Compass directions quiz

How to play Compass quest

Each puzzle describes a target capital using clues from other cities. Read each clue from the named starting city toward the target, then use the map and answer choices to find the capital that fits.

1. Locate the city named in the first clue.
2. Follow its direction toward the possible target cities.
3. Use the other clues to narrow down the choices before checking your answer.

Remember the eight compass directions

On the game’s north-up map, north is up, east is right, south is down and west is left. Northeast sits between north and east; southeast, southwest and northwest fill the other corners.

Direction alone usually leaves several possible places. If a clue puts the answer east of one city and another puts it north of a second city, look for the area where both conditions fit. Use the third clue to check your choice.

Read each clue in the right order

A city east of your starting point sees that starting point to its west. Reversing the two places is an easy mistake. Begin with the city named in the clue, then imagine moving toward the answer.

These clues describe directions on the game’s north-up map. A map direction and the initial bearing of a shortest flight route around a globe can differ over long distances. The game’s clues should be read using the map it shows.

Practice a few questions at a time

The free browser preview contains three fixed compass questions. Replay them to practice reading the clues, or mix them with the other three games in a twelve-question round. The mobile Challenge pack adds the full question pool and difficulty options.

Keep practicing

If the city names are unfamiliar, start with capitals or a regional map before returning to the compass clues.

Geography facts, city coordinates and photographs follow the sources and snapshots on our credits page. This is a short browser preview; the full question pool and difficulty settings belong to the mobile Challenge pack.