes care of this! Each turn, players can draw two train cards from the face-up pile, draw two train cards from the face-down pile, draw another ticket to complete, or use their train cards to claim a route! A claimed route is shown by placing train pieces along the route. When a player has three or fewer train pieces left, the last round starts. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner! FEATURES A TRULY SOCIAL TAKE ON MULTIPLAYER – Play online with friends or enjoy a seamless matchmaking experience when you challenge players from around the world. Alternatively, take on your friend sitting right next to you in couch play – use the free Ticket to Ride Companion App to really boost your couch gaming session! PLAY AROUND YOUR BUSY DAY – Set up a game in async mode and play a game across multiple days. SINGLE-PLAYER MODE DRIVEN BY EXPERT AIs – Powered by an innovative adaptive AI system, single-player mode offers a challenge for new and experienced players alike. AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE – Every moment has been brought to life with beautiful graphics that will immerse you in the adventure. STRATEGIC GAMEPLAY – Every game presents fresh challenges, and it’s your mission to work out the most efficient solutions. Collect points by completing tickets, linking destinations and building the longest route. Join the Marmalade Game Studio Discord server to connect with players, organise matches, see the latest news and updates, and take part in events!
Screenshots
Verdict
Codenames and Ticket to Ride® both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 66% of Codenames's written reviews are positive against 31% of Ticket to Ride®'s. Codenames also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 26). Ticket to Ride®'s advantage is ratings volume (12K vs 1.1K) and chart position (#4 vs #16). On price, rating, update cadence 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
Codenames costs $4.99 and Ticket to Ride® $4.99 up front. Ticket to Ride® sells 25 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 Ticket to Ride®. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ticket to Ride® has 12K ratings behind it against 1.1K, 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 31% of Ticket to Ride®'s.
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Ticket to Ride® monthly. Both last shipped on September 23, 2026.
| Parameter | Codenames | Ticket to Ride® |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.6 (12K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 66.1% of reviews — better | 30.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K | 12K — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #16 | #4 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 221 MB | 915 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | CGE Digital s.r.o. | Marmalade Game Studio Limited |
Customer experience
Codenames
Ticket to Ride®
User reviews
Codenames
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat 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
Ticket to Ride®
From 12K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Nice graphics
- ⏱️ Rapid play mode
- 🤝 Multiplayer functionality
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Difficulty seeing routes and trains
- 🎨 Confusing color schemes
- 🕰️ Slow animations
- 💰 Expensive expansion packs
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
Ticket to Ride®
Reported bugs
3 issues- Game freezing and crashing mid-game
- Incorrect scoring and card distribution
- Inability to rejoin interrupted games
Requested features
5 requests- Offline/local multiplayer mode
- Ranking/progression system
- Customizable UI/color options
- Ability to share purchased expansions
- In-game chat and notifications
In-app purchases
Codenames
No in-app purchases
Ticket to Ride®
- Bertie Hawkes$1.99
- Rocket Locomotive$1.99
- Erika Ford$1.99
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- Lumberjack Carriage$1.99
- Oil Baron carriage$1.99
- Dolomite Dynamite$1.99
- Mina Larsen$1.99
- Morten Jensen$1.99
- Europe Character Bundle$2.99
- 1910 Ticket Pack$3.99
- Ticket to Ride ChristmasBundle$4.99
- Nordic Map$6.99
- San Francisco Map$6.99
- Legendary Asia Map$6.99
- India Map$6.99
- Nordic Expansion$7.99
- India Expansion$7.99
- Legendary Asia Expansion$7.99
- Japan Expansion$7.99
- San Francisco City Expansion$7.99
- Heart of Africa Expansion$7.99
- Switzerland Expansion Bundle$7.99
- Europe Map$8.99
- Europe Expansion$9.99
- Round the World Ticket$29.99









