WORLD DESIGN
Map Traversal Calculator
How long does it take to cross your map on foot or mounted?
TRAVEL PACING
Calculate traversal time
Map traversal guide
How long it takes to cross your map is one of the most under-appreciated numbers in game design. Too long and travel is a chore; too short and the world feels like a lobby. This calculator converts map size and movement speed into traversal time — on foot and mounted.
The feel of traversal
Rule of thumb: 60–90 seconds to cross on foot reads as open world. 15–30 seconds reads as an arena or mission map. MMO-style worlds aim for 2–5 minutes — which is why they add mounts, fast travel, and flight paths. The number you pick defines the pacing of everything built on top of it.
The math is simple: time = distance ÷ speed. The design is the interesting part — what players do while crossing, whether routes branch, and where choke points sit.
Sizing to your game
Movement speed is the lever you control. Most action games walk at 3–6 units/sec (meters/sec in Unity scale). If your world is 1024 units across, that is 3.4 minutes on foot at 5 u/s — plan mounts or fast travel, or shrink the map.
Tip: Test the actual traversal time with a real character build, not just the math. Jumping, stamina, and obstacles add 20–40% to the paper number.
Frequently asked questions
How big should an open world be?
Size matters less than traversal time. 2–5 minutes across at walking speed is the comfortable range; anything beyond needs mounts, fast travel, or engaging travel gameplay.
What is a good walking speed in Unity units?
3–6 units/sec is typical for humanoid characters (Unity units ≈ meters). Tune so a doorway takes ~1 second and a street crossing ~3 seconds.
Should I add fast travel?
Add it when crossing takes longer than about 3 minutes or when players must backtrack. Gate it behind discovery (points of interest) to keep the world feeling explored.
Privacy note: traversal calculations happen in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.