The goal
Find the secret country in six guesses. Guessing it wins, and running out of guesses reveals it. An unknown name or a repeat does not use up a guess (how many guesses you get).
Making a guess
Type a country and choose Guess, or press Enter. You can pick from the list or keep typing. About 180 country names are accepted in any case, with or without accents, plus short forms such as USA and UK (which country names are accepted).
Reading the clues
Each guess shows four things:
- Distance to the secret country in kilometres, a straight line over the Earth between the middle of each country. It is approximate because countries are not points (how distance is measured).
- An arrow pointing from your guess toward the secret country, as one of eight compass directions (what the arrows mean).
- Proximity, a score from 0 to 100, where 100 is the secret country itself and 0 is the opposite side of the world (what proximity is).
- Closer or farther than your previous guess.
Saving and sharing
There is no timer or public leaderboard. Your game is saved in this browser when storage is available (is Closer or Farther timed). New game asks for confirmation if you are partway through one. Share result copies a row of coloured squares and the game link, and Play again picks a new secret country.
Putting the rules to work
The Closer or Farther strategy guide turns these rules into tips for finding the country in fewer guesses, or play Closer or Farther free now.
Closer or Farther rules questions
How many guesses do I get in Closer or Farther?
You get six guesses to find the secret country. Unknown names and repeated guesses do not use one up, and a wrong sixth guess reveals the answer.
Read the full answer →How does Closer or Farther measure distance?
Distance is the straight line over the Earth’s surface between the middle of each country, in kilometres. It is approximate because countries are not points.
Read the full answer →What do the arrows mean in Closer or Farther?
The arrow points from the country you guessed toward the secret country, as one of eight compass directions: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W or NW.
Read the full answer →What is the proximity percentage in Closer or Farther?
Proximity turns a distance into a score from 0 to 100: 100 is the secret country itself, and 0 is the opposite side of the world.
Read the full answer →Which country names does Closer or Farther accept?
It accepts about 180 country names in any case, with or without accents, plus short forms such as USA and UK. A partial name works if only one country matches.
Read the full answer →Is Closer or Farther timed?
No. Closer or Farther has no timer and no public leaderboard. Your game is saved in this browser when storage is available.
Read the full answer →Play Closer or Farther free →Your game is saved in this browser. No sign-up.