The land borders game
Two countries, one route to find. Each step must share a land border with the last — and the shortest path is almost never the one you picture.
How it works
The game gives you a starting country and a destination. Your job is to link them by typing intermediate countries, each of which must touch the previous one by a land border. The globe highlights your chain as you go: you watch the route take shape.
Three rules only:
- each country you type must share a land border with the last one in the chain — straits and tunnels do not count;
- a non-neighbouring country costs a life, and you have three per route;
- fewer steps = more points.
What makes the mode addictive is that it reveals adjacencies nobody expects. China touches Afghanistan. Russia touches North Korea. Morocco and Mauritania are neighbours. And there are absolute dead ends: from Australia or from Madagascar, no land route exists at all.
The neighbour count is the game's own: France is metropolitan here (no border with Brazil or Suriname via French Guiana), and territories outside the 195 countries — Kosovo, Western Sahara, Hong Kong — create no link.
Every country and its neighbours
From the most surrounded to the most isolated. The 14 countries of Oceania barely appear: apart from Papua New Guinea, none has a land neighbour — which is exactly why the mode cannot be played there.
| Country | Neighbours | Which ones |
|---|---|---|
| China | 14 | Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Vietnam |
| Russia | 14 | Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia, North Korea, Norway, Poland, Ukraine |
| Germany | 9 | Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland |
| Brazil | 9 | Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela |
| DR Congo | 9 | Angola, Burundi, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia |
| Austria | 8 | Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Liechtenstein, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland |
| France | 8 | Andorra, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Spain, Switzerland |
| Tanzania | 8 | Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia |
| Turkey | 8 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Iraq, Syria |
| Zambia | 8 | Angola, Botswana, DR Congo, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe |
| Saudi Arabia | 7 | Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen |
| Hungary | 7 | Austria, Croatia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine |
| Iran | 7 | Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan |
| Mali | 7 | Algeria, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal |
| Niger | 7 | Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Libya, Mali, Nigeria |
| Poland | 7 | Belarus, Czechia, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine |
| Serbia | 7 | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania |
| Sudan | 7 | Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan |
| Ukraine | 7 | Belarus, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia |
| Afghanistan | 6 | China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| South Africa | 6 | Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe |
| Algeria | 6 | Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Tunisia |
| Burkina Faso | 6 | Benin, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Togo |
| Cameroon | 6 | Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo |
| Ethiopia | 6 | Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan |
| Guinea | 6 | Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone |
| India | 6 | Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan |
| Iraq | 6 | Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey |
| Italy | 6 | Austria, France, San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland, Vatican City |
| Libya | 6 | Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger, Sudan, Tunisia |
| Mozambique | 6 | Eswatini, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Central African Republic | 6 | Cameroon, Chad, DR Congo, Republic of the Congo, South Sudan, Sudan |
| South Sudan | 6 | Central African Republic, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sudan, Uganda |
| Chad | 6 | Cameroon, Central African Republic, Libya, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan |
| Argentina | 5 | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay |
| Azerbaijan | 5 | Armenia, Georgia, Iran, Russia, Turkey |
| Belarus | 5 | Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Ukraine |
| Myanmar | 5 | Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Thailand |
| Bolivia | 5 | Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Peru |
| Bulgaria | 5 | Greece, North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey |
| Colombia | 5 | Brazil, Ecuador, Panama, Peru, Venezuela |
| Republic of the Congo | 5 | Angola, Cameroon, Central African Republic, DR Congo, Gabon |
| Ivory Coast | 5 | Burkina Faso, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali |
| Croatia | 5 | Bosnia and Herzegovina, Hungary, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia |
| Israel | 5 | Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria |
| Jordan | 5 | Iraq, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria |
| Kazakhstan | 5 | China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |
| Kenya | 5 | Ethiopia, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Laos | 5 | Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Uganda | 5 | DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania |
| Uzbekistan | 5 | Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan |
| Peru | 5 | Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador |
| Romania | 5 | Bulgaria, Hungary, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine |
| Senegal | 5 | Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania |
| Slovakia | 5 | Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine |
