Gameplay
How do I solve a case?
Each case presents a story and a set of evidence. Tap on keywords you believe are Correct clues to select them, then tap Verify to submit your theory. If you’re right, you crack the case. If you’re wrong, you lose 30 coins — so choose carefully!
What are keywords?
Keywords are specific terms or phrases hidden within the story. Correct keywords are essential to understanding the case. Incorrect keywords are red herrings designed to mislead you.
How does the Hint System work?
Tap the Hint button to reveal a “Classified Information” card. Hints are progressively detailed:
- Level 1: Vague direction
- Level 2: More specific guidance
- Level 3: Near-explicit clue
Each hint costs 50 coins. You can earn coins by solving cases, maintaining your daily streak, or watching the reward video (if available).
Wh at’s the difference between Classic and Interrogation modes?
- Classic Mode: Read the story, analyze evidence, select keywords.
- Interrogation Mode: Interactive dialogue with suspects. Choose questions tactically to reveal hidden keywords and uncover contradictions.
What happens in Time Attack mode?
The timer starts as soon as you enter the case. You have a limited number of seconds to solve the mystery. The screen shows a heartbeat pulse through haptics as time runs low. If the timer reaches zero, the case is failed and you must try again.
Progress & Economy
How do I earn coins?
- Solve cases: +100 coins for each correct solution
- Daily streak: increasing bonus each consecutive day (Day 1: 100, Day 2: 150, Day 3+: 200)
- Achievements: medals like “First Blood” or “Sherlock” grant coin bonuses
- No real money purchases for coins — the economy is entirely earned through gameplay
What are Service Medals?
Medals are achievements earned by reaching milestones:
- First Blood: Solve your first case
- Sherlock: Solve 10 cases without using hints
- Richie Rich: Accumulate 1000 coins
- Veteran: Maintain a 7-day streak
Why did my coins decrease suddenly?
Incorrect guesses deduct 30 coins as a penalty. This is part of the risk/reward economy — deduction should be thoughtful, not random.
How do I rank up?
Your detective rank increases automatically as you solve more cases:
- Rookie → Private Eye → Detective → Inspector → Mastermind
Check your progress on the ID Card in the Settings tab.
Premium & Purchases
What’s included in the Premium Detective Pass?
The Premium Detective Pass unlocks:
- Chapter 2 (all cases)
- Cold Cases (bonus mysteries)
- No ads (the app has no ads anyway, but Premium is the complete experience)
Is the Premium Pass a subscription?
No. It’s a one-time purchase. Pay once, unlock forever.
I bought Premium but the cases are still locked. What should I do?
Try the following:
- Force-close the app and reopen it
- Ensure you’re signed in with the same Apple ID used for purchase
- Tap Restore Purchases in the Paywall screen If the issue persists, contact support with your purchase receipt.
Can I get a refund?
All purchases are handled by Apple. You can request a refund through reportaproblem.apple.com.
Technical Issues
Audio and haptics aren’t working
Check the Settings screen:
- Ensure Sound Effects and Haptic Feedback toggles are ON
- Check your device’s Silent Mode switch (physical switch on iPhone) — the app respects system audio settings
- Ensure your device volume is up
Privacy & Security
Is my data safe?
Yes. Minimal Crimes is completely offline. All data (profile, progress, settings) is stored locally on your device using encryption provided by iOS. We have no servers, no cloud sync, and no analytics SDKs.
How does the Face ID/Touch ID lock work?
When enabled in Settings, the app shows a “Restricted Area” lock screen on launch. Biometric authentication is handled entirely by iOS — the app never accesses your biometric data, only the authentication result (success/fail).
Does the app track me?
No. We don’t use Firebase, Facebook SDK, or any tracking libraries. We don’t collect crash analytics. The app is designed to be private by default.
Notifications
How do daily notifications work?
Notifications are local (generated by your device, not our servers). They simulate messages from in-game informants and remind you of your daily streak. You can disable them in iOS Settings > Notifications > Minimal Crimes.
I enabled notifications but I’m not receiving them
Check:
- iOS Settings > Notifications > Minimal Crimes — ensure “Allow Notifications” is ON
- Do Not Disturb / Focus modes may block notifications
- Notifications are scheduled daily; the first one appears 24 hours after you enable the feature
Can I change the notification time?
Not currently. Notifications arrive at a fixed time based on when you first enabled them. This feature may be added in a future update.
Account & Data
Can I sync progress across devices?
Not currently. Minimal Crimes stores data locally on each device. We plan to add iCloud sync in a future update.
I got a new iPhone. Can I transfer my progress?
Unfortunately, no. Since all data is local and encrypted per-device, there’s currently no way to migrate progress. You’ll need to start fresh. We understand this is frustrating and are prioritizing CloudKit integration.
How do I delete my data?
Simply delete the app from your device. All local data will be removed. There is no “account” to delete because we don’t create accounts.