Questions from the crew
What people ask before their first argument
Is Arrrgue free?
Yes — completely free to play, with no account required. We keep the lights on with a few ads on the landing and results screens, never during a game. That’s the whole business model.
Do I need to download an app?
No. Arrrgue runs in any modern browser — phone, tablet, laptop, or a TV in crow’s-nest mode. Nobody installs anything. The host opens the site, everyone else types the 4-letter code.
Do I need to make an account?
No. You type a name and you’re in. Sign-in with Google is optional and does one thing: it keeps a private log of your past verdicts so you can look back at what your crew decided, from any device. Skip it and nothing changes about the game.
How many people can play?
From 3 up to 20 on a single crew. A few modes want a minimum (Arrrgue! Classic needs 3+). It also plays fine as a two-person argument if you just want to settle something — most modes only need a crew of one to technically run, but the fun starts at three or four.
What devices work?
Anything with a browser. Phones are the controllers; a laptop or TV can join in crow’s-nest mode to show the lobby, reveals, and eliminations on the big screen without holding a seat. No special hardware, no dongles.
Can I play it on a TV?
Yes — open the room on the TV’s browser and pick "man the crow’s nest." The TV mirrors the room so everyone can watch a ballot get read or an item get thrown overboard, while the actual voting happens on phones.
Can I use my own subjects instead of the built-in ones?
Absolutely. The host can pick one of the built-in packs, roll Surprise me, or type a fully custom list — best breakup album, worst gas-station snack, your friends ranked by driving ability. Any chosen list can have items added or removed before you set sail.
What is "Surprise me"?
The default subject. The room opens sealed — nobody sees the category — and a fresh pack is rolled and revealed the moment the game starts. It’s the fastest way to start a fight when the crew can’t even agree on what to argue about.
How long does a game take?
Anywhere from a 10-minute icebreaker to an all-evening saga. Most modes run 10–20 minutes. Face-Off with a 16-item bracket is a whole night. The host sets an optional clock (1–15 minutes) on debate and voting phases, or turns it off entirely.
What happens if my phone dies or I get disconnected?
You reclaim your seat automatically when you come back — same name, same votes. Parties are chaotic; the game is built for dropped phones, backgrounded apps, and stragglers. No player can get stranded, and the host can always force a stuck phase forward.
Who wins?
Nobody. That’s the point. Arrrgue produces a definitive Top 3, 5, or 10 and a lot of shouting, but there’s no score that matters and no trophy. The product is the argument, not the outcome. A few modes crown a fun title (Best Advocate, Most Divisive) purely for bragging rights.
What data do you collect?
As little as possible. Names and list items live in memory only while the room is open, then they’re gone — there’s no database of past games. We use privacy-minded analytics to count games and popular modes. Full details are in the Privacy Policy.
Are there a lot of ads?
No. Ads only ever appear on the landing and results screens and the occasional between-games break — never during a game phase, and never in the middle of an argument. An ad-free option isn’t available yet; for now everyone sees the same handful of ads, and they stay out of the way of the game.
Why pirates?
Because "we should settle this" deserves a little ceremony. The pirate framing — crews, ballots read into the log, treaties signed, items sent over the plank — treats petty debates with mock gravity, which is exactly what makes them fun to stage. It’s a logbook kept about candy bars.
Still stuck? Email contact@hedgehoginteractive.com — questions, ideas, and "you have to add this category" all welcome.