| Switzerland | 5 | Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein |
| Syria | 5 | Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey |
| Angola | 4 | DR Congo, Namibia, Republic of the Congo, Zambia |
| Armenia | 4 | Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey |
| Belgium | 4 | France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands |
| Benin | 4 | Burkina Faso, Niger, Nigeria, Togo |
| Botswana | 4 | Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe |
| Egypt | 4 | Israel, Libya, Palestine, Sudan |
| Spain | 4 | Andorra, France, Morocco, Portugal |
| Georgia | 4 | Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Turkey |
| Greece | 4 | Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Turkey |
| Guatemala | 4 | Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico |
| Kyrgyzstan | 4 | China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan |
| Latvia | 4 | Belarus, Estonia, Lithuania, Russia |
| Lithuania | 4 | Belarus, Latvia, Poland, Russia |
| North Macedonia | 4 | Albania, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia |
| Mauritania | 4 | Algeria, Mali, Morocco, Senegal |
| Montenegro | 4 | Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia |
| Namibia | 4 | Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia |
| Nigeria | 4 | Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Niger |
| Pakistan | 4 | Afghanistan, China, India, Iran |
| Rwanda | 4 | Burundi, DR Congo, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Slovenia | 4 | Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Italy |
| Tajikistan | 4 | Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan |
| Czechia | 4 | Austria, Germany, Poland, Slovakia |
| Thailand | 4 | Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar |
| Turkmenistan | 4 | Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan |
| Zimbabwe | 4 | Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia |
| Albania | 3 | Greece, Montenegro, North Macedonia |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 3 | Croatia, Montenegro, Serbia |
| Burundi | 3 | DR Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania |
| Cambodia | 3 | Laos, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Chile | 3 | Argentina, Bolivia, Peru |
| North Korea | 3 | China, Russia, South Korea |
| Djibouti | 3 | Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia |
| Eritrea | 3 | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan |
| Finland | 3 | Norway, Russia, Sweden |
| Gabon | 3 | Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Republic of the Congo |
| Ghana | 3 | Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Togo |
| Guyana | 3 | Brazil, Suriname, Venezuela |
| Honduras | 3 | El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua |
| Indonesia | 3 | Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste |
| Liberia | 3 | Guinea, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone |
| Luxembourg | 3 | Belgium, France, Germany |
| Malaysia | 3 | Brunei, Indonesia, Thailand |
| Malawi | 3 | Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia |
| Morocco | 3 | Algeria, Mauritania, Spain |
| Mexico | 3 | Belize, Guatemala, United States |
| Norway | 3 | Finland, Russia, Sweden |
| Oman | 3 | Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen |
| Palestine | 3 | Egypt, Israel, Jordan |
| Paraguay | 3 | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil |
| Somalia | 3 | Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya |
| Togo | 3 | Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana |
| Venezuela | 3 | Brazil, Colombia, Guyana |
| Vietnam | 3 | Cambodia, China, Laos |
| Andorra | 2 | France, Spain |
| Bangladesh | 2 | India, Myanmar |
| Belize | 2 | Guatemala, Mexico |
| Bhutan | 2 | China, India |
| Costa Rica | 2 | Nicaragua, Panama |
| United Arab Emirates | 2 | Oman, Saudi Arabia |
| Ecuador | 2 | Colombia, Peru |
| Estonia | 2 | Latvia, Russia |
| United States | 2 | Canada, Mexico |
| Equatorial Guinea | 2 | Cameroon, Gabon |
| Guinea-Bissau | 2 | Guinea, Senegal |
| Kuwait | 2 | Iraq, Saudi Arabia |
| Lebanon | 2 | Israel, Syria |
| Liechtenstein | 2 | Austria, Switzerland |
| Moldova | 2 | Romania, Ukraine |
| Mongolia | 2 | China, Russia |
| Nepal | 2 | China, India |
| Nicaragua | 2 | Costa Rica, Honduras |
| Panama | 2 | Colombia, Costa Rica |
| Netherlands | 2 | Belgium, Germany |
| El Salvador | 2 | Guatemala, Honduras |
| Sierra Leone | 2 | Guinea, Liberia |
| Sweden | 2 | Finland, Norway |
| Suriname | 2 | Brazil, Guyana |
| Eswatini | 2 | Mozambique, South Africa |
| Tunisia | 2 | Algeria, Libya |
| Uruguay | 2 | Argentina, Brazil |
| Yemen | 2 | Oman, Saudi Arabia |
| Brunei | 1 | Malaysia |
| Canada | 1 | United States |
| Vatican City | 1 | Italy |
| South Korea | 1 | North Korea |
| Denmark | 1 | Germany |
| Gambia | 1 | Senegal |
| Haiti | 1 | Dominican Republic |
| Ireland | 1 | United Kingdom |
| Lesotho | 1 | South Africa |
| Monaco | 1 | France |
| Papua New Guinea | 1 | Indonesia |
| Portugal | 1 | Spain |
| Qatar | 1 | Saudi Arabia |
| Dominican Republic | 1 | Haiti |
| United Kingdom | 1 | Ireland |
| San Marino | 1 | Italy |
| Timor-Leste | 1 | Indonesia |
Frequently asked
Which country has the most neighbours?
China and Russia, with fourteen land borders each. Brazil follows with nine, as do the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Germany.
Why does France have only eight neighbours?
Because the game uses metropolitan France. Counting French Guiana would add Brazil and Suriname. The same convention applies to Silhouette mode.
Can any two countries be linked?
No. Island countries — Madagascar, Iceland, Japan, nearly all of Oceania and the Caribbean — have no land border, so the game never offers them as a step.
Do maritime borders count?
No, only land borders. The Channel Tunnel, for instance, does not make the United Kingdom a neighbour of France in the game.