Corto is an independent geography game, built in the Netherlands by a one-person studio. No publisher, no ad network, no growth team. Just a map, a clock, and the conviction that knowing where things are still matters.
Most geography apps quiz you. Corto races you. The 10-second clock changes what the game asks of you: not whether you can find Reykjavik eventually, but whether you know it cold. That pressure is what makes a right answer feel earned, and a near miss impossible to let stand.
The mechanic is universal, and that is the point. One tap on a map needs no controls, no rules, no account. What changes per player is the reason to play: kids learn the world with the free topography packs, friends and colleagues battle head-to-head, enthusiasts prove they know their obsession, and grandparents keep their world knowledge sharp in two-minute games. Knowledge beats reflexes, so three generations can play each other and mean it.
The other conviction is respect for the player. Corto is free to download with real content included, sells its packs as one-time unlocks, and will never show an ad. There are no accounts, no tracking across apps, and no chat. What analytics exist are anonymous.
The parent checklist
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Corto |
| Tagline | Geography at Full Speed |
| Website | play-corto.com |
| Platform | iPhone (iOS 26 or later) |
| Availability | In development. Coming to the App Store, summer/fall 2026 |
| Business model | Free download, one-time pack unlocks. No ads, no subscriptions |
| Content | 120+ themed packs across nine categories, each with its own illustrated tile |
| Game length | 10 questions per game, about two minutes |
| Scoring | Up to 1,000 points per question: accuracy times speed |
| Ranks | Novice, Skilled, Expert, Conquered, earned per pack |
| Multiplayer | Head-to-head via Game Center, turn-based, 3 rounds of 10 |
| Age rating | 4+, no chat, no user-generated content |
| Origin | The Netherlands |
Every pack ships with its own illustrated tile in Corto's dusk palette. A sample: