Not a hint tool. An analysis engine.
GeoSherlock doesn't just tell you where to guess — it shows you how to think about geographic evidence. Every analysis is a structured breakdown of the visual scene: what clues are present, what they indicate, and how confident the AI is in each signal.
Powered by Claude Opus 4.6's vision capabilities, it reads the full frame — from the script on a shop sign to the silhouette of a mountain range — and synthesizes everything into calibrated probability scores.
Evidence-Based Reasoning
Every probability score is backed by specific visual evidence. You see what the AI saw and why it matters.
Calibrated Confidence
When the scene is ambiguous, GeoSherlock says so — with honest probability distributions, not false certainty.
Skill Transfer
By exposing its reasoning, GeoSherlock teaches you to replicate the same thinking independently.
Every visual signal, decoded.
GeoSherlock analyzes nine distinct clue categories in every scene — each one a distinct lens for reading geographic context.
Vegetation
Tree species, grass types, crops, cacti, palms — flora reveals climate zone and regional biome with surprising precision.
Architecture
Building styles, materials, roof types, construction era — structures reveal cultural heritage, geography, and national building norms.
Signage
Language/script, color conventions, sign shapes, warning symbols — text and visual signage can pinpoint country and sub-region.
Roads
Driving side, lane markings, barriers, road surface, asphalt color — infrastructure choices are highly country-specific.
Vehicles
Make/model popularity, license plate shapes, bus and truck styles — vehicle culture and fleet composition vary sharply by region.
Landscape
Terrain type, mountains, agricultural patterns, urban density, coastal features — the land itself tells a powerful story.
Culture
Mailboxes, fire hydrants, bollards, benches, utility poles, street furniture — everyday objects differ meaningfully between countries.
Sky/Climate
Sun angle, shadow direction, atmospheric haze, cloud type, seasonal foliage — sky and light patterns reveal latitude and season.
People
Human activity, dress codes, cultural practices visible in frame — people and their context provide additional cultural signals.
Five ways to engage with AI analysis.
From step-by-step learning to split-second competitive play — choose how you want to engage with each scene.
Learning Mode
BeginnerA 4-step guided walkthrough that progressively reveals clues and reasoning. Each step builds on the last, teaching you how to approach geographic analysis systematically. Perfect for players new to clue-based geolocation.
- Progressive 4-step reveal
- Clue explanations
- Teaching commentary
- Region rationale
Sleuth Mode
IntermediateProgressive hint unlock with scoring. You start with minimal information and can choose to reveal more clues — but each reveal costs points. Challenges you to commit to guesses with partial information, building real intuition.
- Hint unlock system
- Scoring mechanic
- Confidence tracking
- Partial reveal
Challenge Mode
AdvancedBlind analysis — you make your guess first, then the AI reveals its full analysis. Lets you pit your own geographic reasoning against the AI, then learn from the comparison. Ideal for players who want to improve without shortcuts.
- Pre-guess commitment
- Side-by-side compare
- Skill gap identification
- Full post-reveal
Analyst Mode
Power UserInstant full breakdown with all sections open immediately. Every clue category analyzed, every region probability displayed, full reasoning shown at once. For experienced players who want maximum information without the guided flow.
- All sections open
- Instant full analysis
- All 9 categories
- Complete reasoning
Speed Mode
CompetitiveUltra-fast verdict optimized for competitive play. Returns the top region with its probability score and a single-line key signal in approximately 2 seconds. Built for ranked GeoGuessr matches where every second counts.
- ~2 second response
- Top region + %
- Key signal only
- Minimal UI
Every feature has a purpose.
Each capability in GeoSherlock was designed around a specific aspect of geographic reasoning.
Probability Bars
Calibrated confidence scores for each candidate region displayed as visual bars. You can see not just the top pick but the full distribution of possibilities — understanding how confident the AI is and where uncertainty exists.
Meta Detector
Detects Street View technical artifacts — camera generation (Gen 1-4), car blur direction, sky color tints, and image compression artifacts that reveal camera deployment era and location.
Region Elimination
Rather than just ranking positive candidates, GeoSherlock explicitly rules out regions with specific reasoning. Seeing what's eliminated and why is often as informative as knowing the top candidate.
Reasoning Replay
An animated step-by-step playback of the AI's reasoning chain. Watch how it moves from raw visual observations to geographic conclusions — and learn to replicate that process yourself.
Distance Comparison
After revealing the actual location, GeoSherlock shows how far off the AI's top pick was. Track your accuracy over time and see which clue categories you're strongest and weakest at reading.
Privacy-First Architecture
Screenshots are sent directly from your browser to the Anthropic API using your own API key. MapClue has no server in the loop, stores no images, and retains no analysis data.
Built for how you actually play.
Different players use GeoSherlock in different ways. Here are the three most common workflows.
Competitive GeoGuessr
Use Speed Mode for ranked matches. Get a top-region verdict in ~2 seconds with the single most decisive signal highlighted. Built for rounds where every second and every point matters. Minimize your time per round while maximizing accuracy.
Learning & Skill Building
Use Learning Mode to walk through the AI's reasoning step by step. Build real geo-intuition by understanding *why* clues point to specific regions. After enough sessions, you'll start noticing the same patterns on your own.
Post-Round Review
Use Analyst Mode after finishing a round to see the full breakdown. Review what you missed, what the AI caught, and where the decisive clues were. Post-round review in Analyst Mode is one of the fastest ways to improve.
Simple setup. Powerful analysis.
GeoSherlock is designed to be up and running in under two minutes.
Install
Add GeoSherlock from the Chrome Web Store.
Configure
Paste your Anthropic API key in the extension settings.
Navigate
Open GeoGuessr, Street View, or any street imagery site.
Analyze
Click the GeoSherlock icon and choose your analysis mode.
Works on every street-level photography platform.
If you can see a street-level scene in Chrome, GeoSherlock can analyze it.
GeoGuessr
Primary target — all game modes
Google Street View
Full analysis support
Mapillary
Community street imagery
Any Street Photography
Works on any site with street-level imagery
Frequently asked questions
Does GeoSherlock require creating a MapClue account?
No. The extension works with just your Claude API key — no MapClue account required to analyze scenes. Creating an account gives you dashboard access and future features.
How do I get a Claude API key?
Visit console.anthropic.com to create an Anthropic account and generate an API key. You'll need to add payment info for API usage — costs are typically a few cents per analysis.
What sites does GeoSherlock work on?
GeoSherlock works on GeoGuessr, Google Street View, Mapillary, and any site that displays street-level photography. If you can see a street-level scene in your browser, GeoSherlock can analyze it.
How accurate is GeoSherlock?
Accuracy depends heavily on scene richness. Clear signage, distinctive architecture, or unique vegetation can yield very high confidence. Ambiguous scenes in generic suburban areas may show lower confidence — which is the honest, calibrated answer.
Does using GeoSherlock violate GeoGuessr's terms?
GeoSherlock is an educational analysis tool. It's designed to help you understand geographic reasoning, not automate gameplay. Using it in single-player or practice modes is clearly fine. Review the platform's current terms for competitive use.
Is GeoSherlock available for Firefox or Safari?
GeoSherlock v1.3.0 is Chrome-only (MV3). Firefox and Safari support is on the roadmap. Chrome on desktop is fully supported.
Ready to analyze your first scene?
Create a free MapClue account and start using GeoSherlock today. Your Claude API key is all you need.