TUNL Support and FAQ
Answers to the questions players ask most, and how to reach me when they do not cover it.
Need help or found a bug?
Email [email protected] and include:
- Your device model and OS version (or your browser, for the web version)
- What you were doing when the issue happened
- A screenshot or screen recording, if possible
TUNL is made by one person, and every message is read by the person who can fix it.
Playing the game
How do I play?
Tap anywhere on the screen (or Space, or the up arrow on a keyboard) for a short hop, hold to keep climbing, and let go to fall. That is the entire control scheme. The how-to-play guide covers scoring, all nine coins, every hazard, the star and the strategy that raises your score.
The game feels too hard. Any advice?
Every run opens with a safe stretch of cave with no hazards, and you have two hull scratches for the whole run, so the first wall you touch will not end it. Think one bend ahead rather than reacting to the bend you are in, and take gold coins: they widen the corridor. The guide has a section on strategy.
Is the cave really the same for everyone?
Yes. The cave is calculated from the calendar date, so every player on every platform flies the identical cave on a given day. It changes at UTC midnight. The daily cave devlog explains how.
Why are there black bars on my tablet or desktop screen?
The width of the playfield is capped so that a wide screen does not make the shared cave scroll past faster than on a phone. That keeps the leaderboard fair. See the fairness devlog.
Why is the game landscape only?
TUNL is built for a wide view of the tunnel ahead. On the web, rotate a portrait screen to landscape and the game resumes.
Can I change the music or sound?
Yes. Music and sound effects each have their own three-level switch in Settings: full, low and off.
Does TUNL work offline?
The apps ship with everything they need to play. Online features, such as the world leaderboard, your daily rank and ads, need a connection.
Ships, shards and progress
How do I unlock ships?
Each paid ship needs shards, which you earn from the coins you collect, and stardust, which you earn by opening the game on new days. The ships page explains both, and why every ship needs both.
Where is my progress stored? Does it move between devices?
TUNL has no accounts. Your progress, ships and settings are stored on the device you play on, so they do not move between devices or between the browser and the app. Purchases can be restored on a new device (below), and leaderboards and achievements live in Game Center or Play Games.
My records were reset after updating to 15.0. Is that a bug?
No. Version 15.0 resets your local records once, on first launch: your best score, daily best, top list and ghost. Your shards, stardust, ships, achievements and lifetime counters are untouched. The reset was deliberate: records set on earlier versions were unrealistic against the current cave.
My high score or leaderboard rank did not update.
Make sure you are signed in to Game Center (iOS) or Play Games (Android) in your device settings, then relaunch TUNL. TUNL tracks a daily and an all-time leaderboard, so check that you are looking at the right one. The world rank on the death screen is hidden until enough people have flown that day's cave for the number to be meaningful.
Purchases and ads
How do I remove ads?
Open Settings from the title screen and select "Remove Ads" to purchase. It is a one-time purchase that disables the full-screen ads permanently on that device or account. Optional videos that you choose to watch for a benefit, such as continuing a run, are still available.
What does Unlock All Ships do?
It is a one-time purchase in the shop that unlocks every ship, including any added later. It does not change your shards or stardust. It is entirely optional: every ship can be earned by playing.
How do I restore my purchase on a new device?
Open Settings and select "Restore Purchases". Make sure you are signed in with the same Apple ID or Google account used for the original purchase.
How often will I see ads?
The apps show a full-screen ad after some deaths, never more than once every couple of minutes, and only after a run that got somewhere. There are also two optional videos: one to continue a run and one for a daily shard bonus. Neither is ever forced.
Why do I see a tracking or ad-consent prompt?
TUNL shows Apple's App Tracking Transparency prompt (and, in the EU, UK and Switzerland, a Google consent form) before requesting ads. You can decline and still play with non-personalized ads. See the privacy policy for details.
Privacy and data
What data does TUNL collect? Can I have it deleted?
Very little, and nothing is linked to your name, because there are no accounts. The privacy policy lists exactly what each service receives and how to ask for deletion. For the data on TUNL's own servers, email [email protected].
Are the translations reliable?
TUNL is available in 16 languages. If a line reads oddly in yours, please tell me and I will fix it.
Not here? Email me. For logos, screenshots and a description of the game for an article, see the press kit, and for who makes TUNL and why, see About.