Trevor Rainbolt, who has become the face of a fast-growing community of geography fanatics who play a quirky game called GeoGuessr, in Los Angeles. | JACK BOOL / THE NEW YORK TIMES
Trevor Rainbolt, who has become the face of a fast-growing community of geography fanatics who play a quirky game called GeoGuessr, in Los Angeles. | JACK BOOL / THE NEW YORK TIMES

An unremarkable stretch of highway and trees, as seen on Google Maps’ Street View, appeared on the screen. It could have been anywhere from Tasmania to Texas.

"This is going to be south Philippines, somewhere on this road down here,” Trevor Rainbolt said instantly, clicking on a location on a map of the world that was less than 11 miles from the spot.