The Largest Video Game Maps of All Time

Let’s dive into the largest video game maps of all time, measuring their size, features, and the experiences they offer.

The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall

At the top of the list, The Elder Scrolls II: Daggerfall reigns supreme with a massive map of over 161,600 square kilometers. This 1996 RPG from Bethesda allows players to explore a world that’s almost the size of Great Britain. What makes it incredible is the level of freedom players have—from towns and cities to dungeons and mountains, Daggerfall offers an immersive experience that was unheard of for its time.

Bethesda used procedural generation to create this vast world, making it one of the largest ever created. The sheer size of the map presents a challenge; most players won’t even scratch the surface of what Daggerfall has to offer. However, the large-scale exploration and open-ended gameplay remain a hallmark of the series.

No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Sky is another game known for its seemingly infinite universe. Released in 2016, the game uses procedural generation to create a vast universe with over 18 quintillion planets. Each planet is unique, offering its own environment, resources, and creatures.

The appeal of No Man’s Sky lies in its scope—players can spend their entire lives exploring without visiting the same planet twice. Despite its rocky launch, the game has evolved through numerous updates, adding multiplayer features, base building, and other enhancements. No Man’s Sky is a testament to how massive maps can drive player engagement over extended periods.

Minecraft

Perhaps one of the most iconic games of all time, Minecraft has an expansive, procedurally generated world that stretches for 60 million square kilometers. The map of Minecraft is technically infinite, but this number is the theoretical limit due to the game’s engine.

Minecraft’s map is diverse, ranging from snowy mountains to dense forests and oceans. What sets Minecraft apart is its flexibility—players can build, explore, and interact with the environment in countless ways. Its blocky, simplistic art style does nothing to detract from the immersive feeling of the game, proving that graphical fidelity isn’t everything when it comes to creating a compelling, vast world.

Just Cause 3

In Just Cause 3, the player takes on the role of a revolutionary named Rico Rodriguez, navigating a Mediterranean-inspired world that spans 1,000 square kilometers. This game is known for its over-the-top action and stunning visuals, but what stands out the most is the freedom it offers players. Explosions, aerial stunts, and high-speed chases are all part of the fun.

The game's map is filled with mountains, oceans, forests, and urban landscapes, all of which can be traversed using a wingsuit, parachute, or vehicles. Its dynamic weather system and destructible environments add layers of realism and excitement, making Just Cause 3’s world a playground for thrill-seekers.

Fuel

Fuel, a racing game released in 2009, holds a Guinness World Record for the largest open-world map in a racing game, covering 14,400 square kilometers. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Fuel’s map offers a mix of environments including deserts, forests, and mountains.

Though the game didn’t receive widespread commercial success, its sheer size and diversity in terrain make it a noteworthy mention in the history of video games. Players could spend hours simply exploring the massive map, although the gameplay itself focused heavily on racing and vehicular combat.

Ghost Recon: Breakpoint

Ubisoft’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint boasts a huge map that spans over 2000 square kilometers. Set on a fictional Pacific archipelago called Auroa, the game combines tactical warfare with exploration. Players can engage in a wide range of activities, from sneaking through enemy lines to commandeering vehicles and helicopters to traverse the rugged landscape.

The world of Ghost Recon: Breakpoint is dynamic and interactive, featuring mountains, dense forests, open plains, and water bodies. This realism contributes to the immersive gameplay, encouraging tactical approaches to missions.

The Crew

For racing enthusiasts, The Crew offers a unique experience. The game map covers the entirety of the continental United States, albeit scaled down to about 5,000 square kilometers. Players can drive coast-to-coast, from the bustling streets of New York to the deserts of Nevada.

One of the most impressive aspects of The Crew is its attention to detail—cities, towns, and landmarks are all modeled after their real-world counterparts, making it feel like a true cross-country road trip. The size of the map allows for a wide variety of terrains and challenges, ensuring that no two races feel the same.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

One of the more recent entries in this list, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, released in 2018, features a world map of around 256 square kilometers. Set in Ancient Greece, the game offers a historically rich experience with expansive cities, lush forests, and sprawling oceans. Players can explore the world both on foot and by ship, engaging in naval battles or simply traveling from one island to another.

What makes Odyssey stand out is not just its size, but its depth. The map is filled with quests, hidden treasures, and historical landmarks that make every corner of the world worth exploring.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 is a masterpiece not just because of its storytelling, but also because of its expansive world. The game features a map of over 75 square kilometers, which may seem small compared to others on this list, but its dense, highly detailed environments make it one of the most immersive worlds ever created.

From the snow-capped mountains to the bustling towns and vast plains, the map offers a wide variety of environments. Players can hunt, fish, rob trains, or simply live the life of an outlaw in a world that feels alive and reactive to their actions.

Conclusion

From the enormous worlds of Daggerfall and No Man’s Sky to the rich, detailed environments of Red Dead Redemption 2 and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, video games have pushed the boundaries of map size and player immersion. These massive maps are not just about size—they offer diverse experiences, freedom of exploration, and immersive gameplay that captivate players for hours, days, or even years.

Whether you’re navigating through procedurally generated planets or racing across the continental U.S., the size of these maps plays a huge role in their appeal, proving that when it comes to video games, bigger can definitely be better.