Frequently asked

Honest answers.

If you don't see your question here, send a note to support@manugames.com or ask in the Discord, I read everything.

Getting started

How do I get into the alpha?
Open the install guide for the TestFlight invite link plus step-by-step instructions for iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, or Apple Watch. You'll need Apple's free TestFlight app first if you don't already have it.
What devices does Tideward run on?
Every Apple device you own, Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, and Vision Pro. One purchase, every platform. No plans for Android, web, or Windows, Tideward is a deliberate native-Apple project, written in pure SwiftUI so it can live everywhere SwiftUI runs.
Is there a tutorial?
Yes. The alpha ships with a short, skippable tutorial that walks you through the core loops the first time you open the game, then gets out of your way. If you've played an idle RPG before, skip it and dive straight in, the game won't nag you about it.

Gameplay

How does offline progression work?

When you close the app, Tideward records the moment. When you open it again, the game simulates everything you would have done, at full speed, for up to 24 hours. You walk back to a screen of XP gains, drops, and crafted items, just like you'd been playing the whole time.

There is no offline-gain throttle, no ad-watch button to "unlock" your time, no premium tier that doubles it. Twenty-four hours, every time. Full math and design rationale here.

How many trades are there, and do I have to train all of them?
28 trades in total, 8 combat, 7 gathering, 9 artisan, 4 wayfaring. Browse every trade with descriptions and training tips. You don't have to train any of them you don't want to. Combat-focused players can ignore artisan trades entirely; gathering players can never swing a sword. Trades unlock content, but they don't gate progress in a way that forces a specific order.
Is it a clicker?
No. There is no "tap to gather" loop. You select an action, your character does it, and you watch the bars tick. The interesting decisions are which action and when to switch, not how fast you can tap.
How long is a typical session?
Designed for 90 seconds to 30 minutes. Open the app, set a new task, watch a few bars fill, close it, get on with your day. The game respects that you have one.
How does Tideward compare to Melvor Idle or RuneScape?

Same lineage, different bet. Tideward is built in the RuneScape-to-Melvor skilling tradition: multiple trades that level independently, gear and drops, and progress that keeps running while the app is closed. Melvor is deeper today and plays on almost anything; Tideward is native on all six Apple platforms from one purchase and computes its full 24-hour offline window on your device, with no server and no account.

Both comparisons are kept current, with a disclosure wherever we rank ourselves: 12 games like Melvor Idle and the idle games closest to RuneScape.

Privacy & data

What data does Tideward collect?

None that leaves your devices. There is no analytics SDK, no crash reporter that ships your stack to a third party, no advertising ID, no fingerprinting, no telemetry of any kind.

Crash reports, if you opt in via iOS Settings, go to Apple, not to me. I read aggregated, anonymized stats in App Store Connect, the same as any developer. Architectural deep dive on the privacy stance.

Where is my save file stored?
On your devices, and in your private iCloud container. CloudKit uses the same end-to-end encryption Apple provides for the rest of iCloud. I cannot read your save. Nobody at Manu Games can. See the full privacy policy for details.
Are there ads?
No, and there never will be. Not banner ads, not interstitials, not "watch a video to double your reward." None.

Sync & devices

Does my progress sync between all my Apple devices?
Yes, across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch, automatically, over CloudKit. Sign in with the same Apple ID and your save follows you. There is no account to create, no password to remember, no server of mine to go down.
What if I'm offline for a long time?
Your devices reconcile when they reconnect. The game prefers the most recent save and merges deterministically.
Can I delete my data?
Yes. You can manage or delete your game data anytime through your device's iCloud settings. Since I don't store anything on my servers, there's nothing to request deletion of on my end.

Pricing

How much will it cost?
The download is free, and a single one-time $9.99 unlock opens the full game. That one purchase covers every Apple device, iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro, and Apple Watch. No subscriptions, no in-app currency, no loot boxes, no battle pass.
The alpha is free, will it stay that way?
The alpha is free for testers, capped at the first 1,000, because you're helping me ship. When Tideward launches on the App Store on February 11, 2027, the download stays free and the full game is a single $9.99 one-time unlock. Alpha testers will get a fair deal, details closer to launch.

What's coming

Is there a roadmap?
Yes, see the public roadmap. It's grouped into Completed, In Progress, Coming Soon, and Future, with no specific dates because I'd rather ship the right thing than the dated thing.
Will there be multiplayer?
Tideward will always be a single-player game at its core. Optional opt-in features, leaderboards, leagues, seasonal events, are on the roadmap. None of them will ever require an account or share data without your explicit consent.
How can I suggest features or report bugs?
The fastest path is the Discord, there are dedicated channels for bug reports and feature suggestions. Every report gets read, and I regularly ship fixes and features based on community feedback.

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