Where’s Franklin? - CTF Challenge
Category: OSINT / GTA V
Difficulty: Easy
Answer: Mariowe Drive
📥 Download Challenge
Download Challenge Image - Try to solve it yourself before reading the writeup!
Challenge Overview
Players are given a screenshot of Franklin standing next to a road in Grand Theft Auto V. The objective is to determine the exact in-game location where the image was taken.
The challenge can be solved in two ways:
- Database lookup (OSINT-style approach)
- Manual map exploration (game knowledge approach)
Step 1 — Image Analysis
The provided image showed:
- Franklin (GTA V character)
- A roadside environment
- Surrounding terrain and environmental details
There was no obvious text or map marker visible, so players had to rely on environmental clues such as:
- Road type (urban vs rural)
- Road shape (curves, intersections)
- Nearby terrain (hills, buildings, coastline, etc.)
- Vegetation and lighting
Method 1 — Database Lookup (Intended Easier Route)
The image was originally sourced from gtaguessr.com — a game similar to GeoGuessr but based entirely on GTA V locations.
Steps
- Recognize that the screenshot resembles a GTA Guessr-style image.
- Search for relevant terms such as:
GTA Guessr Franklin road
- Browse the GTA