Legal · Games

Privacy policy for “Runaway Tail”

For all games

Last updated: October 11, 2026

Contents

1. Controller

Patrick Gruben
Rolandstraße 14
40476 Düsseldorf
Germany
E-mail: info@grubenhund.com
Phone: +49 160 94857908

Under the brand “grubenhund games” I develop and publish games for smartphones and tablets. I am not required to appoint a data protection officer; if you have questions, write to me directly.

2. Scope

This policy covers the game “Runaway Tail”. The version for all games is at games.grubenhund.com/en/privacy.

What happens when you visit this website (games.grubenhund.com) is described in the section “Visiting this website”. The dog training website grubenhund.com has its own privacy policy (in German).

3. In short

  • You don't need to sign up – no name, no password, no e-mail.
  • Your progress is stored on your device. So that it isn't lost, the game automatically backs up a copy in our cloud – under an anonymous account, on servers in Frankfurt, Germany. On iPhone and iPad, there is also a copy in your iCloud.
  • Linking your Apple account is optional.
  • We don't use any analytics or tracking tools.
  • Ads are served by Google AdMob – personalized only with your consent and only from age 16.
  • Purchases are handled by Apple and Google; we never see payment details.
  • Leaderboards run on Apple Game Center, and you only get notifications if you agree.

4. Progress on your device

The game stores progress, settings, unlocked and purchased content locally on your device. Your best runs (ghost runs) stay on your device only. The save also contains a random install ID and counters for bones, Color Drops and Head Starts earned and spent. The age group from the age question, your choice about notifications and a small diagnostics log also stay on your device only. The game automatically backs up a copy of your progress to the cloud (see below). Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (providing the game) and § 25(2) no. 2 TDDDG (storage on the device that is strictly necessary).

Note on device backups: if iCloud Backup on your iPhone or Android backup in your Google account is switched on, it may also back up the game data and restore it after a reinstall. Apple's or Google's privacy terms apply; we do not receive this data.

5. Support e-mail with diagnostics

The game keeps a small diagnostics log on your device (device, frame rates, the levels with the most failed attempts, the latest events and errors). It only leaves your device if you write a support e-mail under Settings → “Help & legal” and choose “With diagnostics”: then it is included as text in the e-mail, and you see it before you send it. We use your e-mail and the report only to help you (Art. 6(1)(b) or (f) GDPR) and delete them once your request has been resolved.

6. Cloud backup of your progress

So that your progress isn't lost – for example if you delete the game or switch devices – the game automatically creates an anonymous account the first time you launch it and backs up a copy of your progress there. We use the service Supabase (Supabase, Inc., USA) as our processor under Art. 28 GDPR; the data is stored on servers in Frankfurt, Germany.

Data: a random user ID, your progress (levels, stars, bones, color drops, unlocked and purchased items with their purchase IDs, settings, a random install ID, game statistics such as the number of runs and ad breaks shown, the time of your first launch, the journal and daily gifts), a short summary of it (levels cleared, stars, number of runs, play time, Endless best), your device type (iOS or Android) and the time of the last backup. You don't need a name, e-mail address or password for this. For technical reasons, Supabase processes your IP address while syncing (server logs). On your device, the game stores an access key for your anonymous account.

Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; our legitimate interest is protecting your progress from being lost. You can object at any time by deleting the backup in the game under Settings → “Cloud save” → “Delete cloud data”; after that, the game stops backing up until you turn the cloud backup back on yourself.

Retention: until you delete it this way or ask us to delete it. If your account isn't linked with Apple, we delete it together with your save automatically after 24 months without use (no backup and no sign-in). See Delete data.

7. Linking with Apple (optional)

Under Settings → “Cloud save” → “Continue with Apple”, you can link your cloud account with your Apple account. Then you get your progress back on a new device or after reinstalling, too. You sign in with “Sign in with Apple”; Apple sends us an identifier of your Apple account and – depending on what you choose at Apple – your e-mail address or an anonymous relay address from Apple. We store both with Supabase in your account. If your Apple ID is already linked to an older save, the game signs you in there and merges both saves.

The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR (a feature you asked for). “Sign out” disconnects the device from the linked account; the game then backs up to a new anonymous account again. “Delete cloud data” deletes the account including the e-mail address and the link (unless it still holds a save from another grubenhund games title). Apple's privacy policy applies to the sign-in itself.

8. Copy in your iCloud (iPhone and iPad)

On iPhone and iPad the game keeps a copy of your progress in the iCloud storage of your Apple ID so it is available on your other Apple devices. This copy is held only by Apple in your account; we have no access to it. Apple's privacy terms apply. You can turn off iCloud for the game in the iOS settings; how to delete the copy in the game is explained under “Delete data”.

9. Leaderboards (Apple Game Center)

If you are signed in to Game Center on your device, the game sends your best scores – Endless mode, the Daily Track and your total stars – to Apple Game Center. Other players see them there together with your Game Center name; in the game, we show the leaderboards from Game Center. Game Center is a service of Apple (a separate controller); we don't receive any of your data through it. Without a Game Center sign-in, nothing is sent; you can sign out in the iOS Settings under “Game Center”. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.

