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Lizely

World Map Puzzle

Place eight recognizable country silhouettes on a schematic world map using sourced, reproducible boundary data.

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How to use

  1. 1.Choose one of the eight named country pieces in the tray; the selected piece receives a visible outline.
  2. 2.Activate the matching numbered location on the schematic map, or drag the piece onto that target.
  3. 3.Place all eight countries for 1,000 points before two incorrect targets deadlock the run.

About World Map Puzzle

World Map Puzzle asks you to place eight country silhouettes in their approximate positions on a small schematic world map. The tray includes Brazil, Argentina, South Africa, Egypt, India, China, Japan, and Australia. Select a named piece and activate the matching numbered outline, or drag the piece onto the target. A correct placement fills the outline and awards 125 points. Place all eight countries for exactly 1,000 points. Two incorrect placements end the run until Restart is selected.

The geometry is not drawn from memory. Country paths, alpha-3 identifiers, English names, bounding boxes, and label coordinates are derived from Natural Earth's Admin 0 Countries dataset at 1:110 million scale. Natural Earth describes this scale as suitable for schematic world maps at postcard or locator-globe size. The source GeoJSON was projected into a simple 360 by 180 equirectangular view box: x equals longitude plus 180, and y equals 90 minus latitude. Coordinates were rounded and the paths were simplified offline so the client bundle stays small.

The game contains eight embedded shapes rather than downloading a live map at runtime. This makes a build reproducible and avoids a network request each time someone plays. The source file, selection method, projection, fixture count, IDs, labels, and limitations are disclosed in the evidence pack. Independent tests check the eight source-derived label points, unique identifiers, unique paths, bounding boxes, full placement score, wrong-target behavior, and terminal-state freeze.

Natural Earth boundaries are a cartographic dataset, not a legal ruling or a statement by Lizely about sovereignty, recognition, disputed territory, maritime limits, or preferred country names. At 1:110m, coastlines and borders are intentionally generalized. Simplification removes additional vertices, and an equirectangular projection stretches distance and area away from the equator. The map is therefore appropriate for a compact recognition game, not navigation, surveying, cadastral work, treaty interpretation, logistics, scientific measurement, or classroom grading that requires an official political map.

Each map target uses the dataset's label point as the center of a 44-pixel interactive control. The larger control makes small or island shapes such as Japan usable with touch and keyboard without changing the visible country path. Target controls are numbered rather than named before placement, so the tray supplies the country name while the map still tests location. After a correct match, the target changes to a check mark and its accessible label reports the placed country.

Native drag and drop is optional. A player can click a piece, tab to map targets, and press Enter or Space. This two-step path is also more reliable for touch and assistive technology. An incorrect target does not move the selected country, allowing one retry; the second incorrect target creates a visible deadlock. Correct pieces cannot be placed twice. Completion, deadlock, score, and placed IDs are frozen after a terminal state until Restart.

The map runs entirely in the browser. There is no geocoding API, analytics call, uploaded answer, live boundary service, WebGL engine, or new mapping dependency. Eight SVG path strings are rendered through the existing React tool island and shared game shell. The page uses site color tokens, a responsive two-to-four-column tray, a two-to-one map aspect ratio, keyboard focus indicators, and the shared double-Escape boss key. It does not need location permission and never tries to infer where the player lives.

Use this game for quick country-shape and world-position practice. The fixed eight-country scope makes it intentionally smaller than a full atlas. It does not test capitals, flags, subdivisions, overseas territories, disputed areas, precise scale, or all recognized countries. Because every round uses the same sourced fixture, local Playwright and production Playwright can repeat the exact eight placements and verify the same 1,000-point outcome instead of relying on a random map.

Methodology & sources

Eight Natural Earth 1:110m ADM0 features are projected with x=longitude+180 and y=90-latitude, rounded to one decimal, simplified offline, and stored with unique alpha-3 IDs, bboxes, and source label points. A selected or dragged ID must equal the target ID; correct matches add 125, two mismatches deadlock, eight placements score 1,000, and terminal states ignore later input.

Frequently asked questions

Where do the country shapes come from?
They are simplified offline from Natural Earth's 1:110m Admin 0 Countries GeoJSON and embedded in the build.
Does the map show legal or disputed borders?
No. It is a generalized schematic game and does not express a legal or political position about boundaries or recognition.
Can I play without dragging?
Yes. Select a country piece, move focus to a numbered target, and press Enter or Space.
Does the game use my location?
No. It requests no location permission and sends no answer or geographic information to a server.

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