Nothing can help players feel connected to a world more than a map. Offering a visual element of your world can help your players decide what they want to chase after next, where they want to explore, or even plan how to get from point A to point B.

During our digital only play times, building maps by hand can be a bit annoying. With new map making programs available on your computer, it may be worth investing some money to really make your next game one to remember.

But where should you start? Check out these three options to find which one will be right for you!

Inkarnate

Inkarnate is a great tool to help build your world. This program really kicked off the map maker renaissance, and has a lot of beautiful technical kicks to go the extra mile in your world building.

The benefit of Inkarnate is that it is able to add some more 3-D elements in your map designs. You can make the trees, physical structures like monuments or cities, and mountains shaded and shadowed. This makes the map feel like it is a living breathing place, where creatures and people are hiding behind every little nook and cranny of the world, waiting to be discovered.

You pick up your copy of Inkarnate here!

Wonderdraft

Wonderdraft provides a classic approach to your map building skills. Everything is done in a hand drawn style, giving it the appearance that someone dedicated a lot of time to intimately make your world map.

The major bonus here is creating a very immersive map. While Inkarnate may have beautiful 3-D elements, this can pull you out of character and the world. You may find yourself being pulled out of the game with the technical bonuses. Sometimes to really establish a mood in a game session, simplicity wins out over the over-dramatic every time. Because of this, Wonderdraft is a wonderful program to help you build your world.

Pick up your copy of Wonderdraft here!

World Anvil

If you’re game is lore heavy, then I would highly suggest World Anvil. You have more than likely heard the endless advertisements about all things World Anvil, but I find this aspect the least documented programs in their catalogue.

The key aspect of World Anvil’s map maker is you can pin lore articles to each location. If your players ever need a refresher on why a location is important, then all they have to do is click on the location and boom – anything they could ever need to know. This does require the players to have a digital device during play, which can be distracting if players aren’t careful. Just as long as you cover that with your players before play, then you have a great interactive tool just at your finger tips.

Check out World Anvil here!

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