This mode is a memory sprint. Pick a region and type the names of its countries, one after another. Every name you get right is filled in on the map at once, which is surprisingly useful: the gaps left on the map are a hint of where you have not looked yet.
How long you get depends on the difficulty: the clock allows 14 seconds for each country of the region on Easy, 9 on Medium and 6 on Hard, and never less than ninety seconds in total. Any of the four site languages will do, capitals and accents can be skipped, and familiar short forms such as USA, UK, Holland or Ivory Coast count as well.
How it works
- Type a name and it is accepted as soon as it is complete. When a longer name could still follow, the quiz waits for Enter or a short pause.
- A country from another region or a name you already gave is refused with a short message.
- The hint shows the first letters of a missing country and puts a ring on the map; it costs 15 seconds.
- Give up at any time to see the countries you did not name. Every country found is worth 100 points, and a full set adds 5 points for each second left.
Tips from the window seat
- Go round the map in order, coast by coast or neighbour by neighbour, instead of typing names as they come to mind.
- Leave the hard cases for the end. The map shows what is still empty; small island states are the usual last ones.
- Start with South America or Oceania. They are short lists and good for learning the rhythm before Africa or Asia.
- Use the hint late rather than early. Fifteen seconds are cheap when only two countries are left.
Questions travellers ask
Which spellings are accepted?
The names used in English, Italian, Hungarian and Finnish, plus common alternatives such as USA, UK, Czech Republic, Burma or Swaziland. Accents and capitals are optional.
Why does the quiz wait after I type Niger?
Because Nigeria could still follow. Press Enter or pause briefly and Niger is accepted.
How is the score counted?
100 points per country found, and when you name them all, 5 more for every second left on the clock.
Can I play it on a phone?
Yes. The input sits right under the map, and the names you have found stay filled in on it while you type.