This article answers common questions about playing Coindrel, online play, records, and Coindrel Unlimited.
Do I need an account to play?
No. Solo, Nearby, and Pass & Play need no account or login. Online play uses your Game Center account.
Can I play offline?
Yes. Solo against the computer and Pass & Play work without an internet connection. Nearby duels connect two devices directly and don't need the internet either.
Is there luck in Coindrel?
How coins fall is completely deterministic: the same board and the same drop always produce the same cascade. Randomness appears only where the rules say so: the opening switch positions, a timed-out drop, hole placement with the Holes variant, and exit layouts with Shuffled Exits.
Who scores the coins I knock loose?
You do. Every coin that leaves the board during your drop scores for you, even if your opponent dropped it earlier.
Why did my opponent get another drop after I reached the target?
When a player first reaches the round's target, the opponent always gets exactly one last drop. It can overtake you. Then the round ends.
Why did my coin drop by itself?
The turn clock ran out. When time is up, Coindrel drops your coin in a random entry. Choose a longer clock (60 or 120 seconds) in match setup if you want more time.
Can I pause a match?
Solo and Pass & Play pause when you open the match menu or leave the app, and resume with the time you had left. Online and nearby duels can't be paused, because your opponent is still playing.
How do holes connect?
That is the point of the Holes variant: connections are hidden. Watch where coins disappear and reappear, and remember. Holes move to new places each round.
Can I play a Mac against an iPhone or iPad?
Yes. Online and nearby duels work between iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Is Quick Match ever against a computer?
No. Coindrel never fills a Quick Match with a hidden computer opponent. If nobody is found, you can try again, challenge a friend, or play Solo.
Do my wishes split the Quick Match queue?
No. Wishes are optional. A variant applies only when both players want it, and anyone can always be matched on standard rules.
Why did my rating go down when I didn't finish the match?
Resigning, leaving a Quick Match in progress, or closing Coindrel during a rated match counts as a loss. A match that ends in No Contest because of a connection problem doesn't change your rating.
Does my record sync between devices?
Your record and statistics sync through iCloud to devices signed in to the same Apple Account. Match history and replays stay on the device where the match was played.
Why did abandoning a Solo match count as a loss?
Restarting an unfinished Solo match, or starting a new match over it, counts as a loss at its difficulty once a coin has been dropped. Use Save & Quit to Home to keep the match for later instead.
Do I need Coindrel Unlimited to play with a friend who has it?
No. Joining or accepting any friend or nearby match is always free, whatever rules the host chose.
Is Coindrel Unlimited a subscription?
No. It is a one-time purchase that unlocks Coindrel on iPhone, iPad, and Mac with the same Apple Account, and can be shared with Family Sharing.
Does Coindrel Unlimited make me stronger in online matches?
No. Purchases never affect how a match plays out. Coindrel Unlimited adds options and statistics, not advantages.
Is there music?
No. Coindrel has sound effects only, and you can turn them off in Settings.