AnimalGuessr.com is a web-based educational game that challenges players to guess where animals live — by placing their habitats on a world map. The idea for the game came from my son, who one day asked, “Why isn’t there a game where you can guess where animals live?” Inspired by that, I designed and programmed AnimalGuessr from scratch.
The game is powered by a custom database and GeoJSON datasets, allowing players to interact with a global map and test their knowledge of wildlife geography. Users gain points for accuracy and compete in real time for leaderboard spots.
Features I Developed:
- A fully custom front- and backend with real-time gameplay
- Game logic built in JavaScript and PHP, storing guesses and results in a MySQL database
- GeoJSON-based country and habitat mapping for visual accuracy
- Multiple game modes including:
- Classic Mode – guess general habitats
- Daily Beast – daily shared challenge for all users
- Streak Mode – test how many correct answers you can string together
- Mixed & Ocean Mode – for variety and marine life exploration
- Red List (coming soon) – focus on endangered species
- Lost World (coming soon) – explore the extinct
Why it works:
AnimalGuessr is fun for both kids and adults, combining education with competition. It encourages geographic awareness, ecological understanding, and daily engagement through dynamic challenges.
The game is growing steadily and receives regular updates — with new content, improved mechanics, and a strong community around it.