What is the Largest Game Map Ever?
The title for the largest game map ever isn’t as straightforward as one might think. While many games boast massive open worlds, the sheer scale of Minecraft’s procedurally generated universe dwarfs nearly all others. Minecraft’s world is estimated to be approximately 1.5 billion square miles, making it by far the largest land-based open world to explore in video games. This monumental size surpasses even the surface area of the Earth, which is only about 197 million square miles. However, it’s important to clarify that Minecraft’s world is infinite and procedurally generated, differing significantly from the static, hand-crafted worlds of many other games.
So, if we consider finite, designed maps, the picture shifts dramatically. While Starfield might feature 1,000 planets, they are not all interconnected in the traditional open-world sense, and the emphasis is on individual exploration, rather than a single contiguous map. The largest RPG map would belong to The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall which measures around 62,000 square miles. This is a staggeringly large map, albeit an older design. Other contenders for the “biggest map” often lack the sheer size of Minecraft, and the scale is measured differently depending on the game’s design. Let’s dive deeper into various comparisons and explore the diverse world of video game maps.
Understanding Map Size in Games
The concept of “map size” isn’t always about land area. Some games prioritize density and verticality over sheer horizontal space. Games like Grand Theft Auto V or Red Dead Redemption 2 feature meticulously crafted worlds that feel expansive due to their detail, interaction opportunities, and the time it takes to traverse them. In comparison, others like Minecraft focus on endless, procedurally generated landscapes.
It is also vital to consider if it is only land area that is being measured or if sea area is being included too. Some maps are made up of a series of individual maps and not one large one. This is especially the case in games such as Starfield. Furthermore, the size of a map does not necessarily equate to better game play, design or enjoyment. Games such as Skyrim have a smaller map than several other games but are much loved by fans, due to quality design features.
The Procedural Generation Factor
Procedural generation is a method of creating game content algorithmically. This technique is used to generate large and unique environments such as in Minecraft, No Man’s Sky and many other sandbox-style games. This allows developers to create massive maps without having to manually craft every detail, and can make games infinitely replayable. This results in unique and surprising elements each time you load in. On the other hand, hand-crafted worlds tend to be smaller but much more detailed.
Top Contenders for Large Game Worlds
Let’s look at some other contenders for the largest maps:
- The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall: As previously mentioned, this classic RPG has an impressive 62,000 square mile map.
- Minecraft: With its near-infinite 1.5 billion square mile world, it is the largest land-based open world.
- No Man’s Sky: While the game has a procedurally generated universe, it is made up of individual planets that are not interconnected in one map.
- Starfield: With 100 star systems and 1,000 planets, this game offers a vast amount of exploration and scale.
- Lord of the Rings Online: Boasts a significant 30,000 square mile map.
Games such as The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim (15 square miles), Red Dead Redemption 2 (29 square miles) and Grand Theft Auto V (31 square miles), while considered to have large maps in gaming culture, are considerably smaller than the titles listed above, highlighting the vast differences in scale across different games.
FAQs: Exploring Game Map Sizes
1. Is Starfield the biggest game map ever?
No, while Starfield has 1,000 planets, these are not all interconnected in a single map in the traditional sense. This exploration is often done via fast travel and the focus is on each individual world rather than one huge map. Minecraft’s 1.5 billion square mile world is much larger.
2. What is the biggest game file size?
Currently, Ark: Survival Evolved is known for having one of the biggest file sizes, taking up around 400 GB of storage. Other notable contenders include Call of Duty titles and other large, modern games.
3. What game has the biggest RPG map?
The Elder Scrolls 2: Daggerfall boasts the biggest RPG map with around 62,000 square miles, though it was made using older technology.
4. How big is the Red Dead Redemption 2 map?
The Red Dead Redemption 2 map is approximately 29 square miles, nearly twice the size of Skyrim’s map.
5. How big is the Elden Ring map?
Elden Ring’s map is about 30.5 square miles (79 square kilometers), bigger than Skyrim, but not the largest open-world map.
6. How big is the GTA 5 map?
GTA 5’s map spans about 80 square kilometers, which is approximately 31 square miles, including urban and rural areas.
7. What is the smallest open-world game?
Games like Liberty City (Grand Theft Auto 3) and Kamurocho (Yakuza) are examples of smaller, but dense and detailed open-world maps.
8. How big is the Skyrim map?
Skyrim’s map covers approximately 15 square miles.
9. How big is the Breath of the Wild map?
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild features an expansive map that covers about 84 square kilometers (around 32 square miles).
10. Is Cyberpunk 2077 bigger than Skyrim?
Yes, Cyberpunk 2077 is estimated to be about three times the size of Skyrim.
11. How big is the Yakuza map?
The Yakuza series’ main map, Kamurocho, is a small but dense area, about 2 square miles, which is a detailed, fictionalized area of Tokyo.
12. Which GTA game has the biggest map?
Grand Theft Auto V has the biggest map in the GTA series.
13. Is RDR2 bigger than GTA 5?
While Red Dead Redemption 2’s map is geographically smaller at 29 square miles compared to GTA V’s 31 square miles, some say the slower pace and vast, detailed landscapes give it a sense of being much larger.
14. How big is the Hogwarts Legacy map?
The map in Hogwarts Legacy is around 2.95 square miles.
15. Which game has the most mini-games?
Games such as Mario Party, Yakuza 5 and Grand Theft Auto 5 have a multitude of mini games to engage the player.
Conclusion
The concept of the “largest game map” is nuanced, encompassing various scales and approaches. While Minecraft holds the title for the largest land-based open world with its procedural generation, games like Daggerfall and Lord of the Rings Online offer massive, designed worlds. The comparison often boils down to whether you prioritize procedural generation and infinite scale or hand-crafted worlds that are densely detailed and offer specific experiences. Ultimately, the “largest map” isn’t necessarily the “best” and many factors contribute to the feeling of scale and exploration within a game. The most important aspect is that the map suits the particular game, providing immersion and fun to the player.