# NoCharge — full context for language models

> NoCharge (https://nocharge.net) is a quiet arcade of free browser games and
> practical tools. It requires no account, stores scores and progress only in
> the visitor's own browser (localStorage), keeps ads outside gameplay, and
> holds its claims to what the current code and tests support.

## Brand definition

- **Name:** NoCharge.
- **What it is:** a static-first browser arcade ("Quiet Arcade") with original and classic-rule games, definitive player guides, situation-based collections, and fully client-side tools.
- **Free model:** every game and tool opens with no account, subscription, email, or download. No cloud profiles, no cross-device sync, no leaderboards, no energy/lives systems, no paywalls to continue.
- **Ad model:** eligible pages show exactly one manual, responsive, labeled Google AdSense banner before the footer. Ads never appear in the game canvas or during the play loop. Auto ads, interstitials, anchors, and popups are off.
- **Analytics:** Google Analytics 4 is blocked until the visitor allows it. With consent it loads only in production with anonymized IP. Advertising choices use Google's Privacy & messaging message.
- **Accessibility posture:** visible focus outlines, documented keyboard paths, non-color-critical states where color is the mechanic (Color Flip has visual + turn-based modes), `prefers-reduced-motion` honored, no transform-scale forcing, calm defaults.
- **Honesty posture:** no fake rankings or "#1" claims; difficulty labels explain their meaning (e.g. cell counts); no cognitive/medical benefit claims; "unblocked" is described as network-dependent, never promised.

## Free-model FAQ answers

- **Do I need an account?** No. Play, tools, dailies, and scores work with no account.
- **Where do my scores live?** In this browser's localStorage under `nocharge:*` keys. They do not leave the device. A different browser, private window, or device will not share them. The Privacy page documents every key and offers "Clear game data".
- **Is there multiplayer?** Pass & Play only: two humans, one device, using the shared handoff screen. There is no networked, .io, ranked, or cross-device multiplayer.
- **Are the games timed?** Most are untimed by default. Word Tile Rush is timed; Color Flip has timed visual and turn-based modes. Each guide says exactly which modes exist.
- **What happens when I switch tabs?** The shared game shell pauses the game and stops ambient audio; returning resumes unless you paused manually.
- **Can I play offline?** After load, browser HTTP cache may replay assets, but NoCharge does not claim offline support: there is no service worker or installable offline package.
- **Do the tools upload my input?** No. All tool calculations run in the current page.
- **Do you sell my data?** No. There are no accounts and no personal profiles. Analytics are consent-gated; advertising consent is handled by Google's message.

## Current registry facts (reviewed 2026-08-27)

- Games: 26 (9 Pass & Play)
- Guides: 26 · Articles: 47 · Collections: 11 · Setup guides: 210 · Tools: 16
- Games with a documented complete keyboard path: 25 of 26
- Games untimed by default or with an untimed mode: 25 of 26
- Median documented session upper bound: 10 minutes
- Registry review date: 2026-08-27 (see /articles/registry-facts/)

## Games (one line each)

- [Memory Match](https://nocharge.net/games/memory-match/): **Memory Match** — Flip cards. Find pairs. Genre: Memory. Session: 2–5 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:memory-match:high, nocharge:memory-match:best-moves.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/memory-match/

- [Word Tile Rush](https://nocharge.net/games/word-tile-rush/): **Word Tile Rush** — Spell words. Clear the grid. Genre: Word. Session: 3–8 min. Solo. Pressure: timed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Original NoCharge design. Local-only keys: nocharge:word-tile-rush:high.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/word-tile-rush/

- [Color Flip](https://nocharge.net/games/color-flip/): **Color Flip** — Pick a color. Step carefully. Take your time. Genre: Tile puzzle. Session: 1–4 min. Solo. Pressure: timed or untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Original NoCharge design. Local-only keys: nocharge:color-flip:high, nocharge:color-flip-turn-based:high, nocharge:pref:color-flip-rotation.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/color-flip/

- [Beacon Lattice](https://nocharge.net/games/beacon-lattice/): **Beacon Lattice** — Cover every cell. Overlap nothing. Genre: Logic. Session: 3–8 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Original NoCharge design. Local-only keys: nocharge:beacon-lattice:high, nocharge:pref:beacon-lattice-progress.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/beacon-lattice/

- [Tic-Tac-Toe](https://nocharge.net/games/tic-tac-toe/): **Tic-Tac-Toe** — Two players, one device. Genre: Pass & Play. Session: 1–3 min per round. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:tic-tac-toe.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/tic-tac-toe/

