Players: 2 or more
Time: 10 to 20 minutes
You need: Nothing
Ages: 9 and above
Type: Travel and family games

Who it suits and when to play

Atlas suits players of nine and above who know a fair number of place names, and it is a classic of train journeys and school buses. Two can play, or a whole compartment. Each place must begin with the last letter of the one before. It quietly teaches geography, and families often keep a map or atlas at hand to settle doubts.

How to play

The first player names any country, state, city or river, for example "India".
The next player names a place beginning with its last letter: India ends in A, so "Agra".
No place may be repeated in the same game.
A player who cannot answer in ten seconds is out. The last player left wins.

Tips and variations

Too many places end in "A". Keep a few "A" places in mind: Amritsar, Assam, Agartala, Alwar, Ajmer, Aizawl, Ambala.
Stricter version: only Indian places, or only cities.

Common problems and how to fix them

Everything ends in A. Allow names of rivers, mountains and lakes too, or play by the last sound instead of the last letter.
A player invents a place. Anyone may challenge. If the place cannot be found on a map later, the player loses a life.
The game never ends. Give each player three lives, and ten seconds to answer.

More travel and family games

Need fair teams or someone to go first? Use the team maker. See all 45 games.