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 | Charlie Harrison | — |
Format: 6 rounds of 30 seconds.
[Vote for the next Duel's format]
Latest Pencils
Top Dog
| # | Player | % |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chas Maxwell | 96% |
These are the finest bones dug up lately,
in Mr Dog's opinion (patent pending).
Discussions
18
1
5
Where's the duel?
Game feature request by Martin Hurst. Status: Unconfirmed.
The duel has gone on holiday it seems! Anyone have an update? I know some bug request tickets have been submitted regarding this, but these are not seen on the front page, and I imagine this is a FAQ ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
8 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]
8 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]
5 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]
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]
18 7 8
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]
31 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]
24 0 3
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]
4 10 4
Make 100 a viable target in normal numbers rounds
Game feature request by Adam Latchford. Status: Unconfirmed.
There currently is a target range of 101-999. It has now appeared numerous times on the TV show (that this website is not affiliated with) that 100 is a target. Should be represented akin to a dictionary ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
46 6 16
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]
9 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]
41 0 56
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]
21 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]
28 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]
10 0 0
Co: Tunbridge Wells - Saturday 24th May 2025
Announcement by Gabriel Thallon. Status: Unconfirmed.
For some reason I have decided it would be a fabulous idea to host an inaugural Co: Tunbridge Wells competition in a few weeks time - just drumming up more support as well as FB and the forum page :). ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
10 1 7
Updating other language dictionaries
Brainstorm by Roger Peak. Status: Unconfirmed.
Can someone tell me - do the dictionaries for other languages ever get updated and what drives that ? [Read more] [More miscellany]
6 1 16
Mass nouns and actions...
Brainstorm by Fiona T. Status: Unconfirmed.
I'm working through a long list of mass nouns that have plurals in apterous. Food ones we allow because of the 'restaurant rule'. In the past, actions have been allowed - see discussion here https://www.apterous.org/ticket_view.php?ticket=6225 ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
5 0 2
Looking for specific episode that my friend appeared on
Brainstorm by Edmond Mitchell. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hi all, I was wondering if someone could help me to locate a particular episode of Countdown that my friend Ciarán appeared on who now has no copy. Its episode 6467 (https://wiki.apterous.org/Episode_6467). ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
34 1 32
Enable Facility To Delete Dormant Games
Game feature request by Phil Collinge. Status: Unconfirmed.
Since the move away from Java one slight negative is that dormant games never die. And occasionally they should be allowed to. In my case I started one game around two months ago against a human who, ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
News
1 June 2025
- News: The Duel for May 2025 was won by Tom Cappleman!
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Ian Wray, who lasted 11 rounds with a target of 6. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 58 people (Toni M, Amar Chotai, Richard Barnett, Tom Cappleman, Matthew Tassier, Ben H, Colin Thompson, Steven Oldham, Matt Hamer, Damian McEvoy, Dan Spinks, Martin Thomas, Tracey Mills, Nicole Carter, Dan Southwell, Andrew Hulme, Dave O'Donnell, Matt OC, Marcus Hares, Fiona T, Ravi Choudhary, Ian Wray, Gevin Chapwell, Suzy Turner, Adam Latchford, Paul Mcgivern, Luke S, John Beresford, Stephen R, Andres S., Mike Springett, Gulshan R, Anthony Endsor, Mike Lee, Michael Kane, Charlie Reams, Roger Peak, Chris Hare, Ray Wilding, Jim Goloboy, Keith C Williams, Alan Yei, Richard Freeland, Matthew Brockwell, Steve Ashley, Florence C-L, Jason C., Andrew Smith, Mark Jeary-Fairbairn, Rowland Reeves, Arthur P, Philip Aston, Trevor MacEoin, Ross Allatt, Robin M, Graeme Cole, George Armstrong and Matty Artell) with a score of 50 from 50.
31 May 2025
- Tal Lessner tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Speed Junior Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Junior Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Nice Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Junior Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Florence C-L tied the high score for Octorock Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- M S R tied the record number of maximums for 9 Rounder with 9 maxes.
- Robin M tied the high score for Nice Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Mark Jeary-Fairbairn commented on Reach your rating 2025: Round 16 - Lightning Goatblitz. [+7 others]
- Ian Wray commented on his game with Apterous Prune. [+1 other]
- Chris Hare tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Roger Peak tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on Ben Bazzard's game with Apterous Prune.
- Adam Latchford commented on Wesley Barton's game with Apterous Prune.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Roger Peak tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on Mike Lee's game with Adam Dexter.
- Mark Jeary-Fairbairn commented on APGA Tour 2025: vent 6: PGA - US Open - Round 1. [+5 others]
- Adam Latchford tied the high score for Junior Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Roger Peak tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Jon Stammers commented on Richard Decker's game with Apterous Prune. [+2 others]
- Roger Peak tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on Fiona T's game with Apterous Prune.
- Roger Peak tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on Matthew Brockwell's game with Apterous Prune.
- Thomas Carey tied the record number of maximums for 5-rounder with 5 maxes.
- Matthew Brockwell tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on Joseph Henry's game with Apterous Prune.
- Trevor MacEoin commented on his game with Apterous Prune. [+1 other]
- Ravi Choudhary commented on his game with Apterous Prune. [+1 other]
- Elwin Carlos commented on his game with Apterous Prune. [+1 other]
- Adam Latchford commented on Matt OC's game with Apterous Prune.
- Adam Latchford commented on Gerry Tynan's game with Apterous Prune.
- Adam Latchford commented on Premier League 24-25: Rounds 35-38 (May).
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Chas Maxwell, who lasted 15 rounds with a target of 7. Woof!
- Zohaib Rehan's 10 - 76 game with Apterous Rex received a nomination for Game of the Week.
30 May 2025
- Roger Peak tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on Sarah Binns's game with Apterous Prune.
- Adam Latchford commented on Steven Baldock's game with Apterous Prune.
- Adam Latchford commented on Archie T R's game with Apterous Prune.
- Patrick Thompson tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Meredie Cohen tied the high score for Junior 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.
- 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.
27 May 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Adam Latchford's 125 - 115 15 Rounder win against Tom Cappleman! This week's vote is now open.
26 May 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
20 May 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Adam Latchford's 122 - 112 15 Rounder +TB win against John Beresford! This week's vote is now open.
- New: apterous History: April 2025.
19 May 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
- News: Robin M has been crowned champion of Europa League (2024)!
- News: Dan Byrom has been crowned champion of Europa League (2025)!
18 May 2025
- News: Adam Latchford has been crowned champion of Everything Counts Champions of Champions III!
13 May 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Dylan Taylor's 86 - 0 win against The Duellist! This week's vote is now open.
12 May 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
6 May 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Sean D's 123 - 0 15 Rounder win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
5 May 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
4 May 2025
- News: Tom Cappleman has been crowned champion of AptoLeague (S33 League)!
2 May 2025
- News: A total of 44 Duel Necklaces were awarded for April 2025.
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