- [Dots & Boxes](https://nocharge.net/games/dots-and-boxes/): **Dots & Boxes** — Two players, one device. Genre: Pass & Play. Session: 3–8 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:dots-and-boxes.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/dots-and-boxes/

- [Four in a Row](https://nocharge.net/games/four-in-a-row/): **Four in a Row** — Two players, one device. Genre: Pass & Play. Session: 2–6 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:four-in-a-row.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/four-in-a-row/

- [Reversi](https://nocharge.net/games/reversi/): **Reversi** — Two players, one device. Genre: Pass & Play. Session: 5–12 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:reversi.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/reversi/

- [Last Token](https://nocharge.net/games/last-token/): **Last Token** — Two players, one device. Genre: Pass & Play. Session: 1–2 min per round. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:last-token.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/last-token/

- [Pass the Picture](https://nocharge.net/games/pass-the-picture/): **Pass the Picture** — Two players, one device. Genre: Pass & Play. Session: 2–5 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: pointer, touch. Core loop needs pointer or touch. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:pass-the-picture.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/pass-the-picture/

- [Klondike Solitaire](https://nocharge.net/games/klondike/): **Klondike Solitaire** — Classic solitaire. Draw one or three. Genre: Cards. Session: 5–15 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:klondike:games-won, nocharge:klondike:best-moves, nocharge:pref:klondike-draw-mode.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/klondike/

- [FreeCell Solitaire](https://nocharge.net/games/freecell/): **FreeCell Solitaire** — All cards visible. Plan your moves. Genre: Cards. Session: 5–20 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:freecell:games-won.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/freecell/

- [Nonogram](https://nocharge.net/games/nonogram/): **Nonogram** — Follow the clues. Reveal the picture. Genre: Logic puzzle. Session: 2–10 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:nonogram:puzzles-revealed.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/nonogram/

- [Twenty Forty-Eight](https://nocharge.net/games/twenty-forty-eight/): **Twenty Forty-Eight** — Slide tiles. Merge doubles. Genre: Number puzzle. Session: 3–10 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:2048:best-tile.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/twenty-forty-eight/

- [Tile Garden](https://nocharge.net/games/tile-garden/): **Tile Garden** — Plant seeds. Grow flowers. No rush. Genre: Merge puzzle. Session: 3–15 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Original NoCharge design. Local-only keys: nocharge:tile-garden:best-tier.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/tile-garden/

- [Word Search](https://nocharge.net/games/word-search/): **Word Search** — Find words at your own pace. Genre: Word. Session: 5–15 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:word-search:puzzles-solved, nocharge:word-search:last-list.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/word-search/

- [Mini Sudoku 6×6](https://nocharge.net/games/mini-sudoku/): **Mini Sudoku 6×6** — A small grid, a quiet puzzle. Genre: Logic. Session: 5–20 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:sudoku:puzzles-solved, nocharge:sudoku:current-puzzle, nocharge:pref:sudoku-pencil-marks.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/mini-sudoku/

- [Minesweeper](https://nocharge.net/games/minesweeper/): **Minesweeper** — Clear the field, one safe cell at a time. Genre: Logic. Session: 3–12 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:minesweeper:games-won, nocharge:minesweeper:best-time, nocharge:pref:minesweeper-last-size.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/minesweeper/

- [Hangman](https://nocharge.net/games/hangman/): **Hangman** — Guess the calm word, one letter at a time. Genre: Word. Session: 2–6 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:hangman:games-solved, nocharge:pref:hangman-last-theme.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/hangman/

- [Lights Out](https://nocharge.net/games/lights-out/): **Lights Out** — Turn every light off with five-cell toggles. Genre: Logic. Session: 2–6 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:lights-out:puzzles-solved, nocharge:lights-out:best-moves.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/lights-out/

- [Simon](https://nocharge.net/games/simon/): **Simon** — Watch the pattern. Repeat it. No flashing required. Genre: Memory. Session: 2–5 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:simon:best-length, nocharge:pref:simon-calm.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/simon/

- [Sudoku 9×9](https://nocharge.net/games/sudoku-9x9/): **Sudoku 9×9** — The full grid, at your own pace. Genre: Logic. Session: 8–25 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:sudoku9:current-puzzle, nocharge:sudoku9:puzzles-solved, nocharge:pref:sudoku-pencil-marks.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/sudoku-9x9/

