DayZ ships with Chernarus and Livonia, and the paid Frostline expansion adds Sakhal. Community servers (especially on PC) also run custom maps like Namalsk. Each map changes the survival experience — climate, loot density and how far apart everything is.
The official maps
- Chernarus (Chernarus+) — the big, iconic map (~230 km²). Varied towns, huge military zones and the longest travel. The best place to learn the game and where most players live.
- Livonia (Enoch) — smaller and more forested, with dense woodland, a central military area and its own contaminated zones. Tighter fights and shorter travel than Chernarus.
- Sakhal (Frostline) — a cold volcanic island added in the Frostline expansion (requires the DLC). Freezing climate makes warmth a constant priority, with new areas and a harsher survival loop.
Which should I play?
Start on Chernarus — it is the most documented and forgiving to learn on, and almost every guide and video uses it. Move to Livonia for a denser, more close-quarters feel, and to Sakhal when you want the cold itself to be the main enemy. On PC, custom maps add even more variety.
