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 | George Armstrong | — |
Format: 6 rounds of 30 seconds.
[Vote for the next Duel's format]
Latest Pencils
Top DogDiscussions
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2
Calling All Irish Apterites Countdown in Dublin Saturday October 4th
Announcement by Ed Byrne. Status: Unconfirmed.
I'd just like to inform any irish apterites of a yearly in person tournament I have been running in Dublin since 2015 It will take place in Urban Junction in Blackrock on Saturday October 4th from 11am. ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
5 2 0
CO:LON 2026 - Countdown in London - 21st February 2026
Brainstorm by Phil Stanton. Status: Unconfirmed.
It's the return of CO:LON - Countdown in London 2026 – a FOCAL Countdown event. WHEN Saturday 21st February 2026 Doors open at 10:45 am. Gameplay starts at 11:30. WHERE & GETTING THERE “The Venue”, ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
9 1 36
Rather Hard Quiz tournament thing
Announcement by M S R. Status: Unconfirmed.
A lot of you on here seem to enjoy some challenging quizzes. So I'm going to put this out there and see if this happens.If you were at CoBrum, it's like the lunchtime quiz there. RULES -Questions and ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
41 0 84
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]
14 0 4
Apterous still thinks there's GOTW voting when there's no nominations, and where's my ostracon?
Website feature request by Gevin Chapwell. Status: Unconfirmed.
This week there appear to be no games to vote on in Game Of The Week. But it still has the thing at the top of the page asking if you want to vote. This doesn't go away after you click "Take me there". ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
4 1 3
FOCAL First Aid Training - Saturday 16th August 2025
Announcement by George Armstrong. Status: Unconfirmed.
Good afternoon, Those of you who regularly frequent our FOCAL tournaments might be aware that one thing we proposed for 2025 was to organise a First Aid Training Day in light of some incidents that occurred ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
2 9 6
Good luck Paul Worsley at the Goliath Day 3!
Announcement by Matty Artell. Status: Unconfirmed.
Paul has beat out 10,000 players to make the final 40 at the Coventry Goliath, playing for a 6-figure top prize - he's 4th in chips and play resumes today at 11:00, it will be live streamed at https://youtube.com/@grosvenorpoker?si=m2i8g4sZuP-_qilA ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
5 2 2
Superbru Football Predictions League
Announcement by George Armstrong. Status: Unconfirmed.
Do you like football but don't have the commitment, knowledge or desire to be any good at Fantasy Football? Then why not join us over on Superbru in our Premier League Predictions tournament? You predict ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
12 0 4
Fantasy football 24/25
Announcement by Adam Latchford. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hi League is set up again for next season https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/9ezi6g If you were in the league last season and use your email again - you'll automatically be involved. ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
1 1 5
EFL Fantasy Football
Announcement by Stephen E. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hi all There's a few fpl leagues around, but I've created one for the EFL, which is the Championship and Leagues 1 and 2. The app is called EFL Fantasy Official. If you create a team and want to join ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
48 2 4
New character idea: Colin Murray
Game feature request by Philip Aston. Status: Unconfirmed.
This ticket was created by the Character Spindlomatic, which you should use to create your own characters! https://www.apterous.org/spindlomatic.php --------------------------------------- I suggest the ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
14 5 1
New character idea: Colin Murray
Game feature request by Aidan Dunbar. Status: Unconfirmed.
This ticket was created by the Character Spindlomatic, which you should use to create your own characters! https://www.apterous.org/spindlomatic.php --------------------------------------- I suggest the ... [Read more] [More feature requests]
25 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]
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]
2 3 2
Calling any co-event host who has used RoboRiley (not relevant for anyone else, sry)
Miscellaneous topic by Eoin Jackson. Status: Unconfirmed.
Hi there, I am planning on using Fiona's software to run some games with a few apto-pals over Zoom, but the trouble is conundrums. They need to be preloaded, and if one of us makes them, (obviously) that ... [Read more] [More miscellany]
48 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]
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]
News
26 August 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Tal Lessner's 200 - 0 Hypertouch Numbers Attack win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
- Dave Kempshall commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 46: Numbers Atack. [+1 other]
- Matthew Brockwell commented on Tracey Mills's game with Apterous Prime.
