Country guessing game
How to play the country guessing game
You can play this world geography game in a couple of different ways, here are some instructions on how to go about it.
1 – It can be a country quiz game played in 5 separate rounds. This is the main intention of the game design. The free printable PDF pages can be used as one round each. It becomes more difficult to name the country round by round. Set a time limit and see if players or teams can guess the correct country for each round.
Players are to write down the country they think the images are of. Each round should be awarded 1 point for a correct answer. It can be an individual or team game. The team with the most points at the end of the rounds of course wins.
2 – Use the pictures to teach countries. By cutting out the images and using them as cards you can get students to learn and recall country names. Extra name cards are provided at the bottom of this page to help with this along with further instructions and ideas.
Country guessing game answer cards
Below are the answer cards for the game. The country names are in the order that is on the numbered pictures. You can cut them out and use them for a matching game.
Once you have cut out the country pictures and the answer cards, all students need to do is try to guess the country and match them together correctly. You can choose to use only some or all of the cards, making the game as easy or challenging as you like!
This is a great activity for students learning about countries and world geography. But choosing the country pictures and answer cards that are suitable for your class, this can be a game for different grades and learning levels. You can also get your students to say or write the nationalities of the countries once they have completed playing the country guessing game.
One more thing you can do is see if your class can write the numbers or names of each country on a world map. This is another fun way to teach world geography. Check out the free world map worksheets where you will find the perfect pages for this idea.
Country guessing game answers with exact locations
Here are the answers for the game with the exact locations of the pictures. This will be handy for those who have an interest in geography and landmarks or who want to make the game super difficult. Can players guess the countries as well as name all the exact places in the pictures?
Country guessing game – Round 1 answers
1 – Egypt. The Abu Simbel rock temples (In the village of Abu Simbel). These two temples are also known as the Ramses II temples as they were built for him and his wife. They were actually relocated in the 1960s to avoid being submerged by the Aswan Dam project.
2- The USA. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. This suspension bridge was opened in 1937 and is a whopping 1 mile in length.
3 – Italy. The Colosseum of Rome. Construction of this landmark began around the year 70, it was continually built and added to by the Flavian emperors and is also known as the Flavian Amphitheater.
4 – Russia. Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow. Completed in 1561 this building has several names such as The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed, Cathedral of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos on the Moat, and Pokrovsky Cathedral.
5 – China. The Great Wall is located in the north of China and southern Mongolia. The length of the wall changes on what method is used to measure or grade it. It ranges from some 2,500 to 3,400 miles (around 4,000 to 5,500 kilometers).
6 – England. The Tower Bridge, London. Construction of this Iconic English structure took place in the 1880s and 90s. The two towers of the bridge stand 213 feet or 65 meters in height.
7 – France. The Louvre, Paris. This museum opened in 1793 but has undergone extensive expansion over time to become one of the greatest places to display historical artifacts and art on the planet.
8 – Australia. Uluru or Ayer’s Rock, in central Australia in the state of The Northern territory. This giant sandstone formation is a sacred aboriginal site. It is 1142 feet or 342 meters high, the majority of this natural landmark is actually underground unseen to the eye.
Country guessing game - Round 2 answers
In round 2 there are again well-known landmarks, it is slightly harder to guess the country than in the first round.
9 – Holland. This typical Dutch picture of riverside windmills and tulips was taken at Zaanse Schans Village in The Netherlands. It is only 15 kilometers north of the capital city of Amsterdam.
10 – Mexico. The Teotihuacan Pyramids in the state of Mexico. Just 25 miles outside of Mexico City this group of ancient temples, pyramids, and plazas was once a booming Mesoamerican city.
11 – India. The Taj Mahal in Agra. Completed from 1643 to 1653, this Mausoleum was built for the deceased wife of Emperor Shah Jahan. It was constructed with white marble and adorned with semi-precious stones.
12 – Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur. This is a photograph of the city skyline. The massive Petronas Towers can be seen which are nearly 1500 feet or just over 450 meters tall.
13 – Cambodia. Angkor Wat, Siam Reap. This gigantic complex of temples was built in the 12th century. After being abandoned due to war it was overtaken by jungle before being restored in modern times.
14 – Greece. The town of Oia in Santorini. This picturesque village is on a steep slope next to the ocean. The stunning white buildings make it a popular tourist destination for travelers from around the world.
15 – Japan. Matsumoto Castle, Nagano Prefecture. This six-story keep was erected in the 1500s out of earth, wood, and stone. Much of the original structure still survives today although the gates have been rebuilt.
16 – Brazil. Corcovado Mountain, Rio De Janeiro. This aerial shot of Rio also includes the Christ the Redeem statue in the top left corner. The Guanabara Bay can also be seen in the distance.
Country guessing game - Round 3 answers
The third page or Round 3 is again harder as the game is progressing to challenge players’ knowledge of international geography more.
17 – Spain. The Sagrada Familia, Barcelona. This huge Catholic church is remarkably still unfinished after starting to be built in 1882. Relying on donations and civil war are among the things that have slowed its progress.
