Browser Gaming
How High Scores Are Saved in Browser Games
When a browser game shows your best score, that number is stored on your own device and has never been anywhere else. No account, no server, no transmission - which has some useful consequences and a few surprising ones.
Where it actually lives
In localStorage: a small key-value store the browser keeps for each website. A game writes a key such as ca-hs-cat-dash with your score as the value, and reads it back on your next visit.
Two properties matter. It is attached to the specific site, so only pages on this domain can read it. And it is never transmitted - unlike a cookie, which is attached to every request your browser makes, localStorage sits on your device and only JavaScript on the page can see it.
Why no account is needed
An account exists so a server can tie data to a person. If nothing is going to a server, nothing needs tying to anybody. The score is simply a number in your browser, and your browser already knows which browser it is.
The consequence is that we cannot see your scores, cannot compare them, and cannot restore them. That is a genuine trade: no account, no tracking, no recovery.
The three things that delete a score
- Clearing browsing data
- Clearing cookies and site data removes localStorage with it. There is no backup and no way to retrieve it.
- Private or incognito windows
- Storage in a private window is discarded when you close it. Anything set there is gone.
- Automatic cleanup
- Some browsers clear storage for sites you have not visited in a while, particularly on mobile. If a score vanished without you doing anything, this is the likely explanation.
Why scores are per device and per browser
Storage belongs to one browser on one device. Your phone's score and your laptop's score are entirely separate, and switching from one browser to another on the same computer starts again.
That is not a bug - it follows directly from there being no account. Synchronising across devices requires a server that knows who you are, which is the thing being avoided.
What is stored beyond scores
| Key | Holds | Why |
|---|---|---|
ca-theme | Light or dark preference | So the site opens as you chose |
ca-sound | Sound on or off | So games respect your audio preference |
ca-hs-<game> | Your best score for that game | To show a personal best |
ca-progress-<game> | Level progress | So you do not restart from level one |
ca-favourites | Games you marked | To show them on the games page |
ca-recent | Recently opened games | A quick route back |
None of it identifies you, none of it leaves the device, and all of it can be removed at any time by clearing site data for this domain.
Why storage access must be handled carefully
localStorage is not guaranteed to work. Some browser settings block it, private windows restrict it, and in certain contexts simply reading it throws an error rather than returning nothing.
A game that assumes storage works will fail to start for those users - which is why every read and write on this site is wrapped in error handling, and why the games run perfectly well with no saved data at all. You lose the score, not the game.
Keeping a score you care about
If a best score matters to you, write it down. There is no backup, no export and no way for us to recover it. That is the cost of a site that does not know who you are.
Key Takeaways
- Scores live in localStorage on your own device and are never transmitted anywhere.
- No account is needed because nothing goes to a server - which also means nothing can be restored.
- Clearing site data, private windows and automatic browser cleanup all delete scores permanently.
- Scores are per browser and per device; there is no synchronisation without an account.
- Storage can fail entirely, so games should work fine without it - you lose the score, not the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see my high scores?
No. They are stored on your device and nothing sends them anywhere.
Why did my score disappear?
Most often a private window, cleared site data, or a mobile browser automatically clearing storage for a site not visited recently.
Can I move my scores to another device?
Not through the site. There is no account and therefore no synchronisation.
Is localStorage a cookie?
No. Cookies are attached to every network request; localStorage stays on your device and is only readable by JavaScript on the same site.
What happens if storage is blocked?
The games still work normally. Scores simply will not persist between visits.
