Map Making Software Summary

**LordEntrails** · March 25th, 2026, 01:29

This thread details the details of numerous map making software applications use to make maps for RPGs and Fantasy Grounds.

If you know of any applications that should be added, or entries that should be updated, please reply.

Dedicated Map Making Programs

These are programs that are usually designed from the ground up to make RPG maps. They usually come with symbols/graphics/assets/brushes to immediately start making RPG maps. They can be very powerful, but are usually limited to features used to make maps. (See next post for generic image editing programs).

Name	Platform /OS	Base Cost (USD)	Cost w/ Recommended Add-ons	Description	Pros	Cons
Fantasy Grounds VTT	Win/Mac/Linux	Free	$5/month Art Subscription	Built in to FG VTT	Free, includes some assets and animated & lighting effects, Line of sight.	limited export capabilities, no commercial use of assets.
Arkenforge		$35	$95	Animated map maker	Export to FG
Campaign Cartographer 3+	Windows	$45	$74 Top Three bundle	Raster and Bitmap program built on a CAD engine.	Powerful, versatile, numerous add-ons. Incl. Commercial use.	Learning Curve
Deepnight RPG Map Editor	Online / Windows	Free	PWYW		Easy to use, commercial use free, asset importing
Dungeon Alchemist	Windows	$45		3D procedural generation	Free demo	Early Access. Export to FG VTT.
DungeonDraft	Win/Linux	$20			Export to FG
DungeonScrawl	Online	Free		online brush & tile style mapper		limited styles and assets
Dungeon Painter Studio		$15		Tile based mapper		Early access in 2017, not updated since
Fantasy Map Builder	Online	Free	N/A	Grid based online map builder	Free and online	Last updated in 2016
Fantasy Word Generator (donjon)	Online	Free	N/A	Fractal random world generator	quick and easy	Limited styles and control
Fractal Mapper	Windows	$35		Fractal image generation with symbols	Supports export to UVTT format	Limited add-ons
Fractal World Generator	Online	Free		Fractal random world generator	quick and easy	very limited options
Hextml	Online	Free	N/A	Online hex overland mapper in OSR style	Easy to use	Limited assets

**LordEntrails** · March 25th, 2026, 01:29

Name	Platform /OS	Base Cost (USD)	Cost w/ Recommended Add-ons	Description	Pros	Cons
Illwinter's		$8		Brush and Fill style fractal mapper
Inkarnate	Online	Free, limited	$40/yr	Online fantasy map maker	$80/yr for studio version that incl commercial use	Limited assets. Free is really just a trial (3 maps etc)
MapForge	Win/Mac	Free = limited export resolution	$40 for export license	Tile and grid based mapping program	Good selection of features, focuses on tactical battle maps, easy to use,	Limited add-ons, poor large map performance
Never Winter Nights				It's a CRPG, with a map maker built in.	cheap if you can find it on Gog or Steam	old, very old
Other World Mapper	Win/Mac/Linux	$32	$55+	Vector-Raster Mapper		Last updated in 2023
Tiled	Win/Mac/Linux	Free	N/A	Java 2D/Isometric tile map making	Very easy to use and supports custom tiles	Basic, tiles only
Wonderdraft	Win/Linux	$30		Overland map maker		Limited assets
Worldographer 2025		$70	+$40 in symbol add-ons	Tile based mapper?	21 add-ons	Expensive base program, expensive add-ons

**LordEntrails** · March 25th, 2026, 01:30

Graphic Programs that are Used to Make Maps

These programs are graphic design programs that can be used for many things, including making maps for RPGs. Often you will have to find custom "brushes" "symbols" or graphics to use to to get the look and feel you desire, or at least to make map making quicker.

Name	Platform/OS	Base Cost (USD)	Cost with recommended add ons	Description	Pros	Cons
GIMP	Windows, Linux, OSX	Free (GIMP)	N/A	Full blown graphics application.	Ultimate flexibility, free, online tutorials	Steep learning curve, need to find/organise own mapping objects
Photoshop CS5.x/CC	Windows, Mac OSX	$10/month	$10/month	Professional 2D/3D Raster Image software. Includes full suite of support tools, automation, effects and styles. Premium choice for professional artists.	Professional quality output.	Can be overwhelming at first but has the best performing pipeline. Considered by many to be the number one image raster tool and as such enjoys a plethora of support tools and add-ons. Need to find own library of textures/symbols.
Artrage		$80
Inkscape	Win/Mac/Linux	Free	N/A	Open Source vector image program
Flowscape		$10		3D Terrain/Scenic painter
Paint.Net	Online	Free	N/A	Basic graphic editor	Can open .PSD files

**LordEntrails** · March 25th, 2026, 01:30

Resources, Examples and More

Arkenforge Resources

Tutorials: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfz...0W3S6_bwWGsAug

Campaign Cartographer Resources

Video Tutorials: www.profantasy.com/community/cc3_tutorials.asp
Pick up the Tome of Ultimate Mapping: https://secure.profantasy.com/products/tome.asp which is an awesome CC resource (600+ pages of tutorials) and comes with a lot of good support files.

DungeonDraft and WonderDraft Assets

https://cartographyassets.com/

Photoshop Resources

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...C9177C6302AB60

General Mapping Assets

Everything from the old thread: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forum...ftware-summary should have now been moved over here.

I've had to break it into multiple posts and remove the example links from the tables (I think the links were making the post exceed character limites)

**Tempered7** · March 25th, 2026, 02:24

https://www.dungeonalchemist.com/ Still in Early Access.
Dungeon Alchemist is available as a standalone application on Windows, MacOS and Linux.

Dungeon Alchemist [steam link] and its Road Map indicating 2026 release and High Seas update.
It has free Workshop support with 14k+ Maps and even more single assets to place on maps.

Edit: Features wiki article.

EDIT 2: Dungeon Alchemist comes with seamless exports to most popular VTT's. Depending on the VTT's capabilities, more or less features will be included. The following VTT's are supported out of the box:

Fantasy Grounds Unity
Among others

EDIT 3: On AI Usage

- Do you use Generative AI/LLM's in Dungeon Alchemist?

+ No, we do not! All procedural algorithms are developed in-house and only use content generated by our own, paid artists.

Note: But there is some sort of AI powering in their engine [not the assets but how the assets are laid/randomized]. I'll pass the ball to someone with better knowledge though. xD

**Tempered7** · March 25th, 2026, 02:52

Free and web-based hexploration map maker: https://hextml.playest.net/
Quite basic but fast.

**Tempered7** · March 25th, 2026, 03:11

https://deepnight.net/tools/rpg-map/ Can be run from browser

Features

Full HTML5 support, Windows version on Itch.io
Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds exports
Import your own images or icons
Fully customizable colors
Import maps generated by One Page Dungeon (from Watabou)
Support for special walls, such as caverns, diagonals, etc.
Ground textures
Ray-casted lighting & fog
Multiple skins and many customizable colors
Texts, numbered elements with automatic legend block generation, text bubbles…
Icons
Enemies
User friendly UI
Pay what you want, including free!

For Resources, Examples and More

Free Assets:

- Forgotten Adventures Mapmaking Pack: 140.000+ assets HERE in patreon
- World Map Hex Tiles Free or PWYW

EDIT:

Campaign Cartographer [CC3+] Tutorials: https://www.profantasy.com/community/cc3_tutorials.asp

**LordEntrails** · March 25th, 2026, 04:00

Thanks for all the additional info

I'll look to incorporate it into the tables in the next couple of days.

**Tempered7** · March 25th, 2026, 04:36

Originally Posted by LordEntrails

Thanks for all the additional info

I'll look to incorporate it into the tables in the next couple of days.

Np

I had more free resources but the links are all gone with the last format.

Thanks for making the table, it'll be useful for non-designer users like me.

Also, heads up, below link is dead.

Originally Posted by LordEntrails

Resources, Examples and More

Campaign Cartographer Resources

Zeus imparts a lot of info in this thread: https://www.fantasygrounds.com/forum...-Tactical-Maps Particularly post #12.

**QuothDRaven191** · March 25th, 2026, 05:56

Arkenforge Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfz...0W3S6_bwWGsAug

Arkenforge is available on Windows and Mac BTW

Gigabytes of free mapmaking assets
https://www.forgotten-adventures.net/

I'd forgotten Fractal Mapper - have had it for years. It includes Fractal World Explorer that will generate a 3d globe world map.
They also do Astrosynthesis that does stellar maps

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