Zuno — Frequently Asked Questions

Commands, hints, saving your journey, accessibility, and how your data is handled.

What is Zuno?

Zuno is a single-player text adventure for iPhone and iPad, inspired by classic parser games like Zork. A letter brings you to the abandoned Tideglass Observatory, where you explore twelve rooms, gather curious objects, and solve a chain of linked puzzles to restore its beacon. The story, world, and puzzles are entirely original.

What is Zuno called on the App Store?

Search for Zuno: Tideglass Adventure. Once installed, the app appears on your Home Screen simply as Zuno.

I've never played a text adventure. Is Zuno for me?

Yes — it's designed for newcomers. You can type commands, but you can also tap context actions, exit buttons, and inventory controls instead. How to play on the welcome screen walks you through the basics, typing help lists every command, and optional hints guide you through each puzzle one step at a time.

What commands can I type?

Zuno understands plain commands like look, examine lantern (or x lantern), take gear, drop cloth, inventory (or i), and directions such as north, n, up, or down. You can use items on things — use gear on pump — and work mechanisms, like turn wheel or pull lever. Type help at any time for the full list. Enter one command at a time.

Can I die or lose? Is there a timer?

No. There's no combat, no arbitrary death, and no timer — the rising tide is atmosphere, not a deadline. You can stop, read, and experiment as long as you like. Failed or unrecognized commands don't even count as a turn.

What if I get stuck?

Tap Hint or type hint. Each puzzle has three hints — a gentle nudge, a stronger clue, and finally the exact action — revealed one at a time, only when you ask. Hints are tracked separately from turns, and the journal keeps every clue you've found.

Can I undo a mistake?

Yes. Tap Undo or type undo to reverse your last action — up to 50 steps back within a play session. Undone entries stay visible in the story, marked as undone, so you never lose track of what happened.

How long does Zuno take to finish?

A first playthrough typically takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on how much you explore. After you restore the beacon, you can keep exploring or start a new journey.

Does Zuno save my progress?

Yes, automatically, after every command and whenever you leave the app. Continue journey on the welcome screen picks up exactly where you left off. You can also export a save file through the Files app in Settings and import it on another device.

Does Zuno need an internet connection?

No. Zuno is fully offline. The whole adventure, its artwork, and its fonts are built into the app, and it makes no network requests. There's no account and no login.

Does Zuno collect any of my data?

No. Zuno contains no analytics, no crash reporting, no advertising, and no third-party SDKs. Your progress and settings are saved only on your device, and nothing is ever sent to us.

Is Zuno accessible?

Zuno is built with VoiceOver in mind: new responses are announced as they arrive, exits and context actions have their own rotors, decorative art is hidden, and the map has a text list version. It supports Dynamic Type up to the largest accessibility sizes, along with Increase Contrast and Reduce Motion. In-app settings add a text size adjustment, high contrast, reduced motion, and an option to turn response announcements off.

Can I play with a keyboard?

Yes. With a hardware keyboard on iPad or iPhone, press Return to send a command. Shortcuts include ⌘S to save, ⌘Z to undo (when the command field is empty), ⌘/ for help, ⌘⇧H for a hint, and ⌘L to jump back to the command field.

Which devices does Zuno support?

Zuno runs on iPhone and iPad with iOS or iPadOS 17 or later, in portrait or landscape. On iPad it also works in Split View and Slide Over.