First Steps
Earned during the first check-ins.
Nordic Culture Compass
Discover the North. Earn Your Legend.
Nordic Culture Compass transforms cultural heritage exploration into an immersive, gamified adventure. Discover ancient ruins, runestones, stave churches, castles, and thousands of official heritage sites across Norway and Sweden — all on a breathtaking 3D map.
See It in Action
Preview the map, site details, AI explanations, badges, and translation tools using the same language-specific screenshots shown in the app stores.
Key Features
Immersive 3D terrain map with heritage site markers
Check in at sites to earn XP, badges, and titles
60 levels of progression from Traveler to Legendary Explorer
Friends, leaderboards, and real-time activity feeds
Location alerts when near heritage sites
Official data from Norwegian and Swedish heritage databases
Premium directions, satellite maps, and translated site descriptions
Offline-first check-ins for exploring beyond reliable signal
AI explanations that make heritage stories easier to understand
How It Works
1
Explore the map
Open the app and discover heritage sites around you on a stunning 3D terrain map. Thousands of officially registered sites await.
2
Check in & earn XP
Visit a heritage site, check in, and earn experience points. Every check-in brings you closer to new levels, badges, and titles.
3
Collect & compete
Unlock beautifully designed badges, rise through 60 levels, and compete with friends on leaderboards.
How XP works
Every check-in earns experience points. The exact amount depends on how rare the site type is, where it sits on the map, and whether it's your first check-in of the day.
XP = base × grade × location + first-of-day bonus
Site type grades
Rarer heritage types pay out more XP. Each type is graded from S (rarest) to D (most common).
S
×3
Legendary
Stave church, runestone, cultural landscape
A
×2
Rare
Ruins, monuments, shipwrecks, maritime heritage
B
×1.5
Notable
Castles, churches, rock art, industrial heritage
C
×1.2
Common
Multiple runestones at one location
D
×1
Standard
Buildings and uncategorised sites
Where you check in matters
Rural sites are worth more — checking in deep in the countryside rewards the effort. Major cities are dense with heritage, so each individual site there pays out less.
×1.5
Rural areas
Sites outside the major-city zones get a 1.5× rural exploration bonus.
×0.6
Major cities
Dense centres like Oslo and Stockholm pay reduced XP per site. Travel further afield for the biggest hauls.
First check-in of the day
Your very first check-in each day adds a flat +25 XP on top of the base reward. Visit early to maximise the day's haul.
60 levels of progression
From level 1 (Traveler) to level 60 (Legendary Explorer). Rarer sites in rural areas climb the fastest.
Streaks & freeze tokens
Keep a daily check-in streak going for visible momentum. Earn a freeze token every 10th check-in to protect a missed day.
Badges Worth Chasing
Early milestones, streaks, collections, and level badges give every visit a sense of momentum.
Skald Streak
Keep daily exploration momentum alive.
Viking Explorer
Visit more sites and grow your collection.
Heritage Hero
A milestone for committed explorers.
Location Alerts, Clearly Explained
Nearby notifications are optional and designed for low battery impact: the operating system monitors a small set of nearby unvisited sites instead of running continuous GPS.
Nordic Culture Compass accesses and collects precise location data to show nearby heritage sites, distance, directions, check-ins, and optional proximity alerts. Background location is used only if you turn on proximity alerts, including when the app is closed or not in use. Location data is not sold or used for advertising.
You choose when to enable it
Background location is only requested after a clear explanation, and the setting can be turned off in the app.
Built around a 200 m radius
Alerts are meant for nearby discoveries, not constant tracking. Sites already visited or already notified are skipped.
Official data, real-world caution
Heritage data comes from national databases, but outdoor conditions can change. Always use local signs and common sense.
Questions Before You Start
How does the Premium trial work?
Premium includes a 3-day free trial. Subscriptions are managed through the App Store or Google Play, and you can cancel anytime there.
Can I check in without signal?
Yes. Check-ins are saved locally first and sync when the app has network access again.
Why does the app ask for location?
Location powers nearby sites, check-ins, directions, and optional proximity alerts. Background alerts are opt-in.
How do I get support?
Email support@picklestudio.no for support or privacy questions. Account deletion is available in the app under Profile > Delete account.