- [Gomoku](https://nocharge.net/games/gomoku/): **Gomoku** — Five in a row, two players, one device. Genre: Board game. Session: 5–20 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:gomoku.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/gomoku/

- [Nine Men's Morris](https://nocharge.net/games/nine-mens-morris/): **Nine Men's Morris** — Three in a line. Remove a stone. Outmaneuver. Genre: Board game. Session: 8–25 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:nine-mens-morris.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/nine-mens-morris/

- [Word Loom](https://nocharge.net/games/word-loom/): **Word Loom** — Weave the word. Six guesses, one date. Genre: Word. Session: 2–5 min. Solo. Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Original NoCharge design. Local-only keys: nocharge:daily:word-loom:streak, nocharge:daily:word-loom:solved.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/word-loom/

- [Checkers](https://nocharge.net/games/checkers/): **Checkers** — English draughts for two, one device. Genre: Board game. Session: 8–25 min. Two players, one device (Pass & Play). Pressure: untimed. Inputs: keyboard, pointer, touch. Documented complete keyboard path. Classic rules; original implementation. Local-only keys: nocharge:passplay:match:checkers.
  Guide: https://nocharge.net/guides/checkers/

## Guides

- [Memory Match Guide: Rules, Moves, and Recall Tips](https://nocharge.net/guides/memory-match/) — Learn how NoCharge Memory Match counts moves, how keyboard controls work, and how to remember more card positions with a simple repeatable strategy.
- [Word Tile Rush Guide: Scoring and Grid Strategy](https://nocharge.net/guides/word-tile-rush/) — Learn how to connect letters, score longer words, manage the rising grid, and play Word Tile Rush with pointer or keyboard controls.
- [Color Flip Guide: Tap-to-Step and Turn-Based Modes](https://nocharge.net/guides/color-flip/) — Learn the tap-to-step visual mode, color rotation options, and how to use the accessible untimed turn-based mode.
- [Beacon Lattice Guide: Exact Coverage and Patterns](https://nocharge.net/guides/beacon-lattice/) — Learn how Beacon Lattice counts coverage, how the four beacon patterns work, and how to read forced placements on the 24 curated puzzles.
- [Klondike Solitaire Guide: Rules, Draw Modes, and Calm Play](https://nocharge.net/guides/klondike/) — Learn how NoCharge Klondike Solitaire handles draw modes, tableau building, foundation rules, keyboard controls, and local metrics.
- [FreeCell Solitaire Guide: Planning with Free Cells](https://nocharge.net/guides/freecell/) — Learn how NoCharge FreeCell uses free cells as planning tools, how multi-card moves work, and what local metrics track.
- [Nonogram Guide: Clues, Marking, and Accessibility](https://nocharge.net/guides/nonogram/) — Learn how to read nonogram clues, mark cells efficiently, use the accessibility text view, and what NoCharge tracks locally.
- [Twenty Forty-Eight Guide: Merge Strategy and Calm Play](https://nocharge.net/guides/twenty-forty-eight/) — Learn how NoCharge Twenty Forty-Eight handles merging, the corner-anchor pattern, accessibility, and what local metrics track.
- [Tile Garden Guide: Tiers, Modes, and Calm Design](https://nocharge.net/guides/tile-garden/) — Learn how Tile Garden's four growth tiers, three play modes, and merge rules work. Includes accessibility notes and what we don't claim.
- [Word Search guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/word-search/) — Controls, themes, and accessible ways to enjoy quiet word hunting.
- [Mini Sudoku guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/mini-sudoku/) — A calm guide to the 6×6 grid, pencil marks, and accessible controls.
- [Minesweeper guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/minesweeper/) — Rules, controls, safe-first-click policy, flag and chord workflow, and what NoCharge stores locally.
- [Tic-Tac-Toe Guide: Modes, Handoffs, and Forks](https://nocharge.net/guides/tic-tac-toe/) — How NoCharge Tic-Tac-Toe's three boards and the first-to-3 match work, how the handoff screen keeps the game fair, and which squares are worth fighting for.
- [Dots & Boxes Guide: Lines, Chains, and the Extra Turn](https://nocharge.net/guides/dots-and-boxes/) — How the fourth-side claim and the extra turn work in NoCharge Dots & Boxes, how the device passes (or doesn't), and the chain strategy that decides most games.
- [Hangman guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/hangman/) — Rules, theme word lists, letter-by-letter controls, wrong-guess limit, and what NoCharge stores locally.
- [Four in a Row Guide: Columns, Threats, and Double Wins](https://nocharge.net/guides/four-in-a-row/) — How NoCharge Four in a Row drops and wins on the 7×6 and 6×5 boards, how the keyboard column cursor works, and the two mistakes that lose most games.
- [Lights Out guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/lights-out/) — The five-cell toggle rule, why every puzzle is solvable, a quiet strategy, and the local metrics NoCharge records.
- [Reversi Guide: Outflanking, Corners, and Mobility](https://nocharge.net/guides/reversi/) — How NoCharge Reversi legal moves, automatic passes, and the disc count work on the classic 8×8 board, plus the corner and mobility habits that decide most games.
- [Simon guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/simon/) — Sequence rules, the 12-pad target, how Calm pattern changes presentation without changing rules, and the local best-length metric.
- [Last Token Guide: Piles, Presets, and the Poisoned Last Token](https://nocharge.net/guides/last-token/) — How NoCharge Last Token's take-away rules work across its three pile presets, what a turn may and may not do, and how to read the endgame the way the game expects you to.
- [Sudoku 9×9 guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/sudoku-9x9/) — Rules, honest difficulty labeling, pencil-mark workflow, keyboard path, solver uniqueness, and local storage.
- [Gomoku guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/gomoku/) — Free-style rules, why five-or-more wins, the two-player handoff, keyboard path, and the local match record.
- [Pass the Picture Guide: Passes, Colors, and the Shared Canvas](https://nocharge.net/guides/pass-the-picture/) — How NoCharge Pass the Picture's turn structure, undo, and local PNG download work — and what the keyboard can and cannot do in a pointer-based drawing game.
- [Nine Men's Morris guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/nine-mens-morris/) — The 24-point mill rules, mill-stone protection, flying phase, blocked-player loss, keyboard path, and the local match record.
- [Word Loom guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/word-loom/) — Rules, daily seeding, non-color feedback states, streak storage, word list, and what Word Loom is not.
- [Checkers guide](https://nocharge.net/guides/checkers/) — English draughts rules, the mandatory-capture rule, kings, the simple capture variant, and the local match record.

