Comparison

Codenames vs Relic Run

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

Relic Run

Engage your logic skills by sliding stone tiles to unlock temple vaults and recover ancient relics. Explore diverse regions, make strategic choices in timed challenges, and build your expedition base. This puzzle adventure offers a fair and relaxed experience with no ads and offline play.

Highlights
  • Slide stone tiles to solve logic puzzles
  • Unlock temple vaults and recover relics
  • Explore 5 distinct regions
  • Timed vaults and challenging paths
  • Collect and display 30 hand-painted relics
  • Build and upgrade expedition base
  • Plays offline
Features
Read full description

Slide carved stone tiles out of sealed temple vaults, one move at a time. Every tile bears an arrow, and a tile can only leave the board when the path in front of it is clear. Every vault is a small logic puzzle with no luck and no hidden rules: read the board, find the order, and the doors grind open. PLAN YOUR EXPEDITION • Four vaults per expedition, each deeper and richer than the last • Choose the safe route or the risky one: timed vaults, cracked tiles that crumble, stone that blocks the way • Push on for a bigger haul, or bank your loot before the temple collapses RECOVER LOST RELICS • 30 hand-painted relics in 5 collections, from the Egyptian Treasury to the Frost Hoard • Restore 5 museum galleries and put every treasure on display • Grow your camp from a bivouac into a full expedition base EXPLORE 5 REGIONS • Jungle Temple, Forgotten Caves, Desert Ruins, Buried City and The Lost Sanctuary • Each with its own painted world, music and atmosphere FAIR AND RELAXED • Every board is checked to be solvable • A free hint in every puzzle, plus a compass, pickaxe and rope when you need them • A daily chest by the campfire and a streak to keep • No ads. Plays offline. Progress syncs with iCloud. Optional in-app purchases: gem packs and a one-time Starter Pack.

Screenshots

Codenames4 screens
Relic Run4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Relic Run at Free against Codenames's $4.99. Relic Run also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly). Codenames's advantage is ratings volume (1.1K vs 4) and chart position (#22 vs unranked). On ads and in-app purchases 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

Relic Run is free to download; Codenames costs $4.99 up front. Codenames sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Relic Run sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Relic Run holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Codenames has 1.1K ratings behind it against 4, 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 100% of Relic Run's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Codenames ships an update fortnightly, Relic Run every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Codenames versus Relic Run: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCodenamesRelic Run
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (1.1K ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.1K — better4
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#22 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size221 MB220 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperCGE Digital s.r.o.Oleg Nochka

Customer experience

Codenames

All ratings1,129 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.0%
Written reviews443 reviews
Positive66.1%
Neutral14.7%
Negative19.2%

Relic Run

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Relic Run

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Codenames

One-time1
  • Krycí jména: Duet$4.99
4 purchases

Relic Run

One-time4
  • Small Gem Pack$1.99
  • Starter Pack$4.99
  • Medium Gem Pack$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Large Gem Pack$9.99

Questions

Is Codenames free?
Codenames costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Relic Run free?
Relic Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Codenames or Relic Run?
Relic Run is rated higher. Codenames averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Relic Run averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Codenames or Relic Run have ads?
Neither Codenames nor Relic Run shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Codenames or Relic Run?
Codenames ships an update fortnightly, and Relic Run every 4 days. Most recently, Codenames was updated on November 11, 2026 and Relic Run on November 6, 2026.

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