Game guide

How to play Guess the Department

A new French department every day, shown only by its outline. Name it in six guesses, then find its region and its prefecture.

▶ Play Guess the Department
  • New department every day
  • 6 guesses
  • 2 bonus rounds

The rules in 4 steps

  1. 1

    Look at the outline of today’s mystery department: its shape is your only clue.

  2. 2

    Type a department or its number (“33”, “2A”). Misses show distance and direction.

  3. 3

    Follow the arrows and distances to close in. You have six guesses to find it.

  4. 4

    Found it? Two bonus rounds follow: pick its region, then its prefecture.

Tips to score higher

  • Every outline is zoomed to fill the box, so judge the shape, not the size.
  • Numbers work: 75 is Paris, 13 is Bouches-du-Rhône, and 2A and 2B are the two halves of Corsica.
  • Follow the arrow from your guess, and use the percentage to see how close you are.
  • Neighbouring departments usually share a region, which helps with the bonus round.

Questions about Guess the Department

Which departments are in the game?

All 96 in metropolitan France, Corsica included.

Can I type the number?

Yes. “75” finds Paris and “2A” finds Corse-du-Sud.

Is it the same for everyone?

Yes. Everyone gets the same department each day, and a new one starts at midnight in your time zone.

Can I play more than once a day?

Finish today’s department, then play as many practice rounds as you like.

Ready to play?

Today’s Guess the Department puzzle is waiting. It’s free, and you don’t need an account.

▶ Play now

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Department outlines: IGN Admin Express (Licence Ouverte) via france-geojson.