No cookies
This site does not set cookies. There is no consent banner because, at present, there is nothing to consent to — and a banner that appeared without any cookies behind it would be theatre rather than compliance.
What the site does use is localStorage, and it is worth understanding the difference because the two are often treated as the same thing.
Cookies versus localStorage
| Cookies | localStorage | |
|---|---|---|
| Sent to a server | Yes, with every request to that domain | No, never |
| Readable by the site's server | Yes | No — there is no server here |
| Can enable cross-site tracking | Yes, in some configurations | No |
| Expiry | Set by whoever created it | Stays until you clear it |
| Used on Monster Arcade | No | Yes, for the five items below |
The practical difference is the first row. A cookie travels with every request, which is what makes it useful for tracking. localStorage does not travel anywhere — it is a key-value store that only JavaScript running on this site can read, and since this site has no server, nothing it stores can be sent to us.
What we store and why
All keys are prefixed ma: so they are easy to identify in your browser's developer tools.
| Key | Contains | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
ma:favorites | A list of game identifiers | Your favourites page and the heart state on cards |
ma:recent | Game identifier, timestamp, play count | Recently played, and your own most-played list |
ma:bests | One number per game per metric | Showing your personal best in a game and on its page |
ma:prefs | Sound on/off, reduced motion | Remembering your choices between visits |
The total is typically a couple of kilobytes. Nothing in it identifies you, and nothing in it can be read by another website.
Clearing your data
You have complete control over this data and can remove it at any time. The button below removes every ma: key from this browser immediately.
This removes your favourites, recently played list, best scores and sound preference from this browser immediately.
You can also clear it through your browser's own settings — usually under "site data", "storage" or "clear browsing data" for this site. Using private or incognito browsing means nothing is kept once you close the window.
One consequence worth knowing: clearing this data erases your best scores permanently. We hold no copy, so there is nothing to restore from. That is the trade for a site that never uploads anything about you.
If storage is blocked
Some browsers block site data entirely, and private browsing modes often restrict it. Monster Arcade handles that case deliberately: every game remains fully playable, and the site falls back to keeping your session's data in memory only.
Where this affects you, pages that rely on stored data show a visible notice rather than silently failing to remember things. You should never be left wondering why a favourite disappeared.
Advertising and future cookies
This site is built to be supported by display advertising. The advertising containers you may see are currently empty.
If a third-party ad network such as Google AdSense is enabled in future, that network will be able to set its own cookies or similar identifiers, and this page will be updated to name the provider and describe what it sets before that happens. Where consent is legally required, a functioning consent mechanism will be presented — not a decorative banner that sets identifiers regardless of what you click.
Until then, the accurate statement is the simple one: this site sets no cookies.
Frequently asked questions
Why is there no cookie banner?
Because there are no cookies. A banner with nothing behind it would be misleading. If advertising is enabled in future, a real consent mechanism will appear where it is legally required.
Is localStorage the same as a cookie?
No. Cookies are transmitted with every request to a domain; localStorage never leaves your browser. Since this site has no server, nothing it stores can reach us.
Will I lose my scores if I clear my browser data?
Yes, permanently. We hold no copy because nothing is ever uploaded. That is the trade-off for a site with no accounts and no tracking.
What happens if my browser blocks storage?
Every game still works. Data is kept in memory for the session only, and pages that depend on stored data show a visible notice explaining why nothing is being remembered.