CraftNova is full of games that people made with AI. It's fair to wonder: is it really OK to play a game a stranger made?

This guide explains how CraftNova protects players. It also covers the things a game on CraftNova can't do, which is useful to know if you make games yourself.

Every game runs in a protected box

CraftNova runs each game inside a box that's cut off from the rest of the site. The box uses a security feature built into every browser called a sandbox.

A game inside the box can't:

  • See your CraftNova account: games can't touch your login, your account, or your session
  • Send you somewhere else: a game can't redirect you to an unknown site in the middle of play
  • Open new windows: no surprise pop-ups or extra tabs

No connection to the internet

Games also can't send or receive data over the internet. A game can't report anything about you to another site, and it can't download content from unknown places.

The only things a game can load are common game libraries from cdnjs and jsDelivr, and fonts from Google Fonts. See Fixing images, sounds, or libraries that won't load for details.

No camera, microphone, or location

Games can't use your camera, microphone, or location. The only sensors available are tilt and motion, for games you play by tilting your phone. On iPhone, an "Allow sensors" button appears first, so you decide whether to turn them on.

Save data stays in your browser

Some games save high scores or progress. That data is stored in your own browser, separately for each game.

  • A game can't read another game's save data
  • Save data is never sent over the internet
  • Clearing your browser's site data also clears your saves
  • Saves don't carry over between devices, such as your phone and your PC

You can report games

On top of the technical protections, our team keeps an eye on what's posted. Use the button on any game screen to report it if it:

  • Is inappropriate for minors
  • Contains discriminatory content
  • May cause physical discomfort, such as intense flashing
  • Closely copies an existing game or character

We review every report and may make a game private depending on what we find. The same button also lets you send bug reports and feedback straight to the creator.

For creators: what games on CraftNova can't do

Because games run in a protected box, some things that work on a normal web page won't work here. Keep these in mind when you ask an AI to make a game:

  • alert() and confirm() pop-ups don't appear, so show messages inside the game screen instead
  • Links to other pages and buttons that open new windows don't work
  • Features that need a network connection, like online leaderboards or chat, aren't possible
  • Saving does work: store data in localStorage and CraftNova keeps it for the player

If you give the AI the "Game creation guidelines" from the posting page, it will build the game with all of this in mind. See How to post a game to get started.

Summary

  • Games run in a protected box that's cut off from the rest of the site
  • Games can't touch your account or connect to the internet
  • No camera, microphone, or location; only tilt and motion sensors
  • You can report games, and our team reviews every report

Questions about how this works? Ask us through the contact form.