diff --git a/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/hooks/useRegionDetection.ts b/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/hooks/useRegionDetection.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bd1200c4
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+++ b/apps/web/src/arcade-games/know-your-world/hooks/useRegionDetection.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+/**
+ * Region Detection Hook
+ *
+ * Detects which regions are near the cursor using a detection box.
+ * Returns information about detected regions including:
+ * - Which regions overlap with the detection box
+ * - Which region is directly under the cursor
+ * - Size information for adaptive cursor dampening
+ * - Whether there are small regions requiring magnifier zoom
+ */
+
+import { useState, useCallback, type RefObject } from 'react'
+import type { MapData } from '../types'
+
+export interface DetectionBox {
+  left: number
+  right: number
+  top: number
+  bottom: number
+  size: number
+}
+
+export interface DetectedRegion {
+  id: string
+  pixelWidth: number
+  pixelHeight: number
+  pixelArea: number
+  isVerySmall: boolean
+  screenSize: number
+}
+
+export interface RegionDetectionResult {
+  /** Regions detected in the detection box, sorted by size (smallest first) */
+  detectedRegions: DetectedRegion[]
+  /** The region directly under the cursor (closest to center) */
+  regionUnderCursor: string | null
+  /** Area of the region under cursor */
+  regionUnderCursorArea: number
+  /** Total number of regions in detection box */
+  regionsInBox: number
+  /** Whether at least one small region was detected */
+  hasSmallRegion: boolean
+  /** Smallest detected region size (for cursor dampening) */
+  detectedSmallestSize: number
+  /** Total area of all detected regions */
+  totalRegionArea: number
+}
+
+export interface UseRegionDetectionOptions {
+  /** The SVG element containing the regions */
+  svgRef: RefObject<SVGSVGElement>
+  /** The container element (for coordinate conversion) */
+  containerRef: RefObject<HTMLDivElement>
+  /** Map data containing regions */
+  mapData: MapData
+  /** Size of the detection box (default: 50px) */
+  detectionBoxSize?: number
+  /** Threshold for considering a region "very small" (default: 15px) */
+  smallRegionThreshold?: number
+  /** Area threshold for small regions (default: 200px²) */
+  smallRegionAreaThreshold?: number
+}
+
+export interface UseRegionDetectionReturn {
+  /** Detect regions at the given cursor position */
+  detectRegions: (cursorX: number, cursorY: number) => RegionDetectionResult
+  /** Current hovered region */
+  hoveredRegion: string | null
+  /** Set the hovered region */
+  setHoveredRegion: (regionId: string | null) => void
+}
+
+/**
+ * Custom hook for detecting regions near the cursor.
+ *
+ * This hook provides region detection logic for the magnifier:
+ * - Detects regions within a box around the cursor
+ * - Identifies the region directly under the cursor
+ * - Sorts regions by size (smallest first)
+ * - Tracks region sizes for adaptive behaviors
+ *
+ * @param options - Configuration options
+ * @returns Region detection methods and state
+ */
+export function useRegionDetection(options: UseRegionDetectionOptions): UseRegionDetectionReturn {
+  const {
+    svgRef,
+    containerRef,
+    mapData,
+    detectionBoxSize = 50,
+    smallRegionThreshold = 15,
+    smallRegionAreaThreshold = 200,
+  } = options
+
+  const [hoveredRegion, setHoveredRegion] = useState<string | null>(null)
+
+  /**
+   * Detect regions at the given cursor position.
+   *
+   * Returns information about all regions in the detection box,
+   * including which region is under the cursor and size metrics.