10. In-app purchases

Purchases are handled entirely by the Apple App Store or Google Play, who are separate controllers for this. We never receive payment details. The game only receives a purchase confirmation and records in your save which content you bought, so it stays unlocked. Legal basis: Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR.

11. Advertising (Google AdMob)

“Runaway Tail” shows ads – as optional ad videos with a reward or as ad breaks between levels. They are served by Google AdMob, a service of Google Ireland Limited, Gordon House, Barrow Street, Dublin 4, Ireland. Google may process in particular the advertising ID (IDFA or Android advertising ID), the IP address and the approximate location derived from it, device and OS information, ad interactions and diagnostic data.

Consent: personalized ads and access to the advertising ID and device storage require your consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR, § 25(1) TDDDG). We ask for it via Google's consent dialog before any ads are loaded; you can change or withdraw it any time in the game's settings under “Privacy settings” (where Google requires it, e.g. in the EU). On iPhone and iPad we also ask via Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt. If you do not consent, Google shows limited ads at most: not personalized and without access to the advertising ID or device storage. To deliver them, Google technically processes the IP address (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; our legitimate interest is funding the free game).

No Ads: where a game offers a “No Ads” purchase, you will no longer see ad breaks afterwards; optional ad videos remain available.

Transfers to the USA are based on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework or Standard Contractual Clauses. More: policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

12. Children and teens

Age question: The first time you launch the game, it asks for your year of birth before any ads or Google's consent dialog are loaded. Only the age group (under 13, 13 to 15, 16 and over) is stored on your device; we don't store the year of birth itself, and it is never sent to anyone. If you are under 16, the game marks every ad request to Google as “under the age of consent”; if you are under 13, also as “child-directed”. In that case there is no consent dialog and no App Tracking Transparency prompt, and Google shows only non-personalized, limited ads. For all age groups, ads are limited to the rating “suitable for all ages”. The legal basis is Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR in conjunction with Art. 8 GDPR (protection of minors).

“Runaway Tail” is meant for all ages but is not specifically directed at children. Minors need their parents' permission for purchases. We recommend protecting purchases in the device settings (Screen Time or Google Family Link).

13. Notifications

If you agree – first in the game, then in the iOS prompt – the game reminds you of its festivals (when they begin and shortly before they end) and, at most once, of your daily gift if you haven't played for a few days. The notifications are scheduled on your device; there is no push service, and no data is sent to us or anyone else. You can turn them off in the game under Settings → More → Notifications or in the iOS Settings.

14. Visiting this website

This website (games.grubenhund.com) sets no cookies, uses no analytics or tracking tools and embeds no third-party content; fonts, images and videos come from the same server. Links to the App Store, Google Play or other websites only transfer data to those providers once you click them.

When you open a page, the host processes technically necessary data in server logs: IP address, date and time, requested address, amount of data transferred, browser and operating system. This is required to deliver the website, detect attacks and fix errors (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR; legitimate interest in secure and reliable operation). The site is hosted by Vercel Inc., 650 California St, San Francisco, CA 94108, USA, as processor; transfers to the USA are covered by the EU Standard Contractual Clauses and Vercel's certification under the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. Logs are kept only as long as needed for operation, security and troubleshooting, usually no longer than 30 days.

If you send me an e-mail, I process your details in order to reply (Art. 6(1)(b) or (f) GDPR).

15. Recipients and service providers

  • Supabase, Inc. (USA) – cloud storage and database, servers in Frankfurt, Germany (processor)
  • Google Ireland Limited – advertising via AdMob (separate or joint controllership under Google's terms)
  • Apple and Google – app stores, payment processing, accounts and device backup (separate controllers)
  • Vercel Inc. (USA) – hosting of this website games.grubenhund.com (processor, see “Visiting this website”)

Beyond that we do not share personal data, and we never sell data.

16. Transfers outside the EU

Some service providers are based in the USA. Where data is transferred there, this is based on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (adequacy decision of the European Commission) or EU Standard Contractual Clauses (Art. 46(2)(c) GDPR). Cloud saves are stored on servers in Frankfurt, Germany.

17. Your rights

You have the right of access (Art. 15 GDPR), rectification (Art. 16), erasure (Art. 17), restriction of processing (Art. 18), data portability (Art. 20) and objection (Art. 21), and you may withdraw consent at any time with effect for the future (Art. 7(3)). Write to info@grubenhund.com.

Right to object

Where we process data on the basis of legitimate interests (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR), you may object to this processing at any time on grounds relating to your particular situation (Art. 21 GDPR). Write to info@grubenhund.com.

How to delete data yourself is explained under Delete data.

You may also lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority, for example the data protection authority of North Rhine-Westphalia (LDI NRW), Kavalleriestraße 2–4, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany.

18. Changes

When a game changes – for example with new features or service providers – I update this policy. The version published here applies. If this English version differs from the German one, the German version prevails.