Final answer:
The game Mal refers to is a word puzzle that uses a map where players look for obvious words that are often overlooked. It involves navigational intelligence and could have a narrative or historical theme.
Step-by-step explanation:
The game Mal is referring to is likely a word puzzle game that is akin to a treasure hunt on a map, where participants must locate specific words. The description given resembles the gameplay of classic search puzzles like a word search, where words are hidden within a grid of letters. Mal's game involves finding words on the surface of a map, similar to how one would search for words on a puzzle grid.
It appears that the skill in this game lies not in seeking obscure words, but rather in finding those that are in plain sight but overlooked due to their obviousness. This parallels the literary theme where the most evident clues are often disregarded due to their prominence, a concept sometimes used in detective fiction to illustrate how easy it is to miss what is right in front of us.
The mention of 'Malaya' in the second paragraph seems to evoke a picturesque tropical setting, potentially transporting players into a story or historical setting as part of the game's theme. It suggests an immersive experience that blends navigational intelligence with the enjoyment of unraveling a narrative.