Designing safe single-file games
Why Upload Arcade sandboxes every game, and how to design great games inside those constraints.
The sandbox is the product
Every game on Upload Arcade, including our own first-party titles, runs in the same isolated frame: scripts allowed, but no access to the host page, no cookies, no storage on our origin, no forms, no popups, and no network. That single rule is what lets us host arbitrary uploaded code without putting players at risk.
Constraints breed creativity
No network and one file sounds limiting, but it pushes you toward the good habits of classic browser games: a clear goal, one or two controls, fast restarts, and immediate feedback. The best entries in the starter library are small, honest, and replayable.
Transparent rights
Because every game is a readable single file, source and remix rights are transparent. Uploaders attest that they hold the rights to what they submit and choose a license and remix permission up front. That keeps the library safe to learn from and build on.