Frequently asked questions
How the game works.
Short and direct. Anything missing here can be discovered in the game itself.
Playing
What is DetailDuel?
A daily guessing game: you see a highly enlarged crop and identify the subject. Five rounds per category, the same for everyone. There are currently 2 categories with 90 checked subjects.
How does a round work?
You first see one tiny detail. An immediate correct answer is worth 1000 points. Every wrong answer — and an expired timer — reveals more and lowers the value to 650, then 350 points before time deductions. You may reveal the next stage yourself. The next round’s timer starts only after you continue. You have three attempts per round.
Why do I lose points while thinking?
Each second costs 2 points, capped at 35 percent of the round value. This rewards quicker recognition when two players used the same stage. Time is measured by the server, not your browser.
What do the result colours mean?
Green means recognised on the first crop. Yellow and orange mean one or two reveals. A check marks a hit, the stage appears below, and a cross marks a miss.
What is typed mode?
Instead of four buttons, you type the name and choose from catalogue suggestions. Your device remembers the setting separately for each category, and shared results show the mode for a fair comparison.
Can I challenge friends?
Yes. Your result creates a spoiler-free duel link. A friend sees the score to beat, gets the same daily subjects and then sees both results side by side. The link only adds the comparison.
Can I play the daily puzzle twice?
There is one official result per category, day and browser. After finishing, the first result remains visible and shareable. Unlimited practice stays available in the training modes. Clearing browser data also clears this local attempt record.
Do I need an account?
No. Streak, best streak, first daily result and history stay in your browser. If you clear site data or switch devices, that local history is lost.
Background
When is there a new puzzle?
Every day at midnight Berlin time, separately for each category. A used subject is excluded for 30 days.
Where do the images come from?
From open sources, mainly Wikimedia Commons, and only under licences that permit commercial use and cropping. Every image is checked individually. Creator and licence appear beside it; title, original source and edits are available through a spoiler link and in the footer.
Why are logos and licence plates hidden?
A visible logo could reveal an answer, so checked puzzle masks are opaque rather than weakly pixelated. Marked licence plates and personal areas stay hidden in the answer image. Logos may return after the answer; this does not imply brand endorsement.
Will there be more categories?
A new category launches only after enough suitable images have been checked. Training already offers multiple-choice, typed and reverse modes without a daily limit.