erstwhile gameA little hindsight.
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Privacy policy

Updated November 9, 2026

This policy covers Erstwhile Game at erstwhilegame.online. Contact the site operator at support@erstwhile.online for privacy questions.

Game progress stays in your browser

The game stores your current portfolio, decisions, completed Daily results and practice-puzzle history in local storage on your device. We do not upload that progress to a server. No account is required, and progress does not sync between devices or browsers.

Clearing site data for erstwhilegame.online removes your saved progress. You can do this in your browser’s site settings. Private browsing, storage limits or browser settings may prevent progress from being saved; the game will show a notice if a save fails.

Cookies, analytics and advertising

This version does not install analytics, advertising scripts or tracking cookies. It uses local storage to support gameplay. If that changes, this policy will be updated and any required consent controls will be added before those services are enabled.

Hosting

Cloudflare delivers and protects the website. In doing so it processes information such as your IP address, requested URL and browser request details. This is separate from the game progress that stays on your device. See Cloudflare’s privacy policy for its handling of personal information.

Sharing a result

When you choose Share result, your browser opens its sharing interface or copies the result to your clipboard. The shared text contains the puzzle date or mode, revealed years, portfolio value, benchmark and site link. It contains no account or personal identifier. Save image creates an image in your browser for you to download.

Email

If you email support, the operator receives your address and the contents of your message. They are used to answer your request and handle the issue you report. Do not include sensitive financial information. You can ask for deletion of your correspondence, subject to any legal retention requirements.

Your choices and rights

You can delete game progress by clearing browser site data. For questions about personal information in support correspondence, or to request access, correction or deletion, email the address above. Applicable law may provide additional rights, including the right to complain to your local data protection authority.

Children

This is a general-audience puzzle. We do not knowingly request personal information from children. If you believe a child has sent personal information to support, contact us so it can be reviewed and removed where appropriate.

Changes

The date at the top identifies this policy’s latest revision. Material changes to data handling will be described here.

A quick field guide

Five years. Three decisions.

You have $10,000 in a hidden year between 2005 and 2020. Can you grow it faster than the S&P 500?

  1. 1

    Build your portfolio

    Place 10 chips across four stocks, two other assets and cash. Each chip starts at $1,000. Put up to 4 on any option, including cash.

  2. 2

    Hold or change course

    At years 2 and 4, see your positions and a new historical clue. Hold keeps your actual holdings. Rebalance sells everything: divide the current total into 10 equal chips and place them again.

  3. 3

    See where you landed

    Year 5 reveals the dates, your return and the S&P 500 fund result. See the strongest possible strategy and how your result compares with all legal strategies.

Daily changes at midnight in your device’s local time. Unlimited includes 100 practice puzzles plus previously released Daily puzzles. Gold, silver, oil, bonds and commodities use the fund proxies named in asset details. No fees, taxes or trading costs are simulated.