What is apterous?
apterous is a UK-based puzzle game where players compete to solve word and number puzzles. You can play in British English, French, German, Welsh, global English and a variety of other languages.
Register here, or log in if you already have an account.
Current Duel Leaders
| # | Player | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ross K | — |
Format: 6 rounds of 30 seconds.
[Vote for the next Duel's format]
Latest Pencils
Top Dog
| # | Player | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sam Manojlovic | 98% |
These are the finest bones dug up lately,
in Mr Dog's opinion (patent pending).
Discussions
15
1
4
Beanstalk Conundrums
Variant idea by Philip Aston. Status: Unconfirmed.
Any love for this? Presently, Beanstalk is only playable in Letters Attack, so would like to see it also playable in Conundrum Attack. Is this viable? 5, 6, 6, 7, 8, 8, 9, 10, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 letter ... [Read more] [More variant ideas]
24 0 9
Mobile play - in game chat to flash?
Game feature request by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
There's been a few new players recently who seem completely oblivious to the in game chat. (Maybe they just don't want to chat, which is fine, but I get the impression they just don't see it) I presume ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
8 0 1
CO:MK: Focal Finals/Open - Saturday November 29th
Announcement by George Armstrong. Status: Unconfirmed.
All to play for in two separate tournaments! Who will be our 2025 FOCAL champion? Date: Saturday 29th November 2025 Venue: Novotel Milton Keynes, Saxon St, Leyburn Ct, Heelands, Milton Keynes, MK13 7RA ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
23 3 2
The Maximilian
Game feature request by Roger Peak. Status: Unconfirmed.
Please can you add this award - to be given to anyone who achieves 1,000,000 career maxes? Chris Hare has achieved this today after many years of skill, persistence and all round max ability! Well done ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
6 3 7
Men and women!!
Brainstorm by Sarah M. Status: Unconfirmed.
I went for the word FIREWOMAN today and it was invalid. Yet the word POLICEWOMAN is valid, and lots of other words ending WOMEN/WOMAN still valid. I'm presuming the reason for this is because its now ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
6 0 1
Co:cester (Countdown in Worcester) 2025!
Announcement by Tom Stevenson. Status: Unconfirmed.
Mispronounced as many times as a Countdown contestant declaring a word they can’t define – Countdown is coming to Worcester! Roll up, roll up! And welcome to the debut Co-event in Worcester, Co:cester! ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
26 0 4
Put the full variant rules in Junior versions, for people less familiar with them
Game feature request by Phil Stanton. Status: Unconfirmed.
Mainly affecting the more infrequent / newer users, but currently the Junior variants (e.g. Touchdown Junior) just say something like "Same as Touchdown, but" ... which is all well and good if you know ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
47 6 17
Showing shorter possible words after letters rounds
Game feature request by Jonathan Dyke. Status: Unconfirmed.
For beginner players specifically, I think it would be very helpful to show possible solutions shorter than the maximum. Quite often the maximum is an extremely obscure word, and it would be useful to ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
18 9 11
A bit of patience when entering number target.
Game feature request by Jon Stitcher. Status: Unconfirmed.
This problem doesn't come up too often, mostly during spoilage but when running out of time and trying to solve the numbers or work out exactly where you are you have no time to put the number in the box ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
41 0 74
Zoomdown Season 5
Announcement by Darren Godfrey. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hello all. After a few discussions with folks, and having convinced myself that it'd be grand, I've decided to run a season 5 of Zoomdown. If you'd like to take part, and / or volunteer to be part of the ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
9 0 1
Co Stockport Times Saturday 14th June
Announcement by Mark Mills. Status: Unconfirmed.
Co-Stockport Saturday 14th July Amended times Doors Open 10:45am Draw 11:15am Play begins 11:30am Entries so far 30 [Read more] [More miscellany]
7 0 1
Countdown in Reading - 30 August 2025
Announcement by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
Countdown returns to Reading on 30 August 2025! Come and enjoy playing countdown in person with like-minded people in a fun and relaxed environment. Maybe you've seen co-events advertised but worry that ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
10 0 0
Option to search tickets by any specific user
Website feature request by Gevin Chapwell. Status: Unconfirmed.
At the moment when you're doing a ticket search, you can search for tickets filed by anyone or tickets filed by you. But I'd like to be able to select any specific user and search for the tickets filed ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
12 0 0
Co:Edinburgh 2025 - Saturday, 18th October
Announcement by Adam Beach. Status: Unconfirmed.
Aye, ye better believe it: October's annual Scottish FOCAL event is heading back to the capital. So, tighten your jobby catchers, crack open an Irn Bru, and whip out the haggis, cos we're gannie Edinburgh ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
9 1 0
Invitations to Co:Wat
Announcement by Eoin Jackson. Status: Unconfirmed.
Normally I will send out invitations to any potential interested parties re: Co:Wat?! This year I am undertaking a fairly onerous personal challenge (15 subjects in the Leaving Cert) which will take up ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
19 4 12
Pro-ranks - negative numbers
Website feature request by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
There's a handful of players with negative prorank ratings. I imagine this is pretty demoralising. My suggestion is that anyone with a prorank rating below a certain threshold (e.g. 20, but any other ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
29 4 5
Duel completion - prompt to vote for tomorrow's format
Game feature request by Ian Volante. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hello, I often forget to vote for tomorrow's duel format. A prompt would be nice, possibly on completion of today's duel. A pop-up would be somewhat intrusive, but maybe a link in the game window or something ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
32 3 7
DC to show non-maxes that beat you?
