Facepunch Studios released Garry's Mod on November 29, 2006, built on Valve's Source engine and sold with no objectives at all in its base mode. By November 2024 it had sold 25.56 million copies, which makes it the best selling PC exclusive game ever released. Almost everything people actually play in it, from Trouble in Terrorist Town to DarkRP, is Lua written by the community rather than by Facepunch.
Garry's Mod features distinct areas with increasing difficulty. This guide covers every major location in progression order: what to do, what to get, and when to move on. For the step-by-step path, see our walkthrough.
Area Progression Order
| Order | Location | Difficulty | Key Rewards | Recommended Build |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | gm_construct | 1 to 20 players | Flat build slabs, water testing, indoor and outdoor lighting | Trouble in Terrorist Town |
| 2 | gm_flatgrass | 1 to 20 players | Unlimited flat space, long runway distance, clean physics testing | Trouble in Terrorist Town |
| 3 | gm_bigcity | 4 to 32 players | Road network for vehicles, building interiors, verticality | Sandbox |
| 4 | rp_downtown_v4c_v2 | 10 to 60 players | Rentable property, shop fronts, police and criminal spawn areas | Sandbox |
| 5 | ttt_minecraft_b5 | 8 to 32 players | Weapon spawns, traitor traps, tester room | Sandbox |
gm_construct: Starting Area
One of the two maps that ship with the game and the most recognisable location in Garry's Mod. Flat build areas, a pool, a tunnel and a small skybox room cover almost every sandbox need.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 1 to 20 players |
| Key Rewards | Flat build slabs, water testing, indoor and outdoor lighting |
| Recommended Build | Trouble in Terrorist Town |
| Key Equipment | Tool Gun |
What to Do Here
- Learn the basics of Physics Gun handling. This is where you practice without heavy punishment.
- Collect starting resources and your first equipment upgrade.
- Clear all main content before moving to gm_flatgrass.
- If you're struggling, read our beginner's guide.
gm_flatgrass: Early Game
The other default map, an enormous empty grass plane with a small structure at the centre. The lack of geometry is the point: nothing interferes with a large contraption.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 1 to 20 players |
| Key Rewards | Unlimited flat space, long runway distance, clean physics testing |
| Recommended Build | Trouble in Terrorist Town |
| Key Equipment | Tool Gun |
What to Do Here
- Focus on mastering Tool Gun categories. It's critical from this point on.
- Farm for Tool Gun if you don't have it yet.
- Complete all objectives for maximum rewards.
- Prepare for the difficulty spike in gm_bigcity.
gm_bigcity: Mid Game
A large urban sandbox map with driveable streets, multi storey buildings and interiors. It is a common home for vehicle addons and for roleplay servers that want something wider than a downtown block.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 4 to 32 players |
| Key Rewards | Road network for vehicles, building interiors, verticality |
| Recommended Build | Sandbox |
| Key Equipment | Tool Gun |
What to Do Here
- This is the main skill check. Bring an optimized build.
- Physics Gun becomes accessible here. Prioritize getting it.
- Master Lua gamemodes for the boss encounters.
- Check our boss guide if you get stuck.
rp_downtown_v4c_v2: Late Game
The standard DarkRP map that most servers still run. A compact downtown block with apartments, shops, a police station and sewers, all sized for the job and property systems.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 10 to 60 players |
| Key Rewards | Rentable property, shop fronts, police and criminal spawn areas |
| Recommended Build | Sandbox |
| Key Equipment | Physics Gun |
What to Do Here
- Full build optimization is expected by this point.
- Physics Gun should be your primary, fully upgraded.
- Mounting other Source games mastery starts mattering here.
- Farm resources for the push into ttt_minecraft_b5.
ttt_minecraft_b5: Endgame
A long serving Trouble in Terrorist Town map built from blocky Minecraft style geometry, with sightlines and hiding spots tuned for the traitor round rather than for building.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Difficulty | 8 to 32 players |
| Key Rewards | Weapon spawns, traitor traps, tester room |
| Recommended Build | Sandbox |
| Key Equipment | Physics Gun |
What to Do Here
- This is endgame. Best-in-slot gear and a perfected build are mandatory.
- See our boss guide for endgame fight strategies.
- The reward loop: clear content → upgrade → push harder content.
- Experiment with Murder for variety once you've mastered the meta.
Exploration Tips
- Clear areas in order: gm_construct → gm_flatgrass → gm_bigcity → rp_downtown_v4c_v2 → ttt_minecraft_b5. Skipping areas means missing resources you'll need later.
- Check every corner: Hidden caches and secrets are often in non-obvious locations.
- Match your equipment: Some areas favor different equipment types.
- Read the walkthrough: Our walkthrough provides exact progression milestones for each area.
- Don't rush: Clearing an area fully gives more resources than speedrunning two areas.
More Garry's Mod Guides
- Garry's Mod Garry's Mod Overview
- Garry's Mod Best Builds
- Garry's Mod Tier List
- Garry's Mod Walkthrough
- Garry's Mod Beginner's Guide
- Garry's Mod Tips & Tricks
- Garry's Mod Weapons Guide
- Garry's Mod Combat Guide
- Garry's Mod Boss Guide
- Garry's Mod Crafting Guide
- Garry's Mod Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy Garry's Mod, check out these related guides:
- Terraria Maps & Locations: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- VRChat Maps & Locations: sandbox game with similar mechanics
- Tabletop Simulator Maps & Locations: sandbox game with similar mechanics
