Sentient Square Games

Terms of service

Specimen IX: Evolving Sudoku · Last updated 29 October 2026

Who we are

Specimen IX is made by Sentient Square Games ("we", "us"). By playing the game you agree to these terms. If you don't agree, please don't play. Questions: info@specimen-ix.com.

Playing the game

• Specimen IX is free to play for your own personal enjoyment.
• You must be at least 13 years old to play. If the law where you live sets a higher age for using online games without a parent's permission, you need that permission.
• You're welcome to stream, record and share screenshots and videos of the game, including on monetised channels. A link back to the game is always appreciated.

Your pilot

• Guest pilots are tied to your browser. If you clear your browser data without saving your progress, a guest pilot can be lost.
• If you save your progress with Google or an email link, keep access to that account safe. You're responsible for what happens on your pilot.
• One pilot per person on the leaderboards, please.

Callsigns and feedback

• Callsigns must not be offensive, hateful, sexual or misleading, and must not impersonate anyone. We can rename or remove any callsign at our discretion.
• If you send us feedback or ideas, we're free to use them to improve the game, with no obligation to you.

Fair play

The leaderboards only mean something if everyone plays fair. Don't:

• use bots, scripts, solvers, modified clients or anything else that plays or enters numbers for you;
• exploit bugs to gain points or time (please tell us about them instead);
• tamper with, overload or try to break into the game's servers, or submit fake runs or scores.

Runs are checked automatically. We can hold, review, reject or remove any run or score, reset leaderboards, and suspend or delete pilots who break these rules. Our decisions on rankings are final.

Leaderboards

Saved pilots' callsigns and scores appear on public leaderboards. Guests never do. We may reset or change leaderboards, for example after an update that changes scoring.

Donations

• Support through Ko-fi is entirely voluntary and keeps the game free and ad-free. Thank you!
• A donation is a gift. It doesn't buy anything in the game, give any advantage, or guarantee future features.
• Payments are handled by Ko-fi and its payment providers under their own terms. Donations are non-refundable, except where the law requires otherwise.

Who owns what

The game's code, design, story, logs and voice lines, and the names Specimen IX and Sentient Square Games, belong to Sentient Square Games. The original score is by CQNZR. and used with permission. Some 3D models, textures and fonts were made by other creators and are used under their licences (Creative Commons and the SIL Open Font License). They're listed in the game's Credits and remain theirs.

Don't copy, redistribute, resell or rehost the game or its assets, or use them to make a copy of the game.

The game can change

We're always working on Specimen IX. Features, scoring, difficulty and power-ups may change, progress may occasionally need to be reset, and the game may be unavailable at times or eventually shut down. We'll try to give notice of big changes.

No guarantees

The game is provided "as is", without warranties of any kind. As far as the law allows, Sentient Square Games isn't liable for any loss arising from playing or being unable to play the game, including lost progress or scores. Nothing in these terms limits rights you have under the law that can't be limited.

Leaving

You can stop playing at any time. To have your pilot and data deleted, email us. See the privacy policy for what we keep and why.

Changes to these terms

If these terms change, we'll update this page and the date at the top. Playing after a change means you accept the new terms.