Easy
All outlines are visible. Context is complete.
This level exists to confirm baseline competence. No time penalty.
How to Play
Borderline shows you the outline of a country or territory. Your task is simple: recognise it and name it.
There are no flags. No capitals. No multiple choice.
Type your answer and submit. Guess again if you’re wrong. The game keeps score.
Speed matters. Accuracy matters. The timer is not on your side.
Difficulty Levels
Difficulty labels are promises. Each level removes support and tolerance.
Medium
Only continent outlines remain. You get location, not guidance.
Recognition starts to matter more than recall.
Hard
No outlines. Just the target shape in space.
If you know it, you know it. Guessing becomes expensive.
Extreme
Small islands. Territories. Shapes most players never notice.
This level exists to expose gaps.
Impossible
Fixed view. No moving. No zooming.
Recognition only. (Coming soon)
What’s Included
- 195 UN-recognised countries
- 2 observer states
- 52 territories and dependencies
Borderline does not simplify the world. The whole map counts.
Scoring
- Maximum score: 2000 points
- Wrong guess: −200 points
- Time penalty: −10 points per second
- Easy: no time penalty
Fast recognition scores higher. Hesitation costs points.
Weekly Leaderboard
Borderline runs a weekly leaderboard. It measures performance, not endurance.
- Only your first 20 games each week count
- The leaderboard resets weekly
- Highest total score wins
Strong starts matter. Grinding does not.
Territories
Borderline includes territories, dependencies, and special regions. These are places with distinct geographic identity but limited or shared sovereignty.
They appear across higher difficulty levels. Especially where precision matters.
If a place looks insignificant, that’s the test.
Territories are grouped into four categories:
- Overseas territories – far from the ruling country, eg. French Polynesia → France
- Dependent territories – limited autonomy, eg. Gibraltar → UK
- Autonomous territories – lots of self-rule, still not sovereign, eg. Greenland → Denmark
- Special administrative regions – bespoke political contracts, eg. Hong Kong → China
The following territories are included:
British Overseas Territories - Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Montserrat, Pitcairn Islands, Saint Helena, Turks and Caicos Islands.
French Overseas Regions and Collectivities - French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion, Clipperton Island, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Wallis and Futuna.
United States Territories - American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, United States Virgin Islands.
Australian External Territories - Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Norfolk Island, Heard Island and McDonald Islands.
Associated States and Other Pacific Territories - Tokelau, Cook Islands, Niue.
Polar and Remote Territories - Antarctica, Bouvet Island, Svalbard and Jan Mayen.
Nordic Territories - Greenland, Faroe Islands, Åland Islands.
Dutch Caribbean Territories - Aruba, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius.
Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong, Macau.
East Asia - Taiwan.
Crown Dependencies - Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man.
Recognition is expected.
One Last Thing
Borderline does not explain mistakes. It shows them.
If you improve, it’s because you earned it. If you stall, the game will wait.
Difficulty is not adjusted. Expectations are not lowered.