Comparison

Action Codenames vs Secret Code

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

Head to head
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.

About

Secret Code

Features
Read full description

Secret Code is a team word game to play with friends in real time. Create a game and share a code or QR code so others can join in seconds. How to play: - Two teams compete to discover their words. - A “spy” gives clues about a word and a number. - Avoid neutral words... and, above all, the “killer” word.

Screenshots

Action Codenames3 screens
Secret Code4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Secret Code at every 2 days against Action Codenames's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Action Codenames ships an update every 3 weeks, Secret Code every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Action Codenames versus Secret Code: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAction CodenamesSecret Code
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer梦成 李Jose Manuel Malagn Alba

In-app purchases

None

Action Codenames

No in-app purchases

None

Secret Code

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Action Codenames free?
Action Codenames is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Secret Code free?
Secret Code is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Action Codenames or Secret Code have ads?
Neither Action Codenames nor Secret Code shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Action Codenames or Secret Code?
Action Codenames ships an update every 3 weeks, and Secret Code every 2 days. Most recently, Action Codenames was updated on September 18, 2026 and Secret Code on September 15, 2026.

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