- City of Glass is the open-world setting of Mirror's Edge Catalyst, fully explorable after Chapter 2.
- Seven districts each demand different parkour techniques, from Anchor's glass facades to the Undermine's tunnels.
- Runner Vision highlights the suggested path in red; follow it early, then forge faster lines.
- Fast-travel points unlock as you complete missions and open side activities across Glass.
- Vertical momentum beats street level — staying high is the golden rule of navigation.
City of Glass Overview: Faith's Open World
The City of Glass is the gleaming corporate metropolis at the heart of Mirror's Edge Catalyst — a rebooted origin story for Faith Connors. Controlled by the Conglomerate and patrolled by Kruger Security (KrugerSec), the city is a pristine white-and-glass surveillance state where Runners like Faith move across rooftops as the last uncensored couriers.
Unlike the linear missions of the 2008 original, Catalyst's Glass is a seamless open world. After completing the opening chapters ("Prison Break" and "Sprint"), the entire city opens for free roaming, side missions, Dashes, and Time Trials.
Glass is not just a backdrop — it is the game's core mechanic. Every rooftop line, wall-run surface, and maintenance shaft is designed to be run. Learn the city's vertical logic and every mission gets faster.
Districts of Glass: Zone-by-Zone Breakdown
Glass is divided into distinct districts, each with its own architecture, traversal style, and story role.
| District | Parkour Style | Key Features | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchor | Long wall-runs on glass facades | Runner hideout, early missions, MAG Rope routes | ★★ |
| Downtown | Slide-jump chains, tight 90° turns | Dense rooftops, stair sets, ziplines | ★★★ |
| View District | Vertical climbing, towers | Highest viewpoints, Gabriel Kruger chase | ★★★★ |
| Undermine | Low tunnels, stealth routes | Black November territory, Rebecca Thane | ★★★ |
| Kruger Tower Complex | Mag Rope traversal, stealth | Late-game infiltration missions | ★★★★ |
| The Shard | Timed climbing, combat gauntlets | Finale mission, story climax | ★★★★★ |
Anchor
- Best for: Wall-run practice
- Long unbroken glass facades
- MAG Rope swings across wide gaps
- Home district of the Runner cabal
Downtown
- Best for: Speed and flow chains
- Dense rooftop network
- Slide-jump and quick-turn territory
- Core location for Dashes and races
View District
- Best for: Vertical climbing
- Highest viewpoints in Glass
- The "Vitamin D" trophy tower
- Setting of the Kruger helicopter chase
Dropping to street level breaks your Flow and forces slow re-climbing. Vertical momentum is faster than regaining height — plan lines that keep you on rooftops, ziplines, and wall-run chains.
Navigation & Traversal Route Guide
Moving through Glass efficiently means chaining moves without stopping. Follow these steps to build clean lines across any district.
Unlock Fast-Travel Points
Progress through the early Anchor missions to unlock fast-travel hubs across Glass. Every story milestone typically opens a new hub, letting you jump between districts without grinding through traversal you've already mastered.
Read Runner Vision First
Red objects mark the suggested path. Early on, follow these cues religiously — they teach the city's traversal grammar. Once comfortable, start cutting corners with your own lines.
Chain Moves to Keep Flow
Momentum fills Faith's Flow state, extending jump distance and unlocking hard-to-reach ledges. Wall-run, vault, coil, and kickslide in continuous chains — stopping, bumping walls, or falling resets everything.
Use Gadgets to Cross Gaps
The MAG Rope grapples across gaps and swing points; upgrade it early to extend reach and open shortcuts. The Disruptor stuns KrugerSec electronics and creates escape lanes in security zones.
Study Ghost Lines
In Dashes and Time Trials, watch ghost replays of top runners. A clean line with zero Flow breaks usually beats one risky flashy jump.
Plan three to four moves ahead. Runners who scan for the next wall-run surface or coil-jump window while mid-air maintain Flow far longer than those who react in the moment.
Activities & Collectibles Across Glass
Beyond the main story, Glass packs hundreds of optional objectives. GridLeaks — over 700 across the city — flash visibly from a distance and must be smashed mid-run, while Chipsets fund Faith's skill tree upgrades.
| Activity | Type | Reward | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| GridLeaks | In-world collectible | District completion % | All districts, on parkour lines |
| Dashes (Runner Tags) | Player-made races | Stars, Chipsets | City-wide, marked by tags |
| Time Trials | Fixed courses | 1-3 stars | All districts |
| Documents | Lore collectibles | Story log entries | Offices, hideouts, interiors |
| Delivery Missions | Side quests | Chips, credits | Anchor and beyond |
| Security Zones | Combat challenges | Chipsets | KrugerSec-controlled areas |
Chipsets from Dashes and high-star Time Trials are the fastest route to a fully upgraded Faith. Unlock Gear map upgrades early to reveal nearby collectible markers before hunting GridLeaks district by district.
Runner's District Mastery Checklist
Glass Exploration Milestones:
- Unlock all fast-travel points across every district
- Clear all GridLeaks in Anchor to learn the collectible loop
- Reach the top viewpoint in the View District (Vitamin D trophy)
- Earn 3 stars on five Dashes to farm Chipsets
- Complete the Undermine storyline with Rebecca Thane
- Achieve 100% completion in at least one district
City of Glass FAQ
Q: When does the City of Glass become fully open in Mirror's Edge Catalyst?
Glass opens for free roaming after the opening chapters — Prison Break and the early Sprint missions in Anchor. From that point, all districts are connected and side activities, Dashes, and Time Trials unlock across the city.
Q: How many GridLeaks are hidden across the City of Glass?
Over 700 GridLeaks are scattered across Glass's districts. They flash visibly from a distance and must be destroyed mid-run. Clearing them all contributes to each district's completion percentage and the Gridunlocked trophy.
Q: Which district is best for practicing parkour?
Anchor is the ideal training ground. Its long glass facades support extended wall-runs, and the MAG Rope routes across wide gaps make it perfect for learning Flow chains before tackling the denser Downtown rooftops.
Q: What is the best way to travel between districts quickly?
Use unlocked fast-travel points for long jumps, but for same-district travel always stay at rooftop level. Vertical momentum is faster than dropping to street level and re-climbing — chain wall-runs, ziplines, and MAG Rope swings to keep your Flow unbroken.