## Collections

- [Keyboard-friendly browser games](https://nocharge.net/collections/keyboard-friendly-browser-games/) — NoCharge games with complete documented keyboard operation for their current controls and game actions. Inclusion method: Include a current game only when its complete play loop is documented and operable from a keyboard without requiring touch or pointer input, and the game catalog's hasKeyboardComplete flag is true (verified against game code, not guide prose alone). (reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Games available at no charge](https://nocharge.net/collections/no-charge-games/) — All 17 current NoCharge browser games, grouped by the same verifiable rule: no account, subscription, or purchase is required to complete the play loop. Inclusion method: Include every currently published NoCharge game whose full play loop opens without an account, subscription, or purchase. Retained results must use the documented browser-local storage model rather than a cloud profile. Review membership whenever the registry, access model, or storage behavior changes. (reviewed 2026-08-26)
- [Untimed or reduced-pressure browser games](https://nocharge.net/collections/untimed-or-reduced-pressure-browser-games/) — NoCharge games that are untimed by design or provide a meaningful mode without a timing requirement. Inclusion method: Include a current game only when its default play has no timer or it offers a documented mode that removes the timing requirement from the core action. (reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Browser games without accounts](https://nocharge.net/collections/browser-games-without-accounts/) — Every NoCharge game opens directly in the browser without registration, profiles, passwords, or cloud score synchronization. Inclusion method: Include a current game when its complete play loop requires no account and its score or progress, if retained, stays in local browser storage rather than an NoCharge player profile. (reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Games for a short break](https://nocharge.net/collections/games-for-a-short-break/) — NoCharge games whose documented typical runs fit roughly one to eight minutes, with distinct memory, word, reflex, logic, and shared-screen play. Inclusion method: Include a current game when its reviewed game metadata states a typical run of no more than eight minutes and the page explains any timing pressure honestly. (reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Pass & Play](https://nocharge.net/collections/pass-and-play/) — Two players, one device. Inclusion method: Include a current game when two people can complete its full play loop on one shared screen by taking turns, with no account, no network play, and no computer opponent. (reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Logic & Number](https://nocharge.net/collections/logic-and-number/) — Quiet logic and number puzzles: exact coverage, clues, digit rules, and tidy merges — none timed. Inclusion method: Include a current game when its core loop is a deduction or mathematics puzzle (placement, clue solving, digit rules, or numeric merge) with no reaction-time requirement and no timer, or with a documented untimed mode. (reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Originals Only](https://nocharge.net/collections/originals-only/) — NoCharge games whose rules are not a named third-party title: custom mechanics, original art, honest limits. Inclusion method: Include a current game when its ruleset is not a named third-party game clone and the implementation is NoCharge's own design — verified against the game catalog's isOriginal field, which is a factual classification, not a quality claim. (reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [One-thumb mobile](https://nocharge.net/collections/one-thumb-mobile-friendly/) — Games whose complete loop runs with one thumb: tap, drag, or swipe without a keyboard or a second hand. Inclusion method: Include a current game when touch is a documented input, the complete play loop works with a single finger (taps, drags, or swipes), and no two-finger gesture or keyboard-specific step is required at any point. (reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Large targets, low visual complexity](https://nocharge.net/collections/large-tap-targets-low-complexity/) — Games with generous tap targets and uncluttered boards: wide cells, few simultaneous rules, and no dense text-in-cell. Inclusion method: Include a current game when its primary board targets are at least 44 CSS px on a 375 px viewport, the board has at most 7 columns of play area (or fewer than 16 distinct cells), and no cell requires reading a small digit or letter inside a dense grid to act. (reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Word games](https://nocharge.net/collections/word-games/) — Letter, spelling, and word-finding games: a timed word chain, an untimed hunt, and themed Hangman — all with documented controls and local results. Inclusion method: Include a current game when its core loop is built around letters, words, or spelling, it ships with documented controls and a definitive guide, and it keeps any result in this browser only (no account, no server score). (reviewed 2026-08-27)

## Tools

- [Game Discovery Wheel](https://nocharge.net/tools/discovery-wheel/) — Filter the live arcade collection by time, documented input, pressure, and number of players. Results include direct play and guide links. Category: play. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Game Finder quiz](https://nocharge.net/tools/game-finder/) — Five answers (time, players, pace, input, kind) produce an alphabetical shortlist from the live catalog. Not a ranking. Category: play. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Session planner](https://nocharge.net/tools/session-planner/) — Turn the minutes you have into a shortlist of games and an estimated number of runs, filtered by players and input. Category: play. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Random calm activity](https://nocharge.net/tools/random-activity/) — One press returns a random NoCharge game, article, or tool — equal probability, no claims, nothing stored. Category: play. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Ambient Mixer](https://nocharge.net/tools/ambient-mixer/) — Try ten continuously generated calm nature and music soundscapes. Every signal is made with Web Audio; there are no recordings or music loops, and sound stops when the page is hidden. Category: audio. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Singing Bowl Engine](https://nocharge.net/tools/singing-bowl-engine/) — Place and strike singing bowls on an interactive canvas, circle a rim to sing a sustained drone, tune on touch, and load pentatonic, solfeggio, or chakra presets. Bronze and quartz additive synthesis with harmonic connection lines, organic pitch drift, and synthetic reverb. All audio is generated in the browser. Category: audio. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Contrast checker](https://nocharge.net/tools/contrast-checker/) — Compute WCAG contrast ratios for any two hex colors and compare the common Quiet Arcade palette pairs. Category: accessibility. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Reduced-motion preference tester](https://nocharge.net/tools/reduced-motion-tester/) — Read the live prefers-reduced-motion query, see its effect on a demo, and read exactly what NoCharge changes when it is on. Category: accessibility. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Touch target size checker](https://nocharge.net/tools/touch-target-checker/) — Draw and measure a target in CSS pixels against WCAG minimums and NoCharge’s generous defaults, including spacing. Category: accessibility. No account; runs in the browser.
- [LocalStorage inspector (read-only)](https://nocharge.net/tools/storage-inspector/) — List NoCharge keys present in this browser with their purpose and owner. Never writes or deletes anything. Category: accessibility. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Browser Zoom Viewport Calculator](https://nocharge.net/tools/zoom-visualizer/) — Convert a starting viewport and browser zoom percentage into approximate CSS layout dimensions, then use that size for manual reflow testing. Category: setup. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Nonogram clue calculator](https://nocharge.net/tools/nonogram-clue-calculator/) — Enumerate the arrangements of a nonogram line, mark cells forced in every one, and see the arithmetic — educational, not a solver. Category: learning. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Solitaire rules comparator](https://nocharge.net/tools/solitaire-comparator/) — Side-by-side rules for Klondike, FreeCell, and planned Spider: decks, draw, tableau, foundations, and planning style. Category: learning. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Sudoku pencil-mark helper](https://nocharge.net/tools/sudoku-helper/) — See candidates for a selected cell and learn hidden-single logic. Non-spoiler by default; a labeled reveal is available if you choose it. Category: learning. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Focus order demo](https://nocharge.net/tools/focus-order-demo/) — Tab through a sample grid with visible focus and reading-order navigation, with the three checks keyboard users depend on. Category: accessibility. No account; runs in the browser.
- [Word length & scoring explainer](https://nocharge.net/tools/word-scoring/) — Compare linear and length-squared scoring curves, see the idea behind Word Tile Rush, and inspect the table of common lengths. Category: learning. No account; runs in the browser.