- Tracey Mills's 131 - 105 game with Apterous Prime received a nomination for Game of the Week.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Chas Maxwell, who lasted 10 rounds with a target of 5. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 17 people (Adam Latchford, Matthew Brockwell, Zohaib Rehan, Amar Chotai, Tom Cappleman, Ben H, Tal Lessner, Dylan Taylor, Brad Hill, Florence C-L, Matthew Tassier, Anthony Endsor, Dave Robjohns, Stephen R, Chris Walker, Ray Wilding and Martin Hurst) with a score of 57 from 57.
25 August 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
- Gabriel Thallon tied the record number of maximums for 9 Rounder with 9 maxes.
- Tracey Mills tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Dave Kempshall commented on his game with Apterous Prime.
- Gabriel Thallon tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Dylan Taylor tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Ian Wray, who lasted 15 rounds with a target of 5. Woof!
- The Duel was won by Chris Hare with a score of 127 from 140.
24 August 2025
- Brad Hill's 82 - 0 game with The Duellist received a nomination for Game of the Week. [×3]
- Nick W tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Tal Lessner tied the high score for Bullet Hyper Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Ned Telling tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Tal Lessner tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Dave Kempshall commented on Florence C-L's game with Thomas Carey.
- Tal Lessner tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Dylan Taylor tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Mike Lee tied the high score for Omelette Numbers 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 Ikenna Oguguo, who lasted 16 rounds with a target of 6. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 2 people (Matthew Brockwell and Dylan Taylor) with a score of 120 from 120.
23 August 2025
- News: Tom Cappleman has been crowned champion of The Apprentice!
- Florence C-L commented on Women's Euros & COPA 2025: Semis / Finals. [+4 others]
- Eoin Jackson commented on Weakest Link Numbers Tournament 2025: Sign-up page.
- Ravi Choudhary tied the record number of maximums for Unlimited Jnr Letters Attack with 20 maxes.
- Tom Cappleman commented on The Apprentice: The Final (Aegilops LA). [+2 others]
- Tal Lessner tied the high score for Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Dave Kempshall commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Weakest Link 44: Standard 15.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Jon Stammers, who lasted 14 rounds with a target of 6. Woof!
- The Duel was won by 2 people (Chris Hare and Zohaib Rehan) with a score of 110 from 140.
22 August 2025
- Matthew Brockwell commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 40: Portuguese Letters Attack. [+1 other]
- Rob Foster tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Dylan Taylor tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Adam Latchford tied the record number of maximums for Goatdown Jnr. 9 with 9 maxes.
- Matt OC tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Chris Hare tied the record number of maximums for 15 Rounder with 15 maxes.
- Mr Dog awarded the dog bone for best Top Dog performance to Fiona T, who lasted 14 rounds with a target of 6. Woof!
- The Duel was won by Brad Hill with a score of 82 from 85.
21 August 2025
- Gabriel Thallon tied the record number of maximums for 9 Rounder with 9 maxes.
- Tal Lessner tied the high score for Numbers Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Elwin Carlos tied the high score for Conundrum Attack with 200 points, and tied the record number of maximums with 20 maxes.
- Tal Lessner tied the record number of maximums for Numbers Attack with 20 maxes.
- Adam Latchford commented on People's Choice Weakest Link 2025: Round 42: Goatblitz.
20 August 2025
- New: apterous History: July 2025.
18 August 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
12 August 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Richard Decker's 118 - 0 Italian 15 win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
5 August 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Zohaib Rehan's 1029 - 0 Mocktorun win against Apterous Prune! This week's vote is now open.
4 August 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
2 August 2025
- News: A total of 43 Duel Necklaces were awarded for July 2025.
1 August 2025
- News: The Duel for July 2025 was won by Matt Hamer!
29 July 2025
- News: Game of the Week was won by Cammy L's 143 - 133 15 Rounder +TB win against Charlie Harrison! This week's vote is now open.
28 July 2025
- News: Updated ProRanks for this week.
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