Why do I need to link my account before subscribing/purchasing?

For security and data integrity. Linking your account ensures that your purchase entitlements (VIP status, coin packs) are securely associated with a permanent identity in our cloud database (Firestore & RevenueCat). This prevents data loss if you uninstall the app or switch devices, as guest accounts are local-only and can be easily lost.

What is the difference between "Link Account" and "Switch Account"?

Link Account: This upgrades your current "Guest" profile to a permanent account (Google/Apple). Your existing guest data (coins, stats, progress) is migrated to the new account. This happens when the Google/Apple account is new and not compatible with any existing user in our system.

Switch Account: This logs you into an existing Google/Apple account that already has its own profile and data. Because you are switching to a different profile, your current guest session will be put aside (backed up locally), and the existing account's data will be loaded.

What happens to my existing guest profile data after I switch accounts?

When you switch to an existing account, your current guest data is temporarily backed up locally on your device. It is not merged with the account you are switching to. If you later sign out or unlink the account, the app attempts to restore your previous guest profile (name, coins, hints) from this local backup.

What happens if I unlink my account?

Unlinking removes the connection to Google/Apple and reverts your status to "Anonymous" (Guest). Your profile data remains on the device. The app attempts to restore your original guest profile settings (username, coins) from before the link, if a backup exists.
Warning: If you reinstall the app while unlinked, you will lose all progress as there is no cloud backup for guest accounts.

Why can't I unsubscribe directly in the app?

Subscriptions are managed directly by the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android) for security and privacy reasons. Developers are not allowed to cancel subscriptions on your behalf. You must visit your device's subscription management settings to cancel. The app provides a "Manage Subscription" link in the Shop to take you there.

In what situation do I need to send a manual delete account request?

The app provides an in-app "Delete Account" button that automates the process (requires re-authentication). You would generally only need to send a manual request (e.g., via email support) if:
- You are unable to access the app or sign in.
- The in-app deletion process fails repeatedly due to technical errors.
- You want to ensure specific data compliance (e.g., GDPR/CCPA) that goes beyond standard account removal.

How frequent is the daily standing refresh?

Updates are essentially real-time for your own completion, but global rankings and percentiles are synchronized with the server periodically. The system checks for ranking updates approximately hourly to balance data freshness with battery/data usage.

Why use local time instead of UTC for the daily puzzle?

To ensure the "Daily" puzzle feels natural to your day. Using local time means the new puzzle becomes available at midnight in your specific time zone, rather than at an arbitrary time (like 12:00 PM or 8:00 AM) which would happen if we used UTC globally. This prevents spoilers from users in earlier time zones and keeps the "morning routine" consistent for everyone.

What happens if I didn't finish the previous day's daily puzzle and a new one is available?

If you started a puzzle yesterday but didn't finish it before midnight:
- You can still continue and finish it.
- However, it will not count towards the Leaderboard (Average Percentile) for the new day or the previous day.
- It may still count towards your "Daily Streak" if completed within 24 hours of starting it.

What happens if I play a daily game and only complete it after midnight (the next day)?

Streak: If you complete it within 24 hours of when you started, your streak is preserved.
Leaderboard: You will not be eligible for the Daily Standings/Leaderboard ranking. The leaderboard requires completion on the same calendar day the puzzle was issued (local time).
Status: The game will be marked as completed, but you won't get a percentile rank for that day.

Why are the puzzles harder on some days?

We like to mix things up! Our puzzles from Monday to Friday are set to standard (medium) difficulty. However, Saturday and Sunday are "Difficult Mode." We design these weekend puzzles to be tougher, giving you a satisfying challenge to sink your teeth into during your downtime.

Can I play the game offline?

Yes, you can! Our Casual Games are fully available offline, so you can play anytime, anywhere. However, the Daily Game requires an internet connection. This ensures your progress is saved, your streak is updated, and your score is ranked on the global leaderboard.