Mapbase is an open-source enhancement for Source 2013 that targets mappers and modders. Its primary goal is to add new capabilities and quality-of-life features through changes to the Source 2013 codebase.

Mapbase functions as a base to build maps and mods off of, hence the name. Mappers create their own maps within it or a mod that uses it, while mods themselves draw from Mapbase’s code and assets directly.


Mapbase was originally created to make useful code changes more accessible to level designers, and most of its changes are intended to be unintrusive. Typically, the average player wouldn’t be able to tell if a mod is using Mapbase, but someone working on it would be able to tell right away.

Here’s a brief overview of the kinds of changes Mapbase makes:

50+ new entities that provide deeper control over logic and game events

Hundreds of new inputs, outputs, and keyvalues on existing entities

A custom implementation of VScript, a scripting layer that interfaces with the game

Modified visuals that focus on fixes and optional capabilities

Map-specific scripts that allow individual maps to make larger changes

Optional extensions for existing gameplay features


Mapbase started development in 2018 and it was released in 2019. Since then, it’s amassed a wide variety of changes from contributors all over the community, and it’s been used by countless maps and Source mods in the years since.

Here’s a few prominent projects in the HL2 and TF2 modding spaces that use Mapbase:


Additionally, code and features from Mapbase have been ported to Source engine projects beyond traditional modding spaces, including No More Room In Hell and Strata Source.


Mapbase primarily supports (HL2) Half-Life 2 and (TF2) Team Fortress 2, but since Mapbase is built with code changes, you must use Mapbase within a sourcemod, not through the games themselves.

For more information on how to start using Mapbase, see Getting Started.