HOLMES ABROAD

Last updated: 26 May 2026.

Who we are

Holmes Abroad ("the app", "we") is an iOS and Android mobile application published by Orange Wheel Advisory ApS, based in Denmark. Contact: [email protected].

What data Holmes Abroad collects

We try to collect as little as possible. Here is everything the app touches.

1. Your game progress (stored on your device only)

• What: visited locations, journal entries, character notes, submitted answers, completion times, and which cases you've started.
• Where it lives: in your device's local storage (AsyncStorage). We do not run a backend; this data never leaves your phone.
• If you delete the app, this data is deleted with it. If you reinstall, it starts fresh.

2. Your in-app purchases (handled by Apple / Google)

• When you purchase a case, Apple App Store or Google Play processes the transaction. We receive a receipt confirming the purchase happened; we use it solely to unlock the case on your device.
• We never see your card details, billing address, name, or email address — Apple and Google handle all of that and never share it with us.
• We store, on your device only, the product IDs of the cases you've purchased so the app knows which content to unlock. Restoring purchases (Settings → Restore Purchases) re-checks with Apple/Google to recover that list if you reinstall or switch devices.

3. Your location (only in Afoot mode, only on-device)

• The app has two play modes: Armchair (play from anywhere) and Afoot (visit the actual streets of the case's city to unlock locations).
• If you choose Afoot mode, the app requests location access via your device's standard permission prompt and uses your GPS coordinates to check whether you're physically near a case location.
• This check is performed entirely on your device. Your coordinates are never recorded, never transmitted, and never stored. Each time you arrive near a location the app computes the distance, decides whether to mark the location as visited, and discards the coordinate.
• You can change to Armchair mode at any time in Settings.

4. Audio and image assets

• Narration, sound effects, and images are bundled inside the app or downloaded once at install/update time. There is no per-session asset call, no usage tracking, and no analytics on what content you played.

5. Crash reports + basic diagnostics

• If the app crashes, anonymous diagnostic data (device model, OS version, approximate region) may be sent to Apple via the standard iOS crash reporting flow. We use this to fix bugs.
• We do NOT use a third-party analytics SDK (no Firebase, no Mixpanel, no Amplitude, no Facebook Pixel, no advertising network).

What Holmes Abroad does NOT collect

• Your name, email address, phone number, or any contact info.
• Your account information from third-party platforms.
• Your contacts, calendar, photos library, microphone, or camera.
• Your browsing history or activity outside Holmes Abroad.
• Your device identifier (IDFA / Android Advertising ID).
• Behavioural analytics — we do not use any tracking SDKs.
• Any data while the app is closed or in the background.

Third-party services

The only third parties that touch this app are:

We do not embed any other SDKs that collect data. No advertising networks, no attribution providers, no third-party analytics, no crash reporting beyond Apple's standard flow. We do NOT sell your data. We do NOT share it with advertisers.

How long we keep it

• Game progress and entitlements: on your device only, for as long as you have the app installed. Uninstall the app and your device deletes them.
• Purchase records: Apple and Google retain purchase records on their side per their respective policies. We have no control over those.

Children

Holmes Abroad is rated for users aged 12 and over (the murder mysteries are dark in theme but contain no graphic content). The app does not knowingly collect data from any user, of any age. If you are under 13 in the United States (or under the applicable digital consent age in your country), you should only use the app with the supervision of a parent or guardian.

Your rights

Because we don't collect or store any personal data on our servers, there is nothing for us to delete, export, or correct on your behalf. Your full control over your data consists of:

• Delete all game data: uninstall the app, or tap Settings → End this case to wipe a single case's progress.
• Reset your purchases: purchases are managed by Apple / Google. Visit your Apple ID or Google Play account settings to view your purchase history or request refunds (subject to their policies).
• Revoke location access: at any time via your device's Settings → Privacy → Location Services → Holmes Abroad.
• Email us: [email protected] for any question this policy doesn't answer.

If you are in the EU or UK, you also have the rights granted under GDPR / UK GDPR, including the right to lodge a complaint with your national data protection authority. In Denmark, that authority is Datatilsynet (datatilsynet.dk).

International users

The app works the same way wherever you are. We do not transfer your data internationally because we do not collect your data at all. Apple's and Google's data handling is governed by their respective policies, including their data transfer practices.

If you are in the European Economic Area, United Kingdom, or Switzerland, the legal basis for our (minimal) data handling is your consent (when you grant location access) and the performance of the contract you enter when you purchase a case (Apple/Google process the transaction; we deliver the content). We do not perform any "profiling" or automated decision-making.

Changes to this policy

If we materially change this policy, we will notify you in the app on your next session. The "Last updated" date at the top shows when the current version took effect.

Contact

Questions, requests, complaints: [email protected].

© 2026 Orange Wheel Advisory ApS · orange-wheel.com