The game takes place across 20 realms, which contain one or more maps. These are based on places related to the Killer of each map’s respective chapter: the MacMillan Estate (Trapper and Skull Merchant), Crotus Prenn Asylum (Nurse and Clown), Autohaven Wreckers (Wraith), Coldwind Farm (Hillbilly), Haddonfield (Shape), Backwater Swamp (Hag), Léry’s Memorial Institute (Doctor), the Red Forest (Huntress and Plague), Springwood (Nightmare), Gideon Meat Plant (Pig), Yamaoka Estate (Spirit and Oni), Ormond (Legion), Hawkins National Laboratory (Demogorgon), Grave of Glenvale (Deathslinger), Midwich Elementary School (Executioner), Raccoon City (Nemesis and Mastermind), Forsaken Boneyard (Artist), Withered Isle (Dredge), Decimated Borgo (Knight), and Dvarka Deepwood (Singularity and Xenomorph). The Cannibal, Ghost Face, Blight, Twins, Trickster, Cenobite, Onryō, and Good Guy did not receive maps. Over time, the level of evil of each Killer’s actions accumulated there until it attracted the attention of the Entity, an unknown force of darkness from a place with no name. Many realms are split into multiple maps with similar features but small variations.
Most maps features a map-specific building or landmark that remains in the same place in the map every game. Two features are present across most of the maps. The first is the "killer shack", a building identical in its layout and appears on most maps. The second is the "basement", an underground room which spawns on every map in a predetermined location. The basement is a special room with only one entrance and exit, and consists of one item chest for the Survivors to scavenge in and multiple lockers for them to hide in. It is also home to a special four-pointed hook that cannot be destroyed or tampered with in any way by Survivors.