Most geography quizzes are binary. Name the capital of Mongolia: right or wrong. Pin the map games work differently. You get a question, "Where is Ulaanbaatar?", and a world map. You tap where you think it is. Then the game measures how far your pin landed from the real place and turns that into a score. Two thousand kilometres off is still worth something. Two hundred kilometres off is worth a lot. Right on top of it is the best feeling in the genre.
How MapZap scores a pin
Read the clue
A landmark, a fact, a flag, a capital or a photo. One clue per round, chosen to be fair: there is always something to reason from.
Drop your pin
Tap the world map. You can zoom in for precision or guess big first, there is no penalty for a rough first tap. In the daily challenge and in duels a clock adds a speed bonus.
Watch the distance count down
The map reveals the real location, the distance line shrinks, and your score climbs. Inside the target area is full points. The further out, the fewer points, on a curve that still rewards a good regional guess.
Why distance scoring is kinder, and harder
Kinder, because you never get zero for knowing roughly where something is. If you know Angkor Wat is in Southeast Asia but pin Thailand instead of Cambodia, you still score, and you learn the difference on the spot. Harder, because "roughly" stops being enough once you compete. In a duel, both players see the same clue and the closer pin wins the round. Five lives, no second chances. Suddenly the difference between the north and the south of a country matters.
What you pin in MapZap
Landmarks
More than a thousand places, from the Eiffel Tower to the Holsten Gate.
Countries
Every country on the map, including the small ones that decide championships.
Flags
In Blitz and in the campaign, from the famous ones to the tricky tricolours.
Capitals
Match the capital, then find it on the map.
Tips to pin closer
- Anchor on coastlines and borders. Cities cluster on coasts and rivers. If the clue is a port, pin the water's edge.
- Learn the shape of ten countries you always mix up. Chile and Argentina, Niger and Nigeria, Slovakia and Slovenia. Ten minutes in Blitz fixes most of them.
- Guess big, then refine. Drop a rough pin early, zoom in, and move it. The clock only bites if you freeze.
- Read the clue twice. "A fjord" and "a lagoon" are in different hemispheres more often than you would think.
Ways to play
Daily Challenge
Five rounds, the same for everyone, once a day. Build a streak, hit milestones, see where you land on today's board.
Live Duels
Match against a real opponent or challenge a friend. Closer pin wins the round. Elo ranked.
World Campaign
100 levels in ten chapters, from world famous places to lost worlds. Collect stamps in your passport for every place you find.
Local Play
Pass one device around, up to eight players. No account, no internet.
Blitz
Countries, flags or capitals, three lives, questions get harder. How far can you get?
Learn
Practice countries, flags and capitals at your own pace, and see which ones you keep missing.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pin the map game?
A game where you are asked where something is, a country, a city or a landmark, and you answer by tapping a spot on a world map. Instead of right or wrong, you are scored by how far your pin landed from the real place.
How is the score calculated?
MapZap measures the straight line distance between your pin and the target. A pin inside the target area scores full points, and the score falls as the distance grows. Speed adds a bonus in duels and the daily challenge.
Is MapZap free?
Yes. The daily challenge, duels, local play, Blitz and the first campaign chapters are free. MapZap Pro is optional and removes ads and unlocks extra content.
Can I play pin the map games with friends?
In MapZap you can duel a friend live, get matched against a real opponent, or pass one device around with up to eight players in local play.
Does it work on iPad and Android tablets?
Yes. MapZap is built for iPhone, iPad and Android phones and tablets, and the big map is at its best on a tablet.
More reading: free games like GeoGuessr and the best geography apps.
