Comparison

Cypher vs Action Codenames

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Cypher

A secret word guessing game where players use a single word and a number to communicate clues. Connect with friends locally or stream the game to a larger screen for group play.

Highlights
  • Single word and number clues
  • Local multiplayer
  • Apple TV streaming
  • Secret word guessing
Features
Read full description

One word, one number - your favorite secret word game is now on iOS! Grab some friends to connect and play locally, or stream the board to your Apple TV.

About

Action Codenames

A fast-paced, team-based word association game for parties and gatherings. Players give and guess clues based on a 5x5 grid of words, aiming to identify their team's secret words before the opposing team or hitting a losing card. Offers offline play and multiple languages.

Highlights
  • Team-based word association gameplay
  • 5x5 grid of secret words
  • Spymaster clue-giving mechanic
  • Offline play support
  • Multilingual options
  • Built-in rules and strategy tips
Features
Read full description

Codenames is a fast, team‑based word association game built for parties, family nights, study breaks, and quick office fun. Two teams—Red and Blue—race to find all of their secret words on a 5×5 grid of 25 cards. The twist: touch the black card and you lose instantly. Each round has two roles. The Spymaster sees the entire key and gives exactly one clue: a single word plus a number. Operatives discuss and guess based on that clue. With “Animal 2”, you may guess up to three times (number + 1). Picking your color lets you continue; choosing an opponent or neutral card ends your turn; hitting the black card ends the game on the spot. Red needs 9 words; Blue needs 8. A clean, modern interface keeps everyone focused: a clear current‑turn indicator, crisp card layout, smooth animations, score cards with progress bars, and handy one‑tap controls (New Game, End Turn, View Team). The dedicated Team view lists your team’s words—revealed and remaining—so you can decide whether to press your luck or bank the lead. If the game ends, a friendly Game Over screen summarizes the result and lets you restart immediately. Built‑in rules cover the objective, setup (9/8/7/1 split), roles, “clue + number” format, restrictions, and examples. Practical tips and an advanced strategy section help Spymasters craft multi‑card clues (categories, hypernyms, shared context) and help Operatives debate links, avoid traps, and converge on the safest picks. Robust local word libraries power high replayability: fruits, vehicles, school supplies, animals, weather and nature, places and buildings, family, sports, seasons and nature, food and drinks, colors, occupations, electronics, clothing, toys and games, gems and minerals, and more. Every new game shuffles a fresh 25‑word grid with the asymmetric distribution that keeps tension high and choices meaningful. Multilingual and classroom‑friendly: English, German, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, and Korean. Switch languages instantly; the grid regenerates on the spot. Fully playable offline—no sign‑up or connection required—so you can play anywhere. Why you’ll love it: Quick to teach, deep to master; perfect for mixed groups Laughs, tension, and real “aha!” moments in minutes Fast turns and near‑infinite replay value Thoughtful design that prioritizes readability Start a new game in seconds, give your first clue, and watch the table come alive. This digital adaptation pays homage to the classic party word game by Czech designer Vlaada Chvátil—faithful to team spirit and clever associations.

Screenshots

Cypher3 screens
Action Codenames3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cypher at 88% against Action Codenames's 0%. Cypher also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.0) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). Action Codenames's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Cypher sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Action Codenames asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cypher holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cypher has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of Cypher's written reviews are positive against 0% of Action Codenames's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cypher ships an update every 3 days, Action Codenames every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Cypher versus Action Codenames: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCypherAction Codenames
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (14 ratings) — better3.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews87.5% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 days — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad — betteriPhone
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPitou Technologies, LLC梦成 李

Customer experience

Cypher

All ratings14 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%

Action Codenames

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Cypher

One-time3
  • Small tip$1.99
  • Medium tip$4.99
  • Large tip$9.99
None

Action Codenames

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cypher free?
Cypher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Action Codenames free?
Action Codenames is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cypher or Action Codenames?
Cypher is rated higher. Cypher averages 4.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Action Codenames averages 3.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Cypher or Action Codenames have ads?
Neither Cypher nor Action Codenames shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cypher or Action Codenames?
Cypher ships an update every 3 days, and Action Codenames every 3 weeks. Most recently, Cypher was updated on September 21, 2026 and Action Codenames on September 18, 2026.

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