1. Acceptance of these terms
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) form an agreement between you and Koru Forge concerning your use of koru-forge.com (the “Site”). By accessing or using the Site, you agree to these Terms and our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy.
If you do not agree, please do not use the Site. If you use the Site for an organisation, you confirm that you are authorised to agree on its behalf.
2. What Koru Forge provides
Koru Forge is an independent game-discovery and editorial service aimed primarily at players in New Zealand. We publish reviews, comparative ratings, summaries, platform information and links intended to help people decide which free-to-play games may suit them.
We do not host, distribute or operate the games in our catalogue. We do not guarantee that any title will remain available, free, compatible with your device or supported in your region. Publishers may change servers, features, system requirements, prices and monetisation at any time.
3. Free-play and real-money notice
A game is eligible for our catalogue when meaningful core play can begin without a mandatory upfront payment at the time of review. “Free-to-play” does not always mean every character, cosmetic, item, expansion or convenience feature is free.
- Koru Forge does not require payment to browse reviews.
- Koru Forge does not accept deposits, stakes or wagers.
- Koru Forge does not provide real-money prizes, returns, earnings or rewards.
- There is no Koru Forge balance and no ability to withdraw funds.
- Optional purchases offered inside a third-party game are made with that publisher or platform, not with us.
Digital items and virtual currency are entertainment features governed by the relevant publisher’s terms. Do not treat a game purchase as an investment. Review parental and platform spending controls before allowing a child to play.
4. Eligibility and age ratings
You may browse Koru Forge if you can lawfully use the internet in your location. The Site is not directed to children under 13. Individual games may have higher age ratings, chat risks or publisher age requirements. You are responsible for checking the applicable New Zealand classification and the publisher’s rules.
Parents and guardians are responsible for supervising a child’s game access, privacy settings, communications and optional purchases.
5. Reviews, scores and commercial relationships
Ratings reflect our assessment at the stated review date. We consider core gameplay, free-player fairness, onboarding, community and queues, platform access and the New Zealand player experience. Reasonable reviewers can disagree, and your experience may differ.
Publishers cannot purchase a Koru Score. If we publish sponsored content, receive a review copy or use an affiliate link, we will label that relationship where the content or link appears. A commercial relationship will not guarantee coverage or a particular result.
We try to keep information accurate but do not promise that every detail is complete or current. You can report a correction to hello@koru-forge.com.
6. Third-party games, stores and links
The Site links to publishers, storefronts and platform services we do not control. A link is provided for convenience and identification; it is not a guarantee, endorsement of every publisher practice or representation that a third-party service is safe for every user.
Before downloading, registering or buying an optional item, review the third party’s terms, privacy notice, refund policy, system requirements and current pricing. Any account, download, purchase, dispute or gameplay relationship is between you and the third party.
You are responsible for device security, data charges, backups, compatible hardware and compliance with the game’s rules. Never share game passwords or authentication codes with Koru Forge.
7. Intellectual property
Koru Forge’s original site design, written reviews, scoring presentation, Koru mark and code are owned by or licensed to Koru Forge and protected by applicable intellectual-property law. You may view the Site and share ordinary links for personal, non-commercial use.
You may not reproduce substantial parts of our reviews or catalogue, scrape the Site at a harmful rate, remove attribution, sell our content, or use our branding to suggest an unauthorised partnership without written permission.
Third-party game names, screenshots, artwork and logos remain the property of their respective owners. They are displayed for identification, commentary and review. Koru Forge is not affiliated with or endorsed by those owners unless we explicitly say otherwise.
If you believe content infringes your rights, email legal@koru-forge.com with the work, the material, your contact details and the basis of your request.
8. Acceptable use
You must not:
- break the law, violate another person’s rights or encourage harmful conduct through the Site;
- attempt to bypass security, introduce malware, probe non-public systems or disrupt normal operation;
- use automated tools in a way that imposes an unreasonable load or ignores published access controls;
- impersonate Koru Forge, a publisher or another person;
- send us unlawful, threatening, deceptive or sensitive account and payment information; or
- misuse Site content to promote gambling, guaranteed earnings or misleading real-money opportunities.
We may restrict access or take proportionate protective steps where misuse threatens the Site, other people or our rights.
9. Availability, warranties and responsibility
We provide the Site on an “as available” basis and may change, suspend or withdraw features. To the extent permitted by law, we do not promise uninterrupted access, error-free content, a particular matchmaking result, or that a third-party download will meet your needs.
You make your own decision to follow a link, install software or make an optional purchase. To the extent permitted by law, Koru Forge is not responsible for loss caused by third-party games, stores, outages, account actions, publisher changes, malware outside our control, or reliance on information after its review date.
Where we are liable and the law permits a limitation, our responsibility is limited to losses that were reasonably foreseeable from our failure. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits a right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, including applicable rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or Fair Trading Act 1986.
10. Changes, governing law and contact
We may update these Terms to reflect changes in the Site, risk or law. The effective date will be revised, and material changes may be highlighted. Continued use after the updated Terms take effect means you accept them; if you disagree, stop using the Site.
These Terms are governed by New Zealand law. New Zealand courts have non-exclusive jurisdiction, which means mandatory consumer or legal protections in your usual country of residence may still apply.
If any provision is held unenforceable, it will be interpreted or removed only to the minimum extent necessary; the remaining provisions continue. A delay in enforcing a right is not a waiver.
Questions about these Terms can be sent to legal@koru-forge.com.