The Hardest US States to Guess (Real Data From Our Game)
After running Globle USA for a while now, I've had the chance to observe something pretty interesting: some states are way harder to guess than others. And it's not always the ones you'd expect.
I started paying attention because I was curious — are the small states harder? The ones in the middle? The ones with confusing names? Turns out, it's a mix of all of that. Let me walk you through what I've noticed.
The 7 States That Trip Everyone Up
#1: Delaware — The Forgotten State
Delaware is probably the most skipped-over state in the game. And I kind of get it. It's tiny — like, genuinely one of the smallest states in the country. It's wedged between Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and unless you've actually been there or live nearby, there's a good chance you forget it exists entirely.
What makes it extra tricky in the game is that when players see warm colors around the mid-Atlantic area, they start guessing the big obvious ones — New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Delaware just... doesn't come to mind. I've seen players guess every single neighboring state before finally trying Delaware. It's like the state has an invisibility cloak.
#2: Connecticut — Wait, Where Exactly Is That?
Connecticut has a recognition problem. Most people know the name, but placing it on the map? That's another story. It's stuck in that crowded New England area where like 6 states are jammed together. Players usually know it's "somewhere up in the northeast" but whether it's above Massachusetts or below it or next to Rhode Island — that's where things fall apart.
I'll admit, this was one of the states I personally struggled with while building the game. I had to keep checking the map to make sure I was placing it correctly in the distance calculator. No shame in it.
#3: Missouri vs. Mississippi — The Name Confusion
Okay, this one is less about location and more about names. Missouri and Mississippi both start with "Miss" and both are associated with the Mississippi River. Players guess one when they mean the other constantly.
But here's the thing — they're actually pretty far apart! Missouri is up in the middle of the country (its biggest city is Kansas City), while Mississippi is way down south near the Gulf of Mexico. Once you remember that Missouri is the one that touches like 8 other states, it gets easier. But in the heat of the game, with the pressure on, people just type the first "Miss-" state that comes to mind.
#4: Wyoming — The Empty Rectangle
Wyoming is a perfect rectangle sitting in the northwest part of the country. The problem? So is Colorado, which is right below it. And so is North Dakota and South Dakota, kind of. When the mystery state turns out to be Wyoming, players will often guess Montana, Idaho, Colorado, or even Nebraska first — basically every state in that region before landing on Wyoming.
Wyoming also has the smallest population of any US state. Fewer than 600,000 people live there. So it doesn't come up in the news much, which makes it easier for your brain to skip over it.
#5: New Hampshire — The Other One Next To Vermont
Here's a pattern I see all the time: the clue says the state is in the upper northeast. Players guess Maine first (it's the big one up there). Then Vermont (everyone knows Vermont, maple syrup and all). But New Hampshire, which is literally right between them? It takes a few more guesses to remember. I think it's because Vermont and Maine have stronger "brand identities" in people's minds, while New Hampshire stays a little more under the radar.
#6: Arkansas — How Do You Even Pronounce That?
Arkansas has two problems. First, people aren't sure if it's "ar-KAN-sas" or "ar-kan-SAW" (it's the second one, by the way). Second, it sits in a region — the South-Central US — where a bunch of states kind of blend together if you're not from the area. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee... they're all neighbors, and if you don't know the region well, it's like a maze.
I've also noticed that players sometimes mix up Arkansas and Kansas, which, fair enough — the names are almost identical. But they're in completely different spots on the map.
#7: West Virginia — Not Just Western Virginia
A surprising number of players don't seem to know that West Virginia and Virginia are two separate states. When they see warm colors around Virginia, they guess Virginia and then get confused when it's not right. West Virginia split off during the Civil War in 1863, and it's actually much more mountainous and rural than Virginia. The more you know.
The Easiest States (Nobody Struggles With These)
Texas — It's massive, it's in the bottom-middle, and the shape is so recognizable it's almost cheating. Most players guess Texas within 2-3 tries when it's the mystery state.
California — The entire left coast. Hard to miss. Plus, everyone knows where California is from movies, TV, and tech news. This is probably the fastest-guessed state in the game.
Florida — That distinctive peninsula shape sticking out at the bottom-right. Players recognize it immediately. Florida is also one of the most commonly guessed first states — a lot of people start their game with Florida as their opening move.
Alaska & Hawaii — These two are interesting because even though they're separate from the mainland, players always remember them. They're "special" in people's minds because they're not connected to the lower 48. Alaska in particular is fun because the distance numbers get really big really fast, so players figure out it's either way up north or it's Alaska.
Tips If You're Stuck at 10+ Guesses
If you've already guessed 10 or more states and you're still seeing warm colors, here's what to do:
- Think small. If you've already tried all the big, obvious states in that region, the answer is probably a small one you keep overlooking. Delaware, Connecticut, Rhode Island — try those.
- Check the name-confusion states. Do you mean Missouri or Mississippi? Arkansas or Kansas? Virginia or West Virginia? Carolina — north or south?
- Say the states out loud. Seriously. Sometimes just going through the list verbally helps you remember the one you keep forgetting.
Anyway, the whole reason I track this stuff is because I find it fascinating. Everyone has blind spots in their mental map, and the cool thing is that this game helps fill them in. After a few weeks of daily play, most people start getting even the tricky ones faster. The brain is pretty good at learning patterns when it's having fun.
What's YOUR hardest state? I bet it's Delaware.