## Articles (including trust and methodology)

- [How diagonal letter paths work in Word Tile Rush](https://nocharge.net/articles/how-diagonal-letter-paths-work/) — Use all eight neighboring directions in Word Tile Rush while keeping each letter path connected, ordered, and free of repeats. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-15)
- [How move counting works in matching games](https://nocharge.net/articles/how-move-counting-works-in-matching-games/) — See exactly when NoCharge Memory Match adds a move and how to use that number as a clear measure of a board run. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-15)
- [Keyboard strategy for Memory Match](https://nocharge.net/articles/keyboard-strategy-for-memory-match/) — Use the browser’s focus order, clear location labels, and a deliberate reveal rhythm to play NoCharge Memory Match by keyboard. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-15)
- [Managing a rising word-game grid](https://nocharge.net/articles/managing-a-rising-word-game-grid/) — Balance Word Tile Rush word length, clear timing, and column shape once the first selection starts the rising grid. (6 min read; reviewed 2026-08-15)
- [A systematic way to scan a Memory Match board](https://nocharge.net/articles/memory-match-systematic-board-scan/) — Use a repeatable four-by-four scan to turn each Memory Match reveal into useful location information. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-15)
- [Choosing a color before a Color Flip round](https://nocharge.net/articles/timing-a-color-change-near-tile-boundaries/) — Choose one labeled color before stepping through a calm Color Flip round. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-23)
- [Understanding the four-color cycle in Color Flip](https://nocharge.net/articles/understanding-the-four-color-cycle/) — Learn the labeled Color Flip colors and the fixed cycle used by turn-based mode. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-23)
- [Visual mode versus turn-based Color Flip](https://nocharge.net/articles/visual-mode-versus-turn-based-color-flip/) — Compare Color Flip’s calm tap-to-step board with its untimed Cycle color and Step forward mode. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-23)
- [How Word Tile Rush scoring rewards longer words](https://nocharge.net/articles/word-tile-rush-longer-word-scoring/) — Understand the length-squared scoring formula in Word Tile Rush and use it to compare valid paths without guessing. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-15)
- [Designing browser games for more ways to play](https://nocharge.net/articles/designing-browser-games-for-more-ways-to-play/) — How NoCharge approaches keyboard, touch, pointer, focus, motion, sound-independent feedback, pause recovery, and manual accessibility testing. (6 min read; reviewed 2026-08-19)
- [How exact coverage works in Beacon Lattice](https://nocharge.net/articles/how-exact-coverage-works-in-beacon-lattice/) — See how Beacon Lattice treats coverage 0, 1, and 2+, and why a gap or overlap keeps a puzzle unsolved. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-19)
- [How NoCharge saves scores without an account](https://nocharge.net/articles/how-nocharge-saves-scores-without-an-account/) — A plain-language map of NoCharge’s local scores, Beacon Lattice progress, shared mute preference, browser limits, and Clear Game Data control. (6 min read; reviewed 2026-08-24)
- [How NoCharge tests browser games](https://nocharge.net/articles/how-nocharge-tests-browser-games/) — A transparent guide to NoCharge’s rule tests, Chromium browser gate, axe scans, consent checks, validators, and still-manual release checks. (6 min read; reviewed 2026-08-19)
- [How to find forced beacon placements](https://nocharge.net/articles/how-to-find-forced-beacon-placements/) — Use edges, single-source cells, inventory limits, and restricted slots to place Beacon Lattice beacons without guessing. (6 min read; reviewed 2026-08-19)
- [Keyboard and accessible play in Beacon Lattice](https://nocharge.net/articles/keyboard-and-accessible-play-in-beacon-lattice/) — Navigate the Beacon Lattice grid from the keyboard, hear coverage changes, and play without relying on color, sound, or drag. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-19)
- [What Quiet Arcade means at NoCharge](https://nocharge.net/articles/what-quiet-arcade-means-at-nocharge/) — A practical definition of NoCharge’s Quiet Arcade: direct browser play, clear documentation, local preferences, and advertising kept outside gameplay. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-24)
- [Five New Single-Player Games for Quiet Arcade](https://nocharge.net/articles/five-new-single-player-games-for-quiet-arcade/) — Klondike Solitaire, FreeCell, Nonogram, Twenty Forty-Eight, and Tile Garden join NoCharge's Quiet Arcade — all untimed, all local, all without accounts. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-24)
