This policy explains what happens to information about you when you use Vzzle (https://vzzle.com). We have tried to write it in plain language rather than boilerplate, because a privacy policy nobody can read protects nobody.
1. Who we are
Vzzle is an independent website that curates and writes about free browser puzzle games. For the purposes of the UK GDPR and EU GDPR, Vzzle is the data controller for the limited personal data described in this policy.
You can contact us at [email protected] about anything in this document.
2. What we collect
We do not ask you for personal information. Vzzle has no user accounts, no registration, no newsletter sign-up and no login. We never ask for your name, email address, date of birth or payment details in order to play a game.
The only information involved when you use this site is:
- Data stored in your own browser by us, which never leaves your device, see section 3.
- Data collected by third parties: our advertising provider, our analytics provider, and the providers of the games themselves: see sections 4, 5 and 7.
- Standard server logs generated by our hosting provider, see section 6.
- Anything you choose to send us, such as the contents of an email you write to us via the contact page.
3. Data we store in your browser
Vzzle uses your browser’s localStorage for a small number of functional features. This data is written and read only by this website, is never transmitted to us or to anyone else, and is not used to track you.
| Key | Purpose | Retention |
|---|---|---|
vzzle:theme | Remembers whether you chose the light or dark theme. | Until you clear browser data |
vzzle:favorites | The list of games you have saved with the Save button. | Until you clear browser data |
vzzle:recent | The last few games you opened, so we can show them again. | Until you clear browser data |
You can delete all of it at any time by clearing site data for https://vzzle.com in your browser settings. Doing so resets your theme and clears your saved games.
4. Advertising and Google AdSense
Vzzle may display advertising through Google AdSense. When ads are served, Google selects placements according to the site’s advertising settings.
When a Google privacy message is displayed, it explains the available advertising and consent choices for your region. You can reopen an applicable European consent message using Privacy & cookie settings in the footer when that control is available. A Google Do not sell or share link may also be shown for applicable US privacy choices. Visiting the site or pressing Play is not consent to advertising or analytics cookies.
The following applies to advertising on this site:
- Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and/or other sites on the internet.
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to this website.
You can opt out of personalised advertising at any time through Google Ads Settings, or opt out of third-party vendor cookies more broadly at aboutads.info/choices and youronlinechoices.com.
Google’s own handling of this data is governed by the Google Privacy Policy. Our Cookie Policy lists the specific cookie categories involved.
5. Embedded games and third-party content
This is the most important section to understand, so we have kept it explicit.
We do not host the games on this site. Each game is developed by an independent studio and delivered through Playgama. When you press Play, the game loads inside an iframe from playgama.com or, for Numicolor, numicolor.com.
We deliberately do not load that iframe when the page opens. Nothing from the game provider is contacted until you actively click Play. That means simply reading a game page sets no third-party game cookies at all.
Once you press Play, the game and its host also process information under their own privacy policies. They may set their own cookies, store their own progress data and collect their own analytics. We have no control over and no access to that data. If you want to know exactly what a particular game collects, consult Playgama’s privacy policy and the developer’s own policy.
6. Hosting and server logs
This site is hosted on Cloudflare Pages. Like effectively all web hosting, Cloudflare processes standard request data in order to deliver pages and protect against abuse. This can include your IP address, browser user-agent, the page requested and a timestamp.
Cloudflare’s processing is described in the Cloudflare Privacy Policy.
7. Analytics
Vzzle uses Google Analytics 4 to measure traffic: which games and guides get read, where visitors arrive from, and how people use the game controls. Google acts as our processor for this data.
What this does and does not involve:
- Analytics storage starts denied for all visitors before Google tags load. Google Analytics may send measurements without cookies while it is denied. After a supported consent update grants analytics storage, it may set two first-party cookies,
_gaand_ga_<container-id>, which distinguish browsers and hold session state. They are listed in the Cookie Policy. - Google uses IP addresses to provide the service and derive approximate location. Its handling varies by region; see Google’s explanations for EU, Swiss and UK traffic and other regions.
- We use traffic reports to understand site usage. We do not ask Google Analytics to collect your name, email address or account details.
- Game-control measurements include requests to play or restart, changes to saved favorites, and successful sharing or copying of a game link. These events identify the game and its category. They do not record moves, scores, or activity inside the embedded game. A Play request does not confirm that the game loaded successfully.
- Our page measurements omit URL query strings and fragments. We do not send your typed search terms or contact-form contents in our custom analytics events.
- Our analytics tag disables Google Signals and advertising personalisation signals.
- You can opt out on every site that uses Google Analytics with Google’s opt-out browser add-on.
Google’s consent message can send these updates when its analytics consent option is configured. If no update is received, analytics storage stays denied. We do not grant consent automatically. These Google tag defaults do not replace the separate advertising consent message or determine whether AdSense can serve ads.
Cloudflare also provides Cloudflare Web Analytics on this site. Its browser beacon measures page views and page performance. See Cloudflare’s description of Web Analytics for how that service works.
The site does not include heatmapping, session recording or social media advertising pixels.
8. Legal basis for processing
Where the UK GDPR or EU GDPR applies, we rely on the following legal bases:
- Consent: for advertising cookies and any non-essential storage where required. Use the privacy choices in Google’s message or the footer’s Privacy & cookie settings control when available to change your answer. Your browser also lets you clear cookies and site data.
- Legitimate interests: for the minimal technical processing required to serve the site securely and reliably, and for functional browser storage that you initiate, such as saving a game.
9. Your rights
You do not need an account to use Vzzle. If you send us an email or other correspondence, we receive the information you choose to include.
Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies to you, you nonetheless have the right to access, rectify and erase your data; to restrict or object to processing; to data portability; and to withdraw consent. Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA) you have the right to know what is collected, to request deletion, and to opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information.
To ask about or exercise a privacy right, email [email protected]. To opt out of personalised advertising, use Google Ads Settings, or decline in Google’s consent message if you are shown one. For data controlled independently by Google or a game provider, their privacy policies explain how to contact them. We will help with requests relating to information we control.
If you are in the EEA or UK and believe we have handled your data improperly, you have the right to complain to your national data protection authority.
10. Children’s privacy
Vzzle is a general-audience website and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. Children should not send us personal information through email or the contact page.
Some puzzle games listed here are suitable for children, and we say so on the relevant game pages. Parents should be aware that games load from a third-party provider with its own data practices, and that advertising may be displayed. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us, contact us so we can investigate and remove it as appropriate.
11. Data retention
Functional data in your browser stays until you clear it: we cannot delete it remotely because we cannot see it. Emails you send us are kept for as long as needed to deal with your enquiry and a reasonable period afterwards. Data held by Google or by game providers is governed by their retention policies.
12. Changes to this policy
We will update this page when our practices change: for example if we add a new advertising or analytics partner. The “last updated” date at the top always reflects the current version.
13. Contact us
Questions about this policy, or about anything privacy-related, can go to [email protected], or through the contact page. We aim to respond within two to three working days.