Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Name The Countries geography game.
What is Name The Countries?
Name The Countries is a free, browser-based geography quiz game where you identify countries on an interactive world map. You can challenge yourself to name all 195 recognized countries, focus on specific continents, or take on the Daily Challenge. The game is designed for players of all ages and skill levels, from students learning geography for the first time to adults testing their knowledge.
Is this game free to play?
Yes, Name The Countries is completely free. There are no premium subscriptions, no paywalls, and no hidden charges. All game modes, including the Daily Challenge and continent-specific challenges, are available to every player at no cost. We believe geography education should be accessible to everyone.
Do I need to create an account?
No account is required to play the game. You can start playing immediately by visiting the homepage. However, if you want your scores to appear on the global leaderboard and persist across sessions, you may need to allow browser storage for our site.
What devices can I play on?
Name The Countries works on any device with a modern web browser. This includes desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. The game is fully responsive and adapts its layout to your screen size. For the best experience, we recommend using a device with a screen at least 5 inches wide, as smaller screens can make it harder to interact with the map.
How many countries are in the game?
The full world challenge includes all 195 internationally recognized sovereign states. Continent modes break this down into: Africa (54 countries), Asia (49 countries), Europe (44 countries), North America (23 countries), South America (12 countries), and Oceania (14 countries). There is also a Continents mode where you name the seven continents themselves.
How does the scoring system work?
Your score is determined by accuracy (number of countries correctly named), speed (bonus points for quick answers), and completion (bonus for naming every country in a mode). Using hints deducts a small number of points from your total. The scoring system is designed to reward both knowledge and speed, encouraging you to improve with each play session.
What is the Daily Challenge?
The Daily Challenge is a special game mode that presents the same geography quiz to all players worldwide each day. You have a set time limit to identify specific countries. Your score is ranked against other players globally. Completing challenges on consecutive days builds a streak. It is a great way to build a daily geography practice habit and compete with friends.
How do hints work?
When you are stuck, you can click the hint button to receive a clue about one of the remaining unidentified countries. Hints may reveal the first letter of a country name, its continent, or other identifying information. Each hint used deducts a small number of points from your final score. Use hints strategically — they are most valuable when you are close to completing a challenge and stuck on the last few countries.
Can I use this game in a classroom?
Name The Countries is designed to be a classroom-friendly educational tool. Teachers around the world use our game for geography lessons, quizzes, and classroom competitions. The continent-specific modes are particularly useful for lessons focused on a single region. The game requires no installation, runs in any browser, and is free — making it easy to use on school computers and student devices.
Why does the map look different from Google Maps?
Our game uses Leaflet with OpenStreetMap data, which is an open-source mapping solution. The map may look slightly different from proprietary map services like Google Maps, but it accurately represents country borders and geographic features. We chose this mapping technology because it is free, open-source, and allows us to customize the map for our game mechanics.
The game is not loading. What should I do?
If the game does not load, try these steps: (1) Make sure you have a stable internet connection, as the map tiles load from an online source. (2) Try refreshing the page. (3) Clear your browser cache and cookies. (4) Make sure JavaScript is enabled in your browser settings. (5) Try a different browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge are all supported. If the issue persists, contact us through our contact page.
How is Name The Countries different from GeoGuessr?
While GeoGuessr focuses on identifying locations from Google Street View images, Name The Countries challenges you to identify countries directly on a political world map. Our game is focused on country-level geography knowledge rather than street-level location guessing. Additionally, Name The Countries is completely free with no subscription required, whereas GeoGuessr has a paid premium tier.
Will you add more game modes in the future?
We are always working on new features and improvements. Planned additions include capital cities mode, flag identification quizzes, and timed speed rounds. Check our blog for the latest updates and announcements about new features. If you have a suggestion for a game mode, feel free to reach out through our contact page.
How can I report a bug or suggest a feature?
We welcome feedback from our players. Visit our contact page to send us a message about bugs, feature requests, or general suggestions. Please include as much detail as possible about any technical issues, including your browser, device, and a description of what happened. We typically respond within 1-2 business days.
Still Have Questions?
If you did not find the answer you were looking for, feel free to reach out to us directly.