Comparison

Action Codenames vs Diagonal Board

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

Diagonal Board

Features
Read full description

Diagonal - Strategic Board Game A board game so simple you'll learn it in 30 seconds. So deep you'll be replaying matches in your head for hours. Connect, block, and outmaneuver. Every move matters. Every game is different. THREE WAYS TO PLAY Single Player - Sharpen your strategy against an AI that adapts to your level. Start easy, climb to expert. The AI doesn't go easy on you forever. Play in Person - Pass the phone, settle the score. The fastest way to find out who really has the better mind at the dinner table, on a flight, or waiting for coffee. Play with Friends - Create a private online room, share the code, and challenge anyone, anywhere. No accounts, no clutter, no waiting. WHY PLAYERS LOVE DIAGONAL Easy to learn: one core rule, no tutorial overload Hard to master: every position has a perfect move, if you can find it Fast matches: most games end in under 3 minutes Beautifully minimal: clean design, no clutter, no ads in your face Plays offline: single player and pass-and-play work anywhere Quick rematches: one tap and you're playing again DESIGNED FOR REAL LIFE Diagonal fits the gaps in your day. Waiting for the bus. In line for coffee. Stuck on hold. The kind of game you open for one match and look up 20 minutes later wondering where the time went. No grinding. No energy timers. No pay-to-win. Just you, the board, and the next move. PERFECT FOR Strategy game fans who like chess but want something faster Couples and roommates who need a tiebreaker Long-distance friends who want a low-effort way to stay in touch Anyone who's bored of slot-machine mobile games Commuters, travelers, and coffee shop philosophers Download Diagonal free and play your first match in under a minute. Then try not to play "just one more." Your move.

Screenshots

Action Codenames3 screens
Diagonal Board4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Action Codenames at none against Diagonal Board's shown. Diagonal Board's advantage is update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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

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, Diagonal Board daily. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Action Codenames versus Diagonal Board: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAction CodenamesDiagonal Board
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer梦成 李Mathews Mannaparambil

In-app purchases

None

Action Codenames

No in-app purchases

None

Diagonal Board

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Action Codenames free?
Action Codenames is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Diagonal Board free?
Diagonal Board is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Action Codenames or Diagonal Board have ads?
Diagonal Board shows ads; Action Codenames does not.
Which is updated more often, Action Codenames or Diagonal Board?
Action Codenames ships an update every 3 weeks, and Diagonal Board daily. Most recently, Action Codenames was updated on September 18, 2026 and Diagonal Board on September 17, 2026.

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