Comparison

Five Minute Mystery Timer vs Tabletop Codex

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

Head to head
About

Five Minute Mystery Timer

This timer app supports a real-time, cooperative tabletop game. It tracks remaining time for solving mysteries and offers encouraging reminders from the museum's curator.

Highlights
  • Real-time timer
  • Cooperative game support
  • Mystery solving countdown
  • Encouraging reminders
  • Curator character interaction
Features
Read full description

This timer is a companion app for 5-Minute Mystery, the real-time, co-operative tabletop game set in the fanciful Museum of Everything. This app keeps track of the time you have left to solve each mystery, while providing helpful reminders and encouragement from Scrubbles McBubbledy, the eccentric curator of the museum.

About

Tabletop Codex

Access and master tabletop game rules with meticulously crafted summaries. Learn and play faster with clear, organized, and searchable rulebooks, including visual references and game insights. Offers a free selection of rulebooks with options to purchase individually or subscribe for full access.

Highlights
  • Comprehensive game rule summaries
  • Organized and searchable library
  • Visual references and icons
  • Logical rule layout
  • Smart search functionality
  • Game insights and reviews
  • Light/dark mode customization
Features
Read full description

It’s never been easier to learn and master your favorite tabletop games! Tabletop Codex is your essential tool for reading and referencing game rules, featuring meticulously crafted summaries by The Esoteric Order of Gamers. Learn and play games faster, never make a mistake, and and never get stuck looking for that crucial rule again. Since 2004, The Esoteric Order of Gamers has curated the largest collection of game rules summaries and reference sheets worldwide. Complex rulebooks are condensed into clear, succinct summaries that retain every crucial detail. Finally, this expertise is available in a portable, searchable app designed for ease of use. Unlike other tabletop game rulebook apps, Tabletop Codex utilizes bespoke summaries optimized specifically for this platform. Each game's rules are reorganized into logical and consistent formats, transforming chaotic manuals into digestible sections that enhance learning and gameplay clarity. Key Features: • Comprehensive Game Coverage: Over 200 popular board, card, and tabletop miniatures games at launch, with new games added all the time. • Organized and Searchable: Easily find games using the intuitive visual or text FIND section, then favourite your chosen games to move them to the LIBRARY tab. • Visual References: Game rules include essential icons and images directly from the game. Tap icons to view full-screen images for enhanced clarity. • Logical Layout: Rules are divided into clear sections and subsections, ensuring effortless navigation and quick reference during gameplay. • Smart Search: Instantly locate specific rules with our innovative search mode, pinpointing exact sections where your search term appears. • Game Insights: Each rulebook includes a box image, game basics, and a concise review by Esoteric Order of Gamers creator, Peter Gifford. • Customizable Interface: Switch between light and dark modes with a tap. On iPad, utilize fullscreen mode for an optimized viewing experience. • Device Compatibility: Supports portrait mode on iPhone and both portrait and landscape modes on iPad, with added functionality for even easier navigation on the iPad. • Free Access to 5 Rulebooks! Start your gaming journey with 5 complimentary rulebooks included when you download the app. Each rulebook provides essential game summaries to enhance your gameplay experience right away. • Flexible payment methods: You can choose to buy individual game rulebooks separately, or subscribe to unlock the entire app and get full access to all existing and future rulebooks. Subscribe per month or opt for the special discounted yearly rate. Tabletop Codex is free to download and use. Should you choose to upgrade to Tabletop Codex Premium, we offer two auto-renewing subscription option for $3.99USD/month, and $39.99USD/year: Payment will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription renews automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours prior to the end of the subscription period. There is no increase in price when renewing. Subscriptions can be managed and auto-renewal turned off in Account Settings in iTunes after purchase. Once purchased, refunds will not be provided for any unused portion of the term. Read our full Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy at https://www.orderofgamers.com/terms-and-conditions/ and https://www.orderofgamers.com/privacy-policy/.

Screenshots

Five Minute Mystery Timer4 screens
Tabletop Codex4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Tabletop Codex at 95% against Five Minute Mystery Timer's 40%. Tabletop Codex also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.7) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 10 months). Five Minute Mystery Timer's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On price, ratings volume, ads 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

Both are free to download. Tabletop Codex sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Five Minute Mystery Timer asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Tabletop Codex holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 18 and 23 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Five Minute Mystery Timer's written reviews are positive against 95% of Tabletop Codex's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Five Minute Mystery Timer ships an update every 10 months, Tabletop Codex every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and June 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Five Minute Mystery Timer versus Tabletop Codex: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFive Minute Mystery TimerTabletop Codex
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (18 ratings)4.9 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews40.0% of reviews95.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1823 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size99 MB19 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWiggles 3DPeter Gifford

Customer experience

Five Minute Mystery Timer

All ratings18 ratings
Positive61.1%
Neutral5.6%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews25 reviews
Positive40.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative56.0%

Tabletop Codex

All ratings21 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews21 reviews
Positive95.2%
Neutral4.8%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Five Minute Mystery Timer

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Tabletop Codex

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$3.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$39.991 Year
One-time3
  • Tier 1 Unlock$0.99
  • Tier 3 Unlock$2.99
  • Tier 2 Unlock$2.99

Questions

Is Five Minute Mystery Timer free?
Five Minute Mystery Timer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tabletop Codex free?
Tabletop Codex is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Five Minute Mystery Timer or Tabletop Codex?
Tabletop Codex is rated higher. Five Minute Mystery Timer averages 3.7 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Tabletop Codex averages 4.9 from 23 ratings.
Do Five Minute Mystery Timer or Tabletop Codex have ads?
Neither Five Minute Mystery Timer nor Tabletop Codex shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Five Minute Mystery Timer or Tabletop Codex?
Five Minute Mystery Timer ships an update every 10 months, and Tabletop Codex every 11 days. Most recently, Five Minute Mystery Timer was updated on September 21, 2026 and Tabletop Codex on June 9, 2026.

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