+   */
+  const detectRegions = useCallback(
+    (cursorX: number, cursorY: number): RegionDetectionResult => {
+      const svgElement = svgRef.current
+      const containerElement = containerRef.current
+
+      if (!svgElement || !containerElement) {
+        return {
+          detectedRegions: [],
+          regionUnderCursor: null,
+          regionUnderCursorArea: 0,
+          regionsInBox: 0,
+          hasSmallRegion: false,
+          detectedSmallestSize: Infinity,
+          totalRegionArea: 0,
+        }
+      }
+
+      const containerRect = containerElement.getBoundingClientRect()
+      const halfBox = detectionBoxSize / 2
+
+      // Convert cursor position to client coordinates
+      const cursorClientX = containerRect.left + cursorX
+      const cursorClientY = containerRect.top + cursorY
+
+      // Detection box bounds
+      const boxLeft = cursorClientX - halfBox
+      const boxRight = cursorClientX + halfBox
+      const boxTop = cursorClientY - halfBox
+      const boxBottom = cursorClientY + halfBox
+
+      // Track detected regions
+      const detected: DetectedRegion[] = []
+      let regionUnderCursor: string | null = null
+      let regionUnderCursorArea = 0
+      let smallestDistanceToCenter = Infinity
+      let hasSmallRegion = false
+      let totalRegionArea = 0
+      let detectedSmallestSize = Infinity
+
+      mapData.regions.forEach((region) => {
+        const regionPath = svgElement.querySelector(`path[data-region-id="${region.id}"]`)
+        if (!regionPath) return
+
+        const pathRect = regionPath.getBoundingClientRect()
+
+        const regionLeft = pathRect.left
+        const regionRight = pathRect.right
+        const regionTop = pathRect.top
+        const regionBottom = pathRect.bottom
+
+        // Check if region overlaps with detection box
+        const overlaps =
+          regionLeft < boxRight &&
+          regionRight > boxLeft &&
+          regionTop < boxBottom &&
+          regionBottom > boxTop
+
+        // Check if cursor is directly over this region
+        const cursorInRegion =
+          cursorClientX >= regionLeft &&
+          cursorClientX <= regionRight &&
+          cursorClientY >= regionTop &&
+          cursorClientY <= regionBottom
+
+        if (cursorInRegion) {
+          // Calculate distance from cursor to region center
+          const regionCenterX = (regionLeft + regionRight) / 2
+          const regionCenterY = (regionTop + regionBottom) / 2
+          const distanceToCenter = Math.sqrt(
+            (cursorClientX - regionCenterX) ** 2 + (cursorClientY - regionCenterY) ** 2
+          )
+
+          if (distanceToCenter < smallestDistanceToCenter) {
+            smallestDistanceToCenter = distanceToCenter
+            regionUnderCursor = region.id
+            regionUnderCursorArea = pathRect.width * pathRect.height
+          }
+        }
+
+        if (overlaps) {
+          const pixelWidth = pathRect.width
+          const pixelHeight = pathRect.height
+          const pixelArea = pixelWidth * pixelHeight
+          const isVerySmall =
+            pixelWidth < smallRegionThreshold ||
+            pixelHeight < smallRegionThreshold ||
+            pixelArea < smallRegionAreaThreshold
+
+          if (isVerySmall) {
+            hasSmallRegion = true
+          }
+
+          const screenSize = Math.min(pixelWidth, pixelHeight)
+          totalRegionArea += pixelArea
+          detectedSmallestSize = Math.min(detectedSmallestSize, screenSize)
+
+          detected.push({
+            id: region.id,
+            pixelWidth,
+            pixelHeight,
+            pixelArea,
+            isVerySmall,
+            screenSize,
+          })
+        }
+      })
+
+      // Sort detected regions by size (smallest first)
+      detected.sort((a, b) => a.screenSize - b.screenSize)
+
+      return {
+        detectedRegions: detected,
+        regionUnderCursor,
+        regionUnderCursorArea,
+        regionsInBox: detected.length,
+        hasSmallRegion,
+        detectedSmallestSize,
+        totalRegionArea,
+      }
+    },
+    [
+      svgRef,
+      containerRef,
+      mapData,
+      detectionBoxSize,
+      smallRegionThreshold,
+      smallRegionAreaThreshold,
+    ]
+  )
+
+  return {
+    detectRegions,
+    hoveredRegion,
+    setHoveredRegion,
+  }
+}