The above world map provides information on predicted levels of opponents that you encounter all around the game. This guide should prove useful in determining the best order to explore the game world. However, it should not be assumed that all of the locations, of a given sector, have similar difficulty level. Some of them may be occupied by elite opponents with much higher difficulty levels. Therefore, you should always perform reconnaissance. When you decide that opponents are too strong, after you have started the battle already, you can retreat and put off clearing the location for later.
The game starts in the North-Western corner of the map and it is a good idea to explore it thoroughly. In order to obtain as many experience points as possible. With your progress into the game, you can explore deeper and deeper into the Northern, North-Eastern and Central part of the map. An additional handicap in sector 8 (South-Western corner) is high radiation of the Glowing See. Before you venture there, get a power armor and a large supply of fusion cores that the armor uses as fuel.