- [FreeCell on NoCharge: Planning with Free Cells](https://nocharge.net/articles/freecell-on-nocharge-planning-with-free-cells/) — How NoCharge's FreeCell Solitaire uses visible information, multi-card moves, and the absence of timers to support deliberate planning. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Klondike on NoCharge: Rules and Rhythm](https://nocharge.net/articles/klondike-on-nocharge-rules-and-rhythm/) — How NoCharge's Klondike Solitaire handles draw modes, undo, and the deliberate absence of timers and winnability claims. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Nonogram on NoCharge: Clues and Accessibility](https://nocharge.net/articles/nonogram-on-nocharge-clues-and-a11y/) — How NoCharge's Nonogram handles clue display, the accessibility text view, and why there is no fail state or timer. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Pass & Play: two players, one device](https://nocharge.net/articles/pass-and-play-two-players-one-device/) — How NoCharge's shared-screen games work: a handoff screen that says whose turn it is, session-only player names, keyboard play, and match records that stay local. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Tile Garden on NoCharge: A Calm Merge Game](https://nocharge.net/articles/tile-garden-on-nocharge-a-calm-merge-game/) — How Tile Garden avoids dark patterns common in match-3 and merge games — no lives, no timer, no energy, no buy-moves mechanics. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Twenty Forty-Eight on NoCharge: Merge Strategy](https://nocharge.net/articles/twenty-forty-eight-on-nocharge-merge-strategy/) — How NoCharge's 2048 handles merging, what the corner-anchor pattern does, and why we never call any tile value optimal. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-22)
- [Mini Sudoku on NoCharge: A Quiet 6×6](https://nocharge.net/articles/mini-sudoku-on-nocharge-a-quiet-6x6/) — Why a small Sudoku grid can make room for a calm, accessible puzzle session. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-23)
- [Word Search on NoCharge: Quiet Word Hunting](https://nocharge.net/articles/word-search-on-nocharge-quiet-word-hunting/) — Meet a calm, untimed way to search themed letter grids. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-23)
- [No Charge Games: what free play means on NoCharge](https://nocharge.net/articles/no-charge-games-free-browser-games-with-no-charge/) — What NoCharge means by free browser games: no account or subscription, local-only saved results, optional services, and clear limits. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-26)
- [Checkers on NoCharge — mandatory captures and the simple rule](https://nocharge.net/articles/checkers-variant-and-mandatory-captures/) — English draughts variant choices: forced jumps, multi-jump turn continuation, no flying kings, and why the simple capture rule is stated instead of hidden. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Free browser games with no account — how NoCharge works](https://nocharge.net/articles/free-browser-games-no-account/) — What "free, no account" actually delivers on NoCharge: instant play, local-only scores, documented keys, consent-gated analytics, and ads outside gameplay. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Game Finder vs Discovery Wheel — two ways to filter the same catalog](https://nocharge.net/articles/game-finder-vs-discovery-wheel/) — Both tools read the same game-catalog facts. The quiz asks five directed questions; the wheel exposes the raw filters. Which to use when, and what neither does. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Gomoku on NoCharge — why the variant is the contract](https://nocharge.net/articles/gomoku-free-style-variant/) — Free-style vs Renju, overlines, captures, and opening rules: what NoCharge implements, what it does not, and why the guide says so. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Hangman and accessible letter entry on NoCharge](https://nocharge.net/articles/hangman-accessible-letter-entry/) — How letter buttons, direct keyboard typing, live announcements, and the six-miss figure make Hangman fully keyboard-operable without turning the state into a picture-only puzzle. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Keyboard-only browser games at NoCharge](https://nocharge.net/articles/keyboard-only-browser-games/) — Which games have a complete keyboard path, how NoCharge verifies it, what Pass the Picture's exception is, and how to test one yourself. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Lights Out — solvable by construction, and why that matters](https://nocharge.net/articles/lights-out-solvable-by-construction/) — NoCharge generates every Lights Out puzzle by pressing from a solved board, so solvability is a property of the generator, not a promise. What that means for play and for honesty. