Choose Codenames
Choose Codenames if you want the Shared/Split Screen, Steam Turn Notifications, and Online PvP side of the pairing. Codenames launched in 2020.
Codenames vs The First Foreigner
Codenames and The First Foreigner both land in Indie, Casual on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both share Indie, Casual on Steam. Codenames (2020) is 5 years older than The First Foreigner (2025). The First Foreigner is free; Codenames is paid (Price unknown). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose The First Foreigner
Choose The First Foreigner if you want a Free To Play game with LAN Co-op. On Steam, it's free to play, so the barrier to trying it is zero. The First Foreigner launched in 2025.
Both Codenames and The First Foreigner sit in Indie and Casual on Steam and both list Multi-player, Online Co-op, and Co-op, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 Codenames |  The First Foreigner | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2020 | 2025 |
| Genres | Indie, Casual | Indie, Free To Play, Casual |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Unrated | Unrated |
| Price | Price unknown | Free to play |
| Steam reviews | — | 2 reviews |
| Multiplayer | Multi-player, Cross-Platform Multiplayer, Online Co-op | Multi-player, Online Co-op, LAN Co-op |
| Developers | CGE Digital | CYG |
Side by side
- Both share Indie, Casual on Steam.
- Codenames (2020) is 5 years older than The First Foreigner (2025).
- The First Foreigner is free; Codenames is paid (Price unknown).
- Both support cooperative play.
Codenames vs The First Foreigner — FAQ
- Should I play Codenames or The First Foreigner first?
- If you want chronology, Codenames (2020) came out before The First Foreigner (2025). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are Codenames and The First Foreigner similar?
- They overlap on Indie, Casual on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.
- Do both Codenames and The First Foreigner have co-op?
- Yes — both list a co-op category on Steam. Specifics differ: Codenames ships Online Co-op, Co-op; The First Foreigner ships Online Co-op, LAN Co-op.
- Is The First Foreigner free?
- Yes — The First Foreigner is a free-to-play Steam title. Codenames is paid (Price unknown).