18 – Vietnam. Halong Bay, Gulf of Tonkin, Quang Ninh Province. A UNESCO World Heritage Site that consists of over 1600 islands with limestone karst outcrops.
19 – Indonesia. Borobudur, Magelang Regency, Central Java. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It was first engineered in the 9th century before being abandoned, covered in jungle and volcanic ash, and then undergoing major restoration in 1911.
20 – Ireland. Cliffs of Moher, County Clare. This natural wonder is a 9-mile or 14-kilometer stretch of coastal cliffs that has a view of the Aran islands. It is one of the most outstanding places of beauty in the UK.
21 – Canada. Toronto, Ontario Province. This is a picture of the cityscape from a Lake Ontario view. The 1815-foot-high CN tower is clearly in view. It is the largest city in Canada.
22 – Turkey. The Blue Mosque in Istanbul. Built during the reign of Sultan Ahmed I from 1609 to 1616, this building has 6 minarets and 13 domes. It is decorated with hand-painted ceramics and stained glass windows. It sits next door to The Hagia Sophia.
23 – Germany. Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps. This is another unfinished architectural wonder, its creation started in 1868 under King Louis II. It is these days open to the public and sees millions of visitors each year.
24 – Peru. Machu Picchu, Cusco Region. The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu was abandoned by the Incas in 1572. This ancient, possibly religious site contains over 5000 stone steps and is still shrouded in mystery.
Country guessing game - Round 4 answers
Part 4 of this country quiz is harder yet, the pictures are more obscure and feature lesser-known places.
25 – Singapore. Merlion Park. The statue of a fish with a lion’s body is one of the most famous icons of Singapore. In the background, you can see The Marina Bay Sands, this hotel towers 56 stories and has a ship perched on its very top!
26 – South Africa. Cape Town. This picture has a view of the South African capital from the coast above. You can see the steep slopes of Table Mountain that rise to 3563 feet or 1086 meters in height that it nestles next to.
27 – South Korea. Bongeunsa Temple in Gangnam, Seoul. The style of the Buddhist statue in this picture may help players guess where the country is. The temple structure was built in the year 794, and now well over a thousand years old, it is a place for urban livers to go and relax.
28 – Israel. Dome of the Rock, the Old City of Jerusalem. This is an octagonal Islamic shrine with a Byzantine style, originally the dome was made of wood. The building has been destroyed and rebuilt many times because of earthquakes.
29 – Portugal. Belem Tower in Lisbon. This was an armed tower designed to fight off intruders back when Portugal was a naval powerhouse. It was later transformed into a lighthouse and afterward a customs house.
30 – Mongolia. This is a typical picture of yurts on the grasslands of Mongolia. The horse in the foreground should help players to guess the country in this one.
31 – Nepal. Mount Ama Dablam, Koshi Province. The name of this mountain means “mother’s necklace” in the local dialect. The Buddhist stupa and flags should help identify in which country this Himalayan peak is located.
32 – Norway. Aurora Borealis in Lofoten, Norway. The northern lights can be seen in several other countries but the building architecture can point to the answer in this clue. This atmospheric wonder is best viewed between August and April each year.
Country guessing game - Round 5 answers
Round 5 is definitely the most difficult, you may need to give clues for players to guess the country. Here are the answers.
33 – Cuba. El Capito, Old Town, Havana. The building was commissioned by Cuban President Gerardo Machod in the 1920s. This picture clue also has one of the stereotypical vintage cars that are known to cruise Havana’s streets.
34 – Hungary. The Esztergom Basilica, Esztergom. Facing the Danube River, this magical church is home to the world’s largest painting on a single piece of canvas. The artwork and altar centerpiece depicts the Virgin Mary.
35 – Morocco. The Kutubiyya Mosque, Marrakesh. This icon of Morocco’s jewel city was constructed in the 12th century. It rings 5 times a day for devout people to call to prayer.
36 – Sweden. Stockholm. A view of the old town in the country’s capital which was founded in the 13th century. It is the largest city out of all the Nordic countries.
37 – Myanmar. The Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon, or Rangoon. This hilltop stupa has an area of over 45 hectares. It is said to contain body relics and other relics of Buddhas.
38 – New Zealand. Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook, Mackenzie District. This scenic view shows the tallest mountain in New Zealand. It has 23 peaks that are over 3000 meters in height.
39 – Switzerland. The town of Thun, Bern. This town was a part of The Holy Roman Empire way back in 1033. Its most famous landmark is the Thun Castle built between 1180 to 1190.
40 – The Philippines. El Nido, Palawan Island. This island’s name derives from the Spanish term “edible nest”. The picture clue for this guessing the country game is of the big and small lagoons.
Further activities
For some more related fun, you can try the world landmarks worksheets to get folks up to speed with famous destinations.
If you really want to test students, friends, or colleagues there are 20 anagrams of landmarks to test the brain.
