Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know to play Ostraka, the daily cultural investigation: timing, crests, card collection, missed days, saving your progress and notifications.

Playing

When does the new investigation arrive?

Every day at midnight, Paris time. If you have turned on notifications, an announcement goes out during the morning.

The picture doesn't match what I'm looking for: is that normal?

Yes. The day's picture is deliberately off: the Archive has misunderstood the memory. It takes sayings literally and sometimes mixes up two memories. The picture sets the mood and sometimes offers a lead, but the traces restored by the workshops are what lead you to the answer.

Why only one answer per trace?

So that every trace counts. After each workshop, you can try an answer or move on to the next workshop for one more trace. Moving on means giving up the chance to answer with what you already know.

How are crests awarded?

Found with one trace: Gold crest. With two: Silver. With three: Bronze. Mistakes in the workshops don't change your crest: you can retry a workshop as many times as you need.

What do you win by playing?

Every memory you recover gives you its card, with its crest: on the front, the picture the Archive kept of it; on the back, what it really was, why each trace led there and an anecdote. All your cards are kept in your collection, to read again whenever you like. Some achievements also unlock avatars, which you can pick in your profile once your progress is saved.

I didn't find it: what happens?

The memory is marked "Missed": its card stays tarnished in your collection, without a crest. You still see the answer and its full explanation, which you can read again from your collection whenever you like.

Can I replay a day?

No: once a game is over, it's over, and its result never changes. That's what gives a crest its value.

Missed days and streaks

I missed a few days: are they lost?

No. Every past day stays playable from the archives, for as long as you like. They are then marked "Caught up".

How do streaks work?

A streak counts the days played on the day itself and finished, without a break. Catching up on a day in the archives doesn't extend a streak, but an absence never takes away anything you've earned.

Progress and devices

Do I need an account?

No. You can play straight away: your progress is kept on this device. To find it on another device, or to keep it if you clear your browser data, save it with your email address.

How does saving by email work?

You receive a sign-in link, valid for fifteen minutes and usable once. There is no password to remember. To sign in on another device, just ask for a new link.

I played on two devices: what happens to my progress?

When you sign in, the games from both devices are brought together. If the same day was finished on both, the game finished first is the one that counts.

Reminders and notifications

How do I get the day's investigation?

At the end of an investigation, you can turn on notifications: one announcement a day, no more. On iPhone, first add Ostraka to your home screen (Share button, then "Add to Home Screen").

To turn them off: at the end of any investigation, from your profile if your progress is saved, or in your browser settings.

And by email?

Once your progress is saved, you can ask from your profile for an email reminder after a few days without playing: one per absence, with a link in every email to stop them.

Everything else

Is the game free?

Yes, entirely, with no ads.

Which languages can I play in?

French and English. You can pick the language at the top of the page.

How do I delete my data?

From your profile: "Download my data" to get a copy, "Delete my account" to erase everything. Details are in the privacy policy.

I spotted a mistake in a case

Thank you! Write to us at hello@playostraka.com with the date of the investigation: every report is checked and, if needed, the case is corrected.