Quick start guide
Get started with Daily GeoGame in minutes. This guide will walk you through accessing the game, making your first guess, understanding the feedback, and tracking your statistics.Playing your first game
Access the game
Visit https://daily-geogame.vercel.app in your web browser. You’ll immediately see:
- The current day number (days since Feb 18, 2026)
- An interactive world map
- A country input field
- One unlocked hint
Make your first guess
In the guess input field at the top of the game:
- Start typing a country name (e.g., “France”, “Japan”, “Brazil”)
- Select from the autocomplete suggestions that appear
- Press Enter or click to submit your guess
You can’t guess the same country twice. The game will alert you if you try to submit a duplicate.
Read the feedback
After submitting your guess, you’ll receive immediate feedback:Guess list feedback:
- Green check icon: You guessed correctly! You’ve won the game.
- Yellow pin icon: Your guess borders the target country (neighboring country)
- Orange globe icon: Your guess is in the same subregion as the target
- Red globe icon: Your guess is in the same region as the target
- Red X icon: No geographic connection
- Distance in kilometers from your guess to the target country
- Arrow showing the bearing/direction to the target
- Distances under 2,000 km appear in orange (you’re getting close!)
- Your guessed country is highlighted on the interactive map
- Neighboring countries may be shown in different colors
- Zoom and pan to explore geographic relationships
Unlock and use hints
Each guess unlocks a new hint from the CIA World Factbook. You start with 1 hint unlocked and can unlock up to 6 total.Hint types include:
- Climate information
- Terrain and geography
- GDP and economic data
- Population statistics
- Natural resources
- Land use and agriculture
Continue guessing
You have up to 6 total guesses to identify the target country. With each guess:
- A new hint unlocks
- Your guess appears in the guess list with feedback
- The map updates to show your guess
- Distance and direction help you navigate
- You guess the correct country (win!)
- You’ve used all 6 guesses without finding the answer
View your statistics
When the game ends, a statistics modal automatically appears showing:Your stats:
- Total games played
- Total wins
- Win rate percentage
- Total players who attempted the challenge
- Total winners
- Global win rate
- Guess distribution (how many players won on guess 1, 2, 3, etc.)
Statistics are saved in your browser and synced via an anonymous session ID. No personal data is collected.
Understanding the interface
Game header
The header displays:- Day number: Days since the game started (Feb 18, 2026)
- Navigation arrows: Browse previous days’ challenges
- Calendar icon: Jump to a specific date
- Stats icon: View your statistics and global leaderboard
- Today button: Return to the current day’s challenge
Interactive map
The map section shows:- A zoomable, pannable SVG world map
- Highlighted countries based on your guesses
- Visual indicators for geographic relationships
- “INTERACTIVE MAP” label at the top
Hints section
The hints grid displays 6 hint cards (2 columns on desktop, 1 on mobile):- Unlocked hints: Show the hint category, label, and full text
- Locked hints: Display blurred placeholder text and unlock requirements
- Hints reveal progressively as you make guesses
Guess list
Your guesses appear in reverse chronological order (newest first):- Numbered from 1 to 6
- Color-coded icons indicate geographic relationships
- Distance and direction shown for incorrect guesses
- Empty slots show remaining attempts
Tips for success
Start broad, then narrow down
Start broad, then narrow down
Begin with guesses from different continents to understand the general region. Use the distance feedback to zero in on the correct area.
Read hints carefully
Read hints carefully
Hints contain specific details like “tropical climate”, “landlocked”, or “major oil exporter” that can eliminate hundreds of countries.
Use the map strategically
Use the map strategically
Pay attention to highlighted neighboring countries and regional connections. The visual feedback often reveals more than just the distance numbers.
Consider all feedback types
Consider all feedback types
Distance, direction, regional connection, AND hints all provide valuable clues. Combine them to make educated guesses.
Learn from previous days
Learn from previous days
You can navigate to previous challenges using the arrows in the header. This is great for practice and learning new geographic facts.
Common questions
When does the daily challenge reset?
When does the daily challenge reset?
A new country is selected every day at midnight UTC. The day number increments, and everyone worldwide gets the same challenge.
Can I play previous days?
Can I play previous days?
Yes! Use the navigation arrows or calendar icon in the header to access any day since the game started (Feb 18, 2026).
What happens if I close the browser?
What happens if I close the browser?
Your progress is automatically saved. When you return, you’ll see your previous guesses and unlocked hints for that day.
How is my data stored?
How is my data stored?
Progress is saved locally in your browser and synced to the server using an anonymous session ID. No personal information or login is required.
What if I can't find a country?
What if I can't find a country?
The autocomplete search supports all countries in the RestCountries database. Try different spellings or the country’s official name (e.g., “Myanmar” vs “Burma”).
What’s next?
Now that you know the basics, you can:Learn advanced strategies
Master the game with detailed strategy guides
Explore all features
Discover map controls, statistics, and more
Understand the data
Learn about CIA World Factbook and RestCountries
Play now
Start today’s challenge