In short: Zen – Shikaku is designed to be a calm, offline-friendly puzzle experience. We do not require an account, we do not sell your data, and we do not use advertising or third-party analytics trackers. Game progress and preferences are stored locally on your device.
1. Introduction
This Privacy Policy describes how Zen – Shikaku (“the App,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) handles information when you use our mobile application available on Apple App Store and Google Play, and any related services. Zen – Shikaku is a logic puzzle game where you divide a grid into rectangles — one number, one rectangle, every cell belongs somewhere.
By downloading, installing, or using the App, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the App.
2. Information We Collect
Zen – Shikaku does not require you to create an account or provide personal information such as your name, email address, phone number, or precise location to use the App.
2.1 Information Stored Locally on Your Device
The App stores the following data on your device using local storage (AsyncStorage). This data never leaves your device unless you back up your device through your operating system’s backup service (e.g., iCloud or Google Backup), in which case it may be included in that backup:
- Game progress — puzzle completion status, in-progress board state, solve times, hint usage, and solve history
- Player statistics — aggregate counts such as total placements, mistakes, undos, hints used, and the date of first play
- Achievements — unlocked achievements, daily puzzle streaks, and related gameplay milestones
- Art gallery — which artworks you have discovered and when
- Settings — your preferences for timer display, shape hints, haptic feedback, background music, and reduced motion
- Daily puzzle state — which daily puzzle was assigned to the current date
- Puzzle feed cache — a local copy of remotely fetched puzzle data for offline use
2.2 Information Transmitted Over the Network
When your device has an internet connection, the App may communicate with the following endpoints:
| Service | Purpose | Data sent |
|---|---|---|
|
Puzzle feed shikaku-puzzles.vercel.app |
Download new puzzle content | Standard HTTP request metadata (e.g., IP address, device user-agent, request timestamp). No account or personal identifiers are sent by the App. |
| Expo Updates u.expo.dev |
Deliver over-the-air app updates | App version, platform, and update channel information necessary to check for and install updates. |
These third-party services may log standard server data (such as IP addresses) as part of normal web hosting operations. We do not receive or store this server-side log data.
2.3 Information We Do Not Collect
We do not intentionally collect or process:
- Contact lists, photos, microphone audio, or camera data
- Precise geolocation
- Advertising identifiers for targeted advertising
- Analytics or crash-reporting data through dedicated third-party SDKs
- Payment or financial information (the one-time app purchase is processed by Apple or Google; we do not receive or store your payment details, and the App contains no in-app purchases or subscriptions)
3. How We Use Information
Information stored on your device is used solely to:
- Save and restore your puzzle progress between sessions
- Track achievements, statistics, and gallery discoveries
- Remember your settings and preferences
- Provide the daily puzzle and cached content when offline
- Deliver app updates through Expo’s update service
We do not use your information for advertising, profiling, or marketing purposes.
4. Legal Bases for Processing (EEA, UK, and Switzerland)
If you are located in the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland, we process information on the following legal bases:
- Performance of a contract — to provide the App and its core features as you request by using it
- Legitimate interests — to maintain, secure, and improve the App (such as delivering puzzle updates and over-the-air patches), balanced against your privacy rights
- Consent — where applicable, for optional features you enable (such as haptic feedback, which uses your device’s vibration hardware)
5. Data Sharing and Disclosure
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share limited information only in these circumstances:
- Service providers — hosting providers (Vercel for the puzzle feed, Expo for app updates) that process technical request data on our behalf to deliver App functionality
- App store platforms — Apple and Google process data according to their own privacy policies when you download, update, or review the App through their stores
- Legal requirements — if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request
- Business transfers — in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, subject to this policy’s protections
6. Data Retention
Data stored locally on your device remains there until you delete it. You can remove App data by uninstalling the App or clearing the App’s storage through your device settings. Cached puzzle data and settings are not retained on our servers because we do not operate user accounts or cloud sync.
Server logs maintained by our hosting providers are retained according to their respective policies and are not linked to individual App users by us.
7. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on where you live, you may have rights regarding your personal information, including the right to access, correct, delete, restrict processing, object to processing, and data portability.
Because Zen – Shikaku stores gameplay data locally on your device and does not maintain user accounts, the most direct way to delete your data is to uninstall the App or clear its storage in your device settings.
7.1 California Residents (CCPA/CPRA)
If you are a California resident, you have the right to know what personal information is collected, request deletion, and opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell or share personal information as defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA).
7.2 European Residents (GDPR)
If you are in the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, you may lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority. You also have the right to withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent, without affecting the lawfulness of processing before withdrawal.
8. Children’s Privacy
Zen – Shikaku is suitable for general audiences and does not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 (or the applicable age of digital consent in your jurisdiction). Because the App does not require registration or collect personal identifiers, we do not knowingly obtain age-related personal data. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will take appropriate steps to delete it.
9. International Data Transfers
The App may connect to servers operated by third parties located in the United States and other countries. If you access the App from outside those regions, your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in jurisdictions that may have different data protection laws than your country of residence. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards for such transfers.
10. Security
We take reasonable measures to protect information handled by the App. Local data is stored within your device’s sandboxed application storage. Network communications use encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS) where supported. However, no method of electronic storage or transmission is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
11. Third-Party Links and Services
The App may link to or open external content (such as app store listings) through your device’s browser or system interfaces. This policy does not apply to third-party websites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of Apple, Google, Vercel, and Expo if you wish to understand how they handle data:
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in the App, applicable laws, or our practices. When we make material changes, we will update the “Effective date” at the top of this page. Your continued use of the App after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised policy. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your data, please contact us:
Zen – Shikaku
Email:
daniel@danielengdahl.com
App: Zen – Shikaku (com.shikaku.app)
For App Store or Google Play support inquiries, you may also contact us through the support channels listed on the respective store pages: Apple App Store · Google Play