Daily puzzle

How the daily puzzle works

Every day Eradle shows one political world map from the past, painted with the flags countries flew at the time. Your job is to work out the year. You have six guesses. After each one you see whether the map is earlier or later, and how close you were: within 5 years, within 20, within 50 or further. The slider then only offers years that are still possible, and after your second and fourth wrong guesses a free hint appears.

What to look for

• Countries that no longer exist: the Soviet Union (until December 26, 1991), Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia (until January 1, 1993) or Zaire.
• Countries that were split or joined: two Germanies until October 3, 1990, two Yemens until May 22, 1990, Sudan before South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
• Colonies that later became independent, shown with the flag of the country that ruled them.
• Flags that changed: hover or tap a country to see the flag it flew that year.

After you finish

You get the exact span of dates the map fits, a step-by-step “How to tell” explanation with a source for every clue, and three bonus questions about the same map: the old name of a highlighted country, the flag it flew, and whether a famous event came before or after. Share your result as coloured squares and arrows; it never gives the answer away.

When does a new puzzle appear?

At midnight in your own time zone, like Wordle. Everyone on the same calendar day plays the same map.

Can I play earlier days?

Yes: earlier puzzles are listed under the game for practice. They don’t change your streak.

Is it timed?

No. Take as long as you like, and if you leave, your guesses are saved in your browser.