Do I need an account?
No. Building Guessr runs entirely in your browser. Stats, unlocked buildings, and settings are stored in local storage on your device. Clearing site data or using a different browser will not transfer your progress.
Is the game free?
Yes. The site may show ads in the future to cover hosting costs; there is no paywall for the core game.
Where do the photos come from?
Images are loaded from Wikimedia Commons and Wikipedia-related URLs, under the licenses shown on those projects. The game’s text hints, scoring code, and curation of which buildings appear are original to Building Guessr. We are not affiliated with the Wikimedia Foundation.
Why was my map guess scored low when I was close?
Scores use great-circle distance from the true coordinates. Very large structures (walls, bridges) can make “center” feel subjective; we use a single reference point per entry. See How to Play for how location points work.
How does the daily challenge work?
Each calendar day, every player gets the same five buildings in the same order, generated deterministically from the date. That lets you compare scores fairly. Streaks are stored locally.
Can I use Building Guessr in a classroom?
Many educators use quick geography warm-ups or end-of-class challenges. The game encourages map literacy and discussion of preservation. There is no multiplayer classroom mode yet; students compare scores verbally or via screenshots.
Does it work offline?
A service worker caches parts of the app; full offline play depends on what your browser has cached and whether images were already loaded. For best results, play online at least once before expecting offline use.
How do I report a wrong image or fact?
Email us via the Contact page with the building name and what should be corrected. We curate entries over time.
Is Building Guessr related to GeoGuessr?
No. We are an independent project. The name echoes the guess-on-a-map genre, but gameplay is focused on architecture stills rather than Street View.
How are buildings chosen for the database?
We focus on buildings with high-quality Wikipedia images and verified location data. Each entry is reviewed manually for accuracy of coordinates, standing status, and description. We prioritize buildings that are visually distinctive and geographically diverse—the goal is a database that teaches as well as tests.
What does “partial” standing mean?
Partial covers a range: from a building that retains its main structure but has lost significant original fabric (floors, roof, interior), to a building that is mostly rubble with recognizable walls. We err toward “partial” for ancient ruins that are clearly still architecturally legible, and “no” for structures where only a foundation or a single wall fragment survives.
Why does my score sometimes seem lower than expected for a close guess?
Location scoring uses great-circle distance. A guess 200 km away in the wrong direction can score quite differently from a guess 200 km away in the right direction depending on the scoring curve. The curve is not linear—the first 50 km of accuracy matters more proportionally than the next 50 km. On very large structures like the Great Wall, the reference point is a single coordinate, so guessing the “wrong end” can add hundreds of kilometers.
Can I play on a phone?
Yes. The game is designed for mobile use: the map can be toggled to full-screen for easier pin placement on small screens, and all controls are touch-friendly. For the best experience, use the map in landscape orientation. The game works as a Progressive Web App—you can add it to your home screen for an app-like experience.
How does the streak work?
Your daily streak increments by one each calendar day that you complete the daily challenge. The streak resets if you miss a day. Streaks are stored locally in your browser and do not sync across devices or browsers. If you play on both a phone and a computer, each maintains its own streak independently.
What is the XP system?
XP (experience points) accumulate with each completed game. They are a running total of your engagement with the game rather than a competitive ranking—there is no leaderboard that uses XP. Higher XP levels unlock cosmetic indicators but do not change game rules or difficulty.
What are achievements?
Achievements are one-time milestones: completing your first daily challenge, discovering a certain number of buildings, scoring above a threshold on a hard round, and similar targets. They are stored locally. The full list of achievements is visible in the Stats panel during a game session.
Are the images copyrighted?
All images are sourced from Wikimedia Commons and loaded directly from Wikipedia’s media servers at runtime. Images on Wikimedia Commons are published under open licenses (typically Creative Commons or public domain). Building Guessr does not host or redistribute the images—it displays them from their original URLs. The game’s text content, code, and curation are original to Building Guessr.
Why do some images fail to load?
Images are fetched from Wikipedia’s servers at playtime. Occasional load failures are caused by network issues, Wikimedia server hiccups, or browser security settings blocking cross-origin requests. The game will show “Image unavailable” and offer the text hint so the round remains playable. Refreshing the page often resolves transient failures.
Does the game work on Safari?
Yes, including Safari on iPhone and iPad. Safari’s privacy settings can sometimes interfere with cross-origin image loading; the game uses a fetch-to-blob strategy to work around this. If images are consistently not loading on Safari, check that you have not enabled the most aggressive privacy or tracking-prevention settings in Safari preferences.
Can I suggest a building to add?
Yes—use the contact form. Useful suggestions include the Wikipedia article name, the building’s country and city, approximate coordinates, and why you think it is a good addition to the database. We review suggestions periodically when doing database updates.
Is there a way to practice a specific region?
Yes. Before starting a game, use the Region filter to limit rounds to Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, or Oceania. You can also combine Region with a Type or Era filter—for example, filtering to Asia + Religious buildings focuses practice on temples, mosques, and shrines across the continent.
What is Expert mode?
Expert mode uses only Hard-difficulty buildings and disables the hint entirely. You rely on the photograph alone. It is intended for players who have developed strong visual recognition skills and want a serious challenge. Scoring in Expert mode uses the same formula as other modes—there is no separate Expert leaderboard.
What is the Lost Buildings mode?
Lost Buildings is a filter that shows only buildings with a “partial” or “no” standing status—structures that have been damaged, ruined, or demolished. It is both a gameplay challenge (many lost buildings are less widely photographed) and an opportunity to learn about architectural heritage loss. The mode pairs well with the Ten Famous Lost Buildings article.
How do I report a bug?
Use the contact page and describe what happened, which browser and device you were using, and if possible what building or game mode you were playing when the bug appeared. Screenshots are helpful. We cannot guarantee a response to every report but we read all of them.
Is Building Guessr available in other languages?
Not currently. The game and all content are in English. Building names in the database use their most common English-language Wikipedia names, which in some cases is the local-language name (Sagrada FamÃlia, Hagia Sophia) rather than a translated one. A localization is theoretically possible but is not on the current roadmap.