Each valid country scores between 10 and 100 points, based on population on a log scale: the world's most populous countries score 10, the tiniest score 100. We use World Bank, 2025 estimates as a stand-in for how familiar a country is, until we have enough player data to refine the table. The formula is the same every day, and the points for each country are published in the game. A miss scores 0. Five clues make a perfect round 500.
| Band | Points | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 🟩 Overlooked | 85–100 | Tiny populations — the answers many players never think to try. |
| 🟦 Hidden | 70–84 | Small countries that sit off the usual mental map. |
| 🟨 Quiet | 55–69 | Mid-size countries. A sure pin here is worth more than a miss. |
| 🟧 Notable | 40–54 | Well-known enough, still not the first name in the room. |
| 🟪 Familiar | 25–39 | Countries most people can find without thinking. |
| 🟫 Everyday | 10–24 | The most populous countries — safe, and the lowest scores. |
| ⬜ Miss | 0 | Not a valid country for that clue. |
A perfect round is 500. A sure mid-tier answer beats gambling on an Overlooked country and scoring zero.
The points table
Each valid country scores between 10 and 100 points. Five clues make a perfect round 500. A miss scores 0. We do not use kilometres, expeditions, or another game’s tier names. Our bands are Everyday (10–24), Familiar (25–39), Notable (40–54), Quiet (55–69), Hidden (70–84), and Overlooked (85–100).
The score is a transparent stand-in for familiarity: smaller population, higher score, on a log scale. The world’s most populous countries score 10; the tiniest UN members score 100. We use World Bank 2025 population estimates. The formula is the same every day, and you can see a country’s exact points after a valid pin — and for every valid country once the map is revealed.
Population is a useful proxy, not a perfect one. A small country that everyone knows, or a large country that is easy to overlook under a particular clue, can feel mis-placed. We may later refine scores with real answer distributions. Until then, the rule is published and fixed, and a sure mid-tier answer beats gambling on an Overlooked country and scoring zero.
How a round is scored
You lock in one country per clue. If it is in that clue’s valid list, you earn that country’s published points. If it is not, you earn 0. From Daily #2 onward, and in Unlimited practice, once you lock in a country — even on a miss — you cannot use it again in that round. Daily #1 allowed reuse.
After each lock we show your band and points, color every valid country on the map by rarity, and attach a short fact to each one. You do not have to wait until the end of the round to learn what else would have counted.
Territory and disputed-area rules are on the How to play page, and the map follows them. To flag a clue, use “Report this clue” in the game or write to hello@fartherle.com.