Game feature request by Andrew Hulme. Status: Unconfirmed.
No idea how this would work or whether its a stupid idea... but pretty frequently atm I declare say a 6 suspecting I'm missing a load of 7s, if there's a random 8 in there I don't get to see my ineptitude ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
7 0 8
Easiest way to browse other words you could have had
Brainstorm by Jon Stammers. Status: Unconfirmed.
What is the easiest way to check on other words you could reasonably have got in a game short of the max. I'm thinking especially of rounds where you and your opponent got 5s and 6s, for instance, and ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
12 0 0
Co:Blackpool 2025 - Saturday 13th September 2025
Announcement by Bradley Horrocks. Status: Unconfirmed.
As dependable as the rock-selling vendors on the pier, Co:Blackpool is back for another year! ———————————— Key information: DATE - Saturday 13th September 2025, doors open 11:15 ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
News
19 July 2025
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Ronan M Higginson, who lasted 108 rounds with a target of 17. Woof!
- The Duel was won by Conor Travers with a score of 140 from 140.
18 July 2025
- Ronan M Higginson's 105 - 2 game with Mr Dog received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×9]
- Conor Travers's game with The Duellist received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×2]
- Dylan Taylor tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Ravi Choudhary tied the high score for Junior Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Matthew Brockwell commented on Ronan M Higginson's game with Mr Dog. [+1 other]
- Dave Kempshall commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 10: Speed Numbers Attack.
- Matt OC tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Matthew Brockwell tied the high score for Speed Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Gabriel Thallon tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Nick W, who lasted 16 rounds with a target of 5. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 2 people (Chris Hare and Zohaib Rehan) with a score of 11 from 12.
17 July 2025
- Cammy L's 143 - 133 game with Charlie Harrison received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×5]
- Gabriel Thallon tied the record number of maximums for 9 Rounder with 9 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for Old 15 with 15 maxes.
- Owen Carroll commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 9: French Conundrum Attack. [+1 other]
- Dave Kempshall commented on Women's Euros & COPA 2025: Knockout Stage.
- Chas Maxwell tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Tal Lessner commented on his game with Mr Dog. [+5 others]
- Jon Stammers commented on Gav Grace's game with Apterous Velvet.
- Adam Latchford commented on his game with Apterous Prune. [+1 other]
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Hazel Drury tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Hazel Drury tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Hazel Drury tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Hazel Drury tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Mark Jeary-Fairbairn commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 8: Nasty Conundrum Attack. [+12 others]
- Elwin Carlos tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Fiona T commented on Eoin Jackson's game with Rowland Reeves. [+3 others]
- Tal Lessner commented on Sarah M's game with Tom Reynolds. [+1 other]
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Anan Nathan, who lasted 11 rounds with a target of 6. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 10 people (Fiona T, Mike Lee, Zohaib Rehan, Jonny D, Mark Murray, Andres S., Matt Hamer, Charlie Harrison, Jon Elmer and Brett Davids) with a score of 49 from 49.
16 July 2025
- Elwin Carlos tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Elwin Carlos commented on Last Ashwin Hero's game with Apterous Plum.
- Last Ashwin Hero's 10 - 180 game with Apterous Plum received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- Tal Lessner tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on APGA Tour 2025: Event 8: PGA - The Open - Round 2.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Hazel Drury tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Hazel Drury tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Chas Maxwell, who lasted 16 rounds with a target of 7. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 7 people (Gerry Tynan, Tom Cappleman, Jonny D, Tal Lessner, Martin Hurst, Ravi Choudhary and Jamie French) with a score of 9 from 10.
15 July 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Fiona T's 122 - 73 15 Rounder win against J Bartram! This week's vote is now open.
- Tom Finn tied the high score for Junior Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Cammy L's 143 - 133 game with Charlie Harrison received a self-nomination for Game of the Week.
- Stephen R tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Last Ashwin Hero commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 7: Aegilops Numbers Attack. [+2 others]
- Dave Kempshall commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 6: Junior 15.
- Tom Finn tied the high score for Junior Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Elwin Carlos's 200 - 0 game with Sherpa Shilty received a nomination for Game of the Week.
14 July 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
8 July 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by George Armstrong's 166 - 0 15 Rounder win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
7 July 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
2 July 2025
- News: A total of 40 Duel Necklaces were awarded for June 2025.
1 July 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Trevor MacEoin's 135 - 71 15 Rounder win against Anan Nathan! This week's vote is now open.
- News: The Duel for June 2025 was won by Tom Cappleman!
- News: Tom Cappleman has been crowned champion of Eurovision Song Contest (2025)!
30 June 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
24 June 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Andrew Hulme's 123 - 113 15 Rounder +2TB win against Philip Aston! This week's vote is now open.
23 June 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
20 June 2025
- New: apterous History: May 2025.
This website is not endorsed by or affiliated with Channel 4, the makers of Countdown, or any person associated with the aforementioned in any way whatsoever at all, never has been, never will be, and moreover is proud not to be. Yep.
Page generated in 1.2725 seconds. It's 00:45:14 on Saturday 19 July 2025 here at Apterous Towers. Design and all good stuff copyright © Charles Reams 2008–2025. In memory of Phillip Harcort Collinge, never forgotten. Some graphical and aesthetic elements by Matt Morrison and Jon O'Neill.