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Memory Match move-count vs timed memory games](https://nocharge.net/articles/memory-match-move-count-vs-timed-memory/) — NoCharge Memory Match scores efficiency (fewest moves), not speed. Why that changes play, what a "good" count means, and what the game does not claim. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Minesweeper on NoCharge — a calm clearing loop, not a speed run](https://nocharge.net/articles/minesweeper-calm-clearing-on-nocharge/) — Why NoCharge's Minesweeper keeps the reveal/flag/chord loop but drops the timer, and why the safe-first-click guarantee is stated with its exact boundary. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Mini Sudoku 6×6 vs Sudoku 9×9 — how to choose](https://nocharge.net/articles/mini-sudoku-vs-9x9/) — Grid sizes, box shapes, difficulty labels, session length, and touch size side by side, with a clear rule for picking one. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Nine Men's Morris rules contract](https://nocharge.net/articles/nine-mens-morris-rules-variant/) — Mill protection, flying at three, blocked-player loss, and why NoCharge documents each variant decision instead of inventing a house style. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Pass & Play vs solo Quiet Arcade — how to choose](https://nocharge.net/articles/pass-and-play-vs-solo-quiet-arcade/) — Both modes are local, no-account, and calm. This article compares the social experience, session shape, storage, and what NoCharge deliberately keeps out of each. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [How NoCharge generates and verifies its puzzles](https://nocharge.net/articles/puzzle-generation-method/) — Sudoku uniqueness checks, Lights Out invertibility, Beacon Lattice solver-backed packs, and the honest boundaries of each method. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Simon's Calm pattern, same rules](https://nocharge.net/articles/simon-calm-pattern-same-rules/) — How NoCharge implements a reduced-motion alternative for a flashing sequence game without changing the rules, target length, or difficulty. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Solitaire free, no download, no signup — the NoCharge card shelf](https://nocharge.net/articles/solitaire-free-no-download/) — Klondike and FreeCell play instantly in the browser; Spider is planned. Rules, storage, controls, and what each card game keeps local. (5 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Sudoku 9×9 on NoCharge — uniqueness first, labels second](https://nocharge.net/articles/sudoku-nine-x-nine-uniqueness-and-labels/) — Why the 9×9 generator verifies exactly one solution, and why difficulty is reported as a given count instead of a grade or "brain level". (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Timed Word Tile Rush vs untimed Word Search](https://nocharge.net/articles/timed-word-tile-rush-vs-untimed-word-search/) — Two NoCharge word games with opposite pressure models: a rising-tile timed loop and an open-grid hunt. Which fits which session, with the exact rules. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Two-player games on one device](https://nocharge.net/articles/two-player-games-one-device/) — What NoCharge Pass & Play is, how handoffs handle hidden information, and one record per game saved locally. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Untimed puzzle games in the browser](https://nocharge.net/articles/untimed-puzzle-games-in-the-browser/) — Which NoCharge puzzles have no countdown, what untimed really changes, and the honest caveats about session length and difficulty. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Where high scores go with no login](https://nocharge.net/articles/where-high-scores-go/) — NoCharge scores live in browser localStorage under the nocharge: prefix. How to find them, why they vanish in private windows, and how to clear them. (3 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)
- [Word Loom — an original word-game design, documented](https://nocharge.net/articles/word-loom-original-word-game-design/) — Original name, rules, feedback model, and word list. Why NoCharge's daily word is not a trademark clone, and how the duplicate-letter rule works. (4 min read; reviewed 2026-08-27)

## Setup

Quiet Setup is a separate editorial library of 210 practical guides across keyboards, pointing devices, screens and stands, desk and comfort, offline puzzles, audio, and lighting. Paid links, where present, are disclosed; the guides do not require purchases. Hub: https://nocharge.net/setup/

## Daily

https://nocharge.net/daily/ — date-seeded local dailies with on-device streaks and practice modes. Slots are filled as daily games ship.

## Policies

- Privacy: https://nocharge.net/privacy/
- Advertising: https://nocharge.net/advertising/
- Accessibility: https://nocharge.net/accessibility/
- Changelog: https://nocharge.net/changelog/
- Media kit: https://nocharge.net/media/