Frequently asked questions
Plain answers to the questions we get most. If yours isn't here, email 
and we'll usually reply the same day.
Getting started
Do I need an account to play?
Not at first. When you install the app you get 10 free credits you can use to play the computer offline, no account required. Once those run out, you'll need to sign in — which gives you 10 more free credits — to keep playing or to buy more. Online play always needs an account, since that's how we match you with opponents and save your match history across devices.
How do I sign in?
You can also sign in on Android and iOS devices with your Google or Apple account. On other supported devices, we use one-time email codes. You type your email; we send you a 6-digit code; you paste it back. The code expires after 15 minutes.
I didn't get my sign-in code. What now?
Check your spam folder first — a fresh email from a domain you've never seen before sometimes lands there. If it's not there, tap Resend code in the app. Still nothing? Email with the address you tried and we'll look into it.
Does the game work on tablets?
Yes, but it's designed for portrait phones. On a tablet you'll get the same layout scaled up.
Playing the game
Are the rules really only four?
Really. Place, push, return, win. The depth comes from how those four interact. See the How to play page for a walkthrough.
Why did my own piece get pushed off the board?
Pieces don't care which color shoves them — placing next to your own edge piece can absolutely push it off. The piece returns to your hand, but you've spent a move on the placement. Watch your edges.
Why did my opponent win when I placed?
If your placement pushed three of your opponent's pieces into a straight line, the rule "first line on the board wins" gives them the match. Diagonal lines are the most common surprise. Look at the whole board before placing on the edge.
Is there a per-move time limit?
Currently no. Online matches are turn-based and patient — you can take a few seconds to think. We may add an optional clock in a future update.
Can I play with a friend?
Yes — open the lobby and challenge each other. There's no friend list yet, but players you've previously played show a small "previous opponent" indicator below their name in the lobby, so they're easy to spot when they're online at the same time.
Credits and purchases
What are play credits?
Credits are an in-game item used to start an online match or a game with the computer. One match costs one credit, and the credit is returned to you if you win. You get 10 free credits when you install the app — enough to play the computer offline — and 10 more free credits when you sign in.
Do credits expire?
No. Unspent credits stay on your account as long as the account is active.
What if I run out of credits?
You can buy more credits. Three packs are available: 10 credits, 40 credits, or 100 credits.
Can I get a refund on a credit pack?
Refunds are handled by the store you bought from — Google Play on Android, the App Store on iOS — under their refund policies. Both stores have a refund-request form in their account settings. If your local law gives you a stronger refund right (for example, the EU's 14-day right of withdrawal), that applies too. If you've already spent some of the refunded credits, we may deduct the equivalent from your balance. See our Terms of Service for the full details.
Can credits be transferred between accounts?
No. Credits are tied to the account that bought them and have no monetary value.
Why isn't the in-app store loading?
Usually it's one of three things: no internet connection, the device's Google Play or App Store account isn't signed in, or your phone's billing region is set to a country where these products aren't available yet. Restarting the app fixes it more often than you'd expect.
Account and privacy
How do I delete my account?
Two ways. In the app: Settings → Delete account. On the web: oustwit.com/delete-account. To confirm it's you, the web flow lets you verify with Apple, Google, or an email code — whichever you sign in with — so it works even if you used Apple's "Hide My Email" and we don't have an address for you. Your account is deactivated immediately, and the data is permanently deleted after a 30-day grace period — during which you can still restore it.
Can I undo deletion?
If it's been less than 30 days, just sign back into the Oustwit app and select Restore when prompted. If you no longer have the app installed, email from the original account email and we'll restore it for you. After 30 days the data is permanently deleted and can't be recovered.
What data does Oustwit collect?
The minimum we need to run online play and process purchases. The full list is in our Privacy Policy. Short version: your email, the profile fields you fill in, your match history, and a verification receipt for each credit-pack purchase. We never see your card details.
How does in-match chat work?
In-match communication is limited to a fixed set of preset quick messages — there's no free-text chat. They're sent to your opponent in real time and aren't stored on our servers. If an opponent is using the quick messages in a way that bothers you, the in-match Mute button silences them for the rest of that game. You can also block or report a player from the in-app menus, or email .
Does the game show ads?
No.
Technical
What devices does Oustwit run on?
At launch: Android 5.0 (API 21) and higher, and iPhones on iOS 13 and higher.
Why did my match disconnect?
Mobile networks drop. When the connection comes back, the app retries automatically. Your match waits for you for up to about a minute; after that, the opponent is given the option to claim a forfeit. If you reconnect within the wait window, the match resumes exactly where you left it.
Will my profile sync between phones?
Yes — sign in with the same email or the same Google/Apple account on both devices, and your profile, credits, and match history follow you.
I found a bug. Where do I report it?
Email . Tell us the device, the OS version, and what happened. Screenshots help.
About the game
Where is the name from?
It's a portmanteau of "oust" (push out) and "outwit" (out-think). Both happen in every match.
Will there be tournaments? Leaderboards? Custom boards?
Maybe — but not at v1.0. We want to ship a tight game first and add features people actually ask for. If one of those matters to you, tell us at .