Installing Custom Levels (RF1)

This step-by-step guide will walk you through installing custom levels/maps for Red Faction 1. The RED level editor is very powerful, and thousands of levels have been made since the game's release, encompassing every gameplay style you can think of.

NOTE: We've tried to standardize the distribution format of maps/levels on FactionFiles.com (which is also the source for in-game map downloads). These steps may not work for you if you obtained the files from another source.

If you're attempting to install any other type of mod, you should not follow this guide. Please reference one of our other guides instead:
 * Installing Conversion Mods (RF1)
 * Installing Clientside Mods (RF1)

If you run into issues or have questions, it's best to join the Red Faction Community Discord for some assistance.

Multiplayer Levels
IMPORTANT: If you haven't already installed the de facto standard patch Dash Faction, you should do that before proceeding. Please reference the Dash Faction Installation Guide for instructions.

Three primary methods exist for installing multiplayer levels: server join, direct query, and manual install. Each method has its purpose, and the steps for each are explained below.

Easiest Method: Join a server running the level

 * 1) If you join a server that's running a custom multiplayer level that you haven't installed (or you're already playing in a server and it switches to such a map), you'll be kicked from the game and given a prompt to download and install the level if it's available on the autodownload server (FactionFiles.com).
 * 2) Click "Download" to download the level, then notice the progress bar at the bottom of the screen.
 * 3) Once the progress bar completes, the level is automatically installed. You can now rejoin the server.

Method 2: Direct query
NOTE: For this method, you must know the exact filename of the level you're trying to download.
 * 1) Open the game, then open the developer console (~ key)
 * 2) Enter the download_level FILENAME command and hit enter, then notice the progress bar at the bottom of the screen. Additional information on this and other commands is available on the Console Command Reference page.
 * 3) Once the progress bar completes, the level is automatically installed.
 * 4) If the level isn't showing up in the "Create Server" interface after this, simply restart your game. It should show up then.

Method 3: Manual install

 * 1) Visit FactionFiles.com to download the multiplayer levels(s) you want to install.
 * 2) Extract all .vpp files in the downloaded archive to your "...\user_maps\multi" directory. (Normally this will be C:\Steam\steamapps\common\red faction\user_maps\multi for Steam users, and C:\games\RedFaction\user_maps\multi for non-Steam users)
 * 3) If the game was already open when you extracted the files, you will have to restart it to load the newly installed level(s).

Single Player Levels
IMPORTANT: If you haven't already installed the de facto standard patch Dash Faction, you should do that before proceeding. Please reference the Dash Faction Installation Guide for instructions.

Step 1: Downloading
Visit FactionFiles.com to download single player levels for Red Faction. Here's a quick link to the file category:
 * Maps - Single Player

Once you've selected and downloaded the level or campaign you want to install, proceed to step 2.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Before you install a single player level or campaign, you should determine whether or not it's packaged as a conversion mod. A good rule of thumb is that it is a conversion mod if the archive you downloaded from FactionFiles contains a folder - in which case you should follow the Installing Conversion Mods (RF1) guide instead of this one. If it contains just some .vpp files, it's likely not a conversion mod - in which case you should follow the steps below. If you're unsure or are running into trouble with this, it's best to join the Red Faction Community Discord for some assistance.

Step 2: Installing

 * The archive you downloaded should contain one or more .vpp files (game asset packfiles). Extract these .vpp packfiles to your "...\user_maps\single" directory. (Normally this directory will be in C:\Steam\steamapps\common\red faction\user_maps\ for Steam users, and C:\games\RedFaction\user_maps\ for non-Steam users)

Step 3: Playing

 * Admittedly and unfortunately, there's no streamlined way to load single player levels in Red Faction. The basic process is to launch the game (after installing via Step 2 above), open the console, then type level LEVELNAME, where "LEVELNAME" is the filename of the first level of the campaign you're trying to load (or the filename of the level itself, if it's just one single level). You can read more about the Red Faction console itself and other console commands here: Red Faction Console Commands
 * In most cases, the "LEVELNAME" filename you need will be indicated in a .txt file included in the download. In some cases though, this may not be the case, and without opening up and exploring the packfiles, it's not always obvious. The below table lists common single player campaigns and the console command you will need to load in order to play them.
 * If you're running into difficulties, or the single player level/campaign you're trying to load isn't listed in the table below, it's best to join the Red Faction Community Discord for some assistance.