.MAP File Extension
Quake Engine Game Map
| Developer | id Software |
| Popularity |
3.9 | 191 Votes |
What is a MAP file?
A MAP file is a game map created for games developed using the Quake engine or a related game development engine, such as the Valve Goldsource Engine. It is saved in a human-readable plain text format. MAP files are uncompiled but can be compiled into binary .BSP files for use in games such as Half-Life, Quake, Quake 2, and Quake 3.
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Developers and modders can create MAP files using several map editors, including Valve Hammer Editor. These programs can typically compile MAP files into the correct target BSP format, for use in a specific game or games.
TorquePowered.com's Torque Constructor is another popular tool that uses MAP files. It can convert maps into the .DIF (Torque Game Engine Model) format for further development. The resulting maps can be included in Torque games, which are available for PC, mobile, and console platforms.
What game engines create MAP files?
Many game engines create game maps saved in the MAP format. Some examples include:
- Quake Engine
- Goldsource Engine
- Unreal Engine
- Torque Engine
- Dark Engine
NOTE: Valve Hammer Editor 4, which is used to develop and create mods for Half-life, saves maps in the newer .VMF format. The program was previously called Worldcraft but is now commonly referred to as Hammer.
How to open a MAP file
You can open a MAP file with Valve Hammer Editor (Windows), Chain Studios J.A.C.K. (multiplatform), QuArK (Windows), and many other Quake engine-related development and modding programs. You can also open a MAP file with any text editor to view the plain text data it contains.
Programs that open MAP files
Halo Map File
| Developer | Bungie Studios |
| Popularity |
3.6 | 54 Votes |
Game map used by Halo: Combat Evolved, the first game of the Halo first-person shooter series; also used by Halo: Custom Edition, an unsupported expansion to Halo: Combat Evolved; saves a game map and can include terrain, objects, spawn points, and other level information.
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Some Halo maps can be edited with Halo Map Tools.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Fallout Map File
| Developer | Bethesda Softworks |
| Popularity |
3.0 | 34 Votes |
File used by Fallout 1 and 2, which are post-apocalyptic, futuristic role-playing video games; contains map data that describes the gameplay environment including grid boundaries, walls, scenery, animals, and objects.
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The MAP file is made up of 5 sections:
- The MAP file header.
- The global and local variables used by the map scripts.
- The tile data that makes up the roof and floor.
- The MAP scripts that store information about scripts connected to the objects in the map.
- The MAP objects, which hold the walls, item, scenery, etc. that appear in the map.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Terraria Map File
| Developer | Re-Logic |
| Popularity |
3.8 | 9 Votes |
A MAP file may also be a game data file used by Re-Logic Terraria, a 2D action-adventure and sandbox construction game. It contains a map of the area explored by a character for a certain world, which may include terrain, water, monsters, items, and other objects.
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You will most likely only encounter a Terraria MAP file if you have Terraria installed on your computer and are navigating the data files for characters in the Steam\userdata directory. The MAP files are not meant to be manually opened by a user. Instead, they are referenced by Terraria to load information for a specific character that details the area the character has explored in a certain world.
Programs that open MAP files
Furcadia Dream File
| Developer | Furcadia |
| Popularity |
2.8 | 27 Votes |
Game map, referred to as a "Dream," used by Furcadia, a 2D multiplayer online game set in a fantasy world; saves the map width, height, effects such as rain, and objects such as trees, walls, buildings, and magical plants.
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MAP files can be edited using the Furcadia Dream Editor (DreamEd.exe), which is included with the Furcadia installation. Custom maps can be used for playing with others online.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Image Map
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
2.7 | 27 Votes |
A MAP file may also be a server-side text file used to link sections of a webpage image to different locations. Applying a MAP file to an image allows users to click on different areas of the image to open different webpages.
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While webpages reference MAP files, the files are stored and processed on web servers.
How to open a MAP file
You can open and edit a MAP file with Microsoft Notepad (Windows), Apple TextEdit (Mac), or any other text editor.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Leges Motus Map File
| Developer | Leges Motus |
| Popularity |
2.4 | 23 Votes |
Game map used by Leges Motus, a 2D multiplayer shooting game set zero gravity; stores the layout for the map, including spawn points, walls, and the locations of map objects and corresponding sprites; located in the \data\maps\ directory of the game installation.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
NAVIGON Map File
| Developer | NAVIGON |
| Popularity |
2.4 | 24 Votes |
Map file used by NAVIGON GPS navigation devices; contains a map, including roads and points of interest; used by NAVIGON software to create navigation routes and display map information while driving.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Weather Defender Map
| Developer | SWIFT Weather |
| Popularity |
2.3 | 22 Votes |
Weather map format used by Weather Defender, a weather monitoring system designed specifically for Emergency Management Professionals and First Responders; may contain custom geographic and reference layers.
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Weather Defender maps can be saved to store custom configurations for forecasting severe weather. These maps can be quickly loaded to view custom weather forecasts.
Programs that open MAP files
TECkit Mapping File
| Developer | SIL International |
| Popularity |
2.3 | 22 Votes |
Text mapping file used by TECkit, a program used for text conversion; saved in a plain text format and contains rules that map from one character set to another; compiled into a .TEC file, which can be used to perform the conversion.
Programs that open MAP files
Rigs of Rods Key Assignments File
| Developer | N/A |
| Popularity |
2.3 | 17 Votes |
Key assignment file used by Rigs of Rods (RoR), a car, truck, airplane, and boat simulator; contains information that describes how the user's keyboard is mapped out and which keys correlate with specific actions in RoR.
More Information
The information is stored in plain text and appears in the following format: EVENT_NAME EVENT_TYPE MAPPING
Common MAP Filenames
input.map - The common name for the MAP file containing the key assignments for the simulator.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Mapjects Server Webparts File
| Developer | Mapjects Development |
| Popularity |
2.1 | 21 Votes |
File used by Mapjects GRYD, an operations visualization platform for energy management, security management, and logistics; stores a configuration of one or more "Webparts," which are widgets that can be mashed together to produce integrated visualizations; also includes the GIS metadata required to display the data.
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MAP files are server-side data files, and they include both the data and program files for the software package. A corresponding .MAPX file is used to display the information in the MAP file to the user through a Web page.
NOTE: Mapject GRYD renders HTML5, Silverlight, Flash, and PHP, as well as code from the ASP.NET Razor view engine.
Programs that open or reference MAP files
Super Mario War Map File
| Developer | Michael Schaffer and Florian Hufsky |
| Popularity |
1.8 | 8 Votes |
A MAP file may also be a game map used by Super Mario War, an open source Super Mario-like video game. It contains the layout of a level in the game, which includes the location of blocks, items, and sprites. MAP files are located in the "Maps" folder of the game installation directory.
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MAP files are loaded by the game when a user selects the level. You can also create and modify MAP levels using the level editor tool (Leveleditor.exe) included with the Super Mario War download.
Super Mario War features many of the same elements as other Super Mario series games. The main element of gameplay is players jumping on the heads of other players to defeat them. Players can also use items placed throughout each level to defeat other players.