A new browser-based game, country draw, has launched, tasking players with the deceptively difficult challenge of sketching the outlines of various nations entirely from memory.
Developed by engineer and designer Pauline Wee, the game provides a 30-second window to draw a requested country's shape using a virtual pen. Once the timer expires, the game calculates an accuracy score based on the user's input. While some countries with distinct shapes, such as Chile or Italy, may seem straightforward, the game often reveals how easily our mental maps of countries like France or Brazil can devolve into simple, inaccurate blobs.
Quick Facts
- Platform: Web browser
- Developer: Pauline Wee
- Core Mechanic: Memory-based drawing with a 30-second time limit
The game is designed to be replayable. Players frequently encounter the same countries multiple times, allowing for practice and improvement in what the developer describes as a “totally useless but utterly satisfying skill.”
According to the developer, future updates are planned to expand the library of available countries, with potential inclusions like Canada. There is also interest in developing a similar challenge focused on national flags.
More Browser Projects from Pauline Wee
Country draw is the latest addition to a collection of browser-based experiments hosted on Wee’s personal playground site. Other titles available include:
- typeaoke: A typing game that requires players to input lyrics to popular songs in sync with the music.
- shrump: A posture-monitoring tool that utilizes a webcam to alert the user if they begin to slouch.
- cena captcha: A parody of standard CAPTCHA tests that requires users to identify images of professional wrestler John Cena.
The game is currently live and playable at country-draw.vercel.app.