Terms of Use

These Terms of Use constitute a legally binding agreement ("Agreement", "EULA") made between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity ("you"), and HiddenFlame ("we", "us", or "our"), concerning your access to and use of the SoftChess mobile application (the "App") available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. SoftChess is a single-player chess-puzzle game: you solve mate-in-N puzzles on boards of varying size and shape, progress along a level map, fight bosses, and play timed warm-up and sprint runs.

By downloading, installing, or using the App, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all of the terms of this Agreement. If you do not agree to these terms, do not download or use the App.

HiddenFlame grants you a nontransferable license to use the App on any Apple-branded or Android-based device that you own or control, as permitted by the applicable App Store's usage rules. The terms of this Agreement will govern any content, materials, or services accessible from or purchased within the App, as well as upgrades provided by HiddenFlame that replace or supplement the original App.

Except as permitted by the applicable usage rules, you may not distribute or make the App available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices at the same time. You may not transfer, redistribute, or sublicense the App and, if you sell your device to a third party, you must remove the App from the device beforehand. You may not copy (except as permitted by this license and the applicable usage rules), reverse-engineer, disassemble, attempt to derive the source code of, modify, or create derivative works of the App, any updates, or any part of them — except to the extent such restriction is prohibited by applicable law, or permitted by the licensing terms governing use of any open-source components included with the App.

All rights not expressly granted to you are reserved by HiddenFlame.

You agree that HiddenFlame may collect and use technical data and related information — including, but not limited to, technical information about your device, system and application software, and peripherals — that is gathered periodically to facilitate the provision of software updates, product support, and other services to you related to the App. HiddenFlame may use this information, as long as it is in a form that does not personally identify you, to improve its products or to provide services or technologies to you.

SoftChess is playable without paying. The App may offer optional one-off purchases or auto-renewing subscriptions ("Subscriptions") that unlock conveniences such as a larger daily allowance of warm-up lives, sprint runs and boss fights, or cosmetic piece skins. The following terms apply to all purchases made through the App:

• Payment: Payment will be charged to your Apple ID or Google Play account at confirmation of purchase. Pricing and available plans are displayed in the App prior to purchase.
• Auto-Renewal: Subscriptions automatically renew for the same duration and price unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period.
• Free Trials: Where a free trial is offered, any unused portion of a free trial period will be forfeited when you purchase a Subscription, and payment will begin at the end of the trial unless cancelled beforehand.
• Managing & Cancelling: You can manage or cancel your Subscription at any time via your device's store account settings (Settings > [Your Name] > Subscriptions on iOS, or Google Play > Subscriptions on Android). Deleting the App does not cancel your Subscription.
• Refunds: All payments are processed by Apple or Google. Refund requests are handled directly by Apple or Google in accordance with their respective refund policies; HiddenFlame does not process payments or issue refunds directly.
• Price Changes: We may change pricing from time to time. Any price change will apply no earlier than your next renewal and, where required, will be communicated in advance in accordance with the store's rules.
• Entitlements are per store account. Because the App has no user account of its own, a purchase is tied to the Apple ID or Google Play account that made it and is restored through that store on a new device. We cannot transfer a purchase between store accounts.

The App may also offer an optional rewarded advertisement as a way to refill part of the day's allowance. Watching one is always voluntary and never required to progress through the game.

SoftChess does not require an account. Your progress — levels cleared, pieces earned, unlocked levels, settings, and the day's remaining allowance — is stored in the App's own storage area on your device only. We keep no copy and cannot restore it for you.

Pieces, lives, runs, boss fights, unlocks, skins, and any other in-game item ("Virtual Items") are a limited, revocable, non-transferable licence to use a feature of the App. They are not your property, have no monetary value, cannot be exchanged for money or anything of value, and cannot be sold, gifted, or transferred to another person or device. We may change the balance, price, availability, or behaviour of any Virtual Item as part of balancing the game.

You agree not to:

• Use the App for any unlawful purpose or in violation of any applicable local, national, or international law
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the App except where permitted by applicable law
• Modify the App's save files, memory, or network traffic in order to obtain Virtual Items or entitlements you have not been granted
• Attempt to gain unauthorised access to the App's underlying systems, services, or data
• Distribute modified builds of the App, or present the App or its assets as your own
• Interfere with or disrupt the operation of the App or the services it relies on

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the App if you violate this Agreement.

The App may enable access to HiddenFlame's and/or third-party services and websites (collectively, "External Services"), such as PostHog for anonymous analytics and the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for purchases. You agree to use the External Services at your sole risk. HiddenFlame is not responsible for examining or evaluating the content or accuracy of any third-party External Services, and shall not be liable for any such third-party External Services.

You will not use the External Services in any manner that is inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or that infringes the intellectual property rights of HiddenFlame or any third party. External Services may not be available in all languages or in your home country. HiddenFlame reserves the right to change, suspend, remove, disable, or impose access restrictions or limits on any External Services at any time without notice or liability to you.

The App itself is playable offline; a network connection is needed only for optional analytics, purchases, and any rewarded advertisement.

HiddenFlame is solely responsible for providing any maintenance and support services with respect to the App, as may be required under applicable law. Apple and Google have no obligation whatsoever to furnish any maintenance or support services for the App.

For support, contact us at softchess@multitools.ovh. The App also carries a feedback form in its Settings panel.

YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT USE OF THE APP IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE APP AND ANY SERVICES PERFORMED OR PROVIDED BY THE APP ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE," WITH ALL FAULTS AND WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, AND HIDDENFLAME HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES AND CONDITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE APP AND ANY SERVICES, EITHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND/OR CONDITIONS OF MERCHANTABILITY, OF SATISFACTORY QUALITY, OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OF ACCURACY, OF QUIET ENJOYMENT, AND OF NON-INFRINGEMENT OF THIRD-PARTY RIGHTS. NO ORAL OR WRITTEN INFORMATION OR ADVICE GIVEN BY HIDDENFLAME OR ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE SHALL CREATE A WARRANTY. SHOULD THE APP OR SERVICES PROVE DEFECTIVE, YOU ASSUME THE ENTIRE COST OF ALL NECESSARY SERVICING, REPAIR, OR CORRECTION. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES OR LIMITATIONS ON APPLICABLE STATUTORY RIGHTS OF A CONSUMER, SO THE ABOVE EXCLUSION AND LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

In particular, HiddenFlame does not warrant that the App will run without interruption or error on every device, that every puzzle will suit every player, or that locally stored progress will survive a device failure, an operating-system update, or the App being uninstalled.

TO THE EXTENT NOT PROHIBITED BY LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL HIDDENFLAME BE LIABLE FOR PERSONAL INJURY OR ANY INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF GAME PROGRESS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, OR ANY OTHER COMMERCIAL DAMAGES OR LOSSES, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO YOUR USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE APP, HOWEVER CAUSED, REGARDLESS OF THE THEORY OF LIABILITY (CONTRACT, TORT, OR OTHERWISE), AND EVEN IF HIDDENFLAME HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL INJURY, OR OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, SO THIS LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU.

In no event shall HiddenFlame's total liability to you for all damages (other than as may be required by applicable law in cases involving personal injury) exceed the amount of fifty euros (€50.00), or the amount you paid HiddenFlame for the App and any Subscription in the twelve (12) months preceding the claim, whichever is greater. The foregoing limitations will apply even if the above stated remedy fails of its essential purpose. Nothing in this Agreement limits or excludes liability that cannot be limited or excluded under applicable law, including mandatory consumer protection law.

HiddenFlame, not Apple or Google, is responsible for addressing any claims relating to the App or your possession and/or use of the App, including, but not limited to: (i) product liability claims; (ii) any claim that the App fails to conform to any applicable legal or regulatory requirement; and (iii) claims arising under consumer protection, privacy, or similar legislation, including in connection with the App's use of any third-party service (such as PostHog).

In the event of any third-party claim that the App or your possession and use of the App infringes that third party's intellectual property rights, HiddenFlame, not Apple or Google, will be solely responsible for the investigation, defence, settlement, and discharge of any such intellectual property infringement claim.

The App, including all associated trademarks, logos, text, artwork, piece models, puzzle catalogue, and software, is owned by HiddenFlame or its licensors and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. Nothing in this Agreement transfers any ownership rights to you.

SoftChess is built with the Godot Engine (MIT licence) and includes third-party assets used under their own licences — Lucide icons (ISC) and the Jua and Titan One typefaces (SIL Open Font License). Those licences travel with the assets and are unaffected by this Agreement.

You may not use or otherwise export or re-export the App except as authorised by United States law and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the App was obtained. In particular, but without limitation, the App may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S.-embargoed countries, or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department's Specially Designated Nationals List or the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Persons List or Entity List. By using the App, you represent and warrant that you are not located in any such country or on any such list, and that you will not use the App for any purpose prohibited by United States law.

The App and related documentation are "Commercial Items", consisting of "Commercial Computer Software" and "Commercial Computer Software Documentation" as those terms are used in 48 C.F.R. §12.212 or 48 C.F.R. §227.7202, as applicable. Consistent with those provisions, the Commercial Computer Software and Commercial Computer Software Documentation are being licensed to U.S. Government end users (a) only as Commercial Items, and (b) with only those rights as are granted to all other end users pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

This Agreement is effective until terminated by you or HiddenFlame. Your rights under this Agreement will terminate automatically without notice if you fail to comply with any of its terms. You may terminate this Agreement at any time by deleting the App and, if applicable, cancelling any active Subscription through your store account. Upon termination, you must cease all use of the App. Deleting the App also deletes the progress held on your device, and any remaining Virtual Items expire with it.

You must comply with applicable third-party terms of agreement when using the App — for example, your wireless data service agreement, and the applicable terms of the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

You and HiddenFlame acknowledge that Apple Inc. and Google LLC, and their respective subsidiaries, are third-party beneficiaries of this Agreement, and that, upon your acceptance of this Agreement, each will have the right (and will be deemed to have accepted the right) to enforce this Agreement against you as a third-party beneficiary thereof.

This Agreement and the relationship between you and HiddenFlame shall be governed by the laws of Poland, excluding its conflict of law provisions. If you are a citizen of any European Union country, or of Switzerland, Norway, or Iceland, you and HiddenFlame agree that any dispute or claim arising from this Agreement shall instead be governed by the applicable law of, and be subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in, your usual place of residence, without regard to any conflict of law provisions. Specifically excluded from application to this Agreement is the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods.

This clause governs your relationship with HiddenFlame as the provider of the App. It does not affect the separate terms that govern your relationship with Apple or Google as operators of the App Store or Google Play.

We may update this Agreement from time to time to reflect changes in the App, our practices, or applicable law. When we make material changes, we will notify you in the App or on this page at least 14 days before the change takes effect. The "Effective Date" at the top of this page will always reflect the current version.

Continued use of SoftChess after the effective date constitutes your acceptance of the updated Agreement.

If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding these Terms of Use, please contact us:

• General & support: softchess@multitools.ovh
• Data deletion requests: remove-softchess@multitools.ovh

For information on how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.