There’s just something about a map. If there’s a map in a book, it’s an adventure. And I don’t really care what sort of adventure, if I’m being honest, I’m already in. Maps are wonderful as a reader, but they’re also really important for my writing practice as well.
I love a gorgeous illustrated map, but if you aren’t a skilled illustrator or cartographer, that can be expensive to commission — especially if you’re at the stage of drafting, and you might still need to change things, or add stuff as you go.
Whether you are working on a small-scale, local map for a single town or city, or a larger-scale map for an entire planet or even a galaxy, I’ve gathered a list of a variety of tools are available to help bring your vision to life, though of course the right map-making tool will depend on the specific needs of your story and your personal preferences.
Choosing the right tool
Map-making tools come in various options, each with features and capabilities. Most are built for tabletop RPG games but are just as useful for writers. When selecting a map-making tool, consider the scale of the maps you want to make.
Small-scale map-making tools are great for detailed maps of specific locations, such as cities or buildings, and often include features like customisable labels, symbols, and visual elements. You’ll want the ability to make detailed maps of small areas, including streets, buildings, and other landmarks.
Large-scale map-making tools are great for creating maps of vast areas, like continents or planets, and often include features like the ability to import data from real-world maps or generate maps based on geographical parameters like climate, elevation, or vegetation.
Map-making tools
Inkarnate
Inkarnate is excellent for both small and large-scale map creation. It offers a range of features, including custom terrain and location icons, the ability to import custom images, and an intuitive interface. You can make fantasy and sci-fi style assets, which means you can use the tool to build spaceships, flesh out rooms inside your ships, or create a galaxy.
Wonderdraft
Wonderdraft is best for large-scale maps. It offers a variety of customisable templates, symbols, and brushes, as well as features for adding annotations and notes to the map, allowing you to include important information and details about your worlds.
Dungeondraft
Dungeondraft is brought to you by the creators of Wonderdraft. It's best for small-scale maps, and the two work hand in hand.
Wonderdraft and Dungeondraft also support third-party art packs, so you can quickly adapt your maps to your story's aesthetic. If you want to go that route, you can get third-party art packs from Crosshead Studios, 2 Minute Tabletop, Forgotten Adventures, and Caeoria.
Dungeon Scrawl
Dungeon Scrawl is a really well-designed and uncomplicated tool for small-scale maps. It's best for single locations, houses or other establishments, caves, or mazes. Its hand-drawn aesthetic is perfect for writers who want to add a touch of whimsy or old-school charm to their maps.
Metro Map Maker
Metro Map Maker is a tool for creating custom subway or metro maps. It allows you to customise their map's layout, colours, and labels, as well as add points of interest and other details. It could be used to create maps of the fictional subway system that can be included in the story or shared with readers to help them visualise the city and understand the layout and locations mentioned in the story.
Arkenforge
Arkenforge is a good option if you're working on a space opera rather than a magical epic. Whether you're building a sprawling space station or a small, distant planet, Arkenforge offers a range of customizable assets and features with a more futuristic twist.
Astrosynthesis
Astrosynthesis is a powerful, feature-rich map-making software for science fiction writers and game designers. AstroSynthesis allows users to create detailed and customizable maps of entire galaxies, star systems, and planets.
Lord of Maps
If you want something a little more crafty and tactile, but don’t want to illustrate a map yourself by hand, these stamps from Lord of Maps are both super cute and super useful.
You can also use Canva! I made the story map image for this post in Canva, using standard Elements.
Other tools for worldbuilders
Space Engine is a powerful, real-time 3D space simulation software that allows users to explore the universe, observe celestial bodies, and create custom star systems and galaxies.
Simpop Solar System Simulator is an interactive, web-based tool that allows users to create their own solar system, complete with planets, moons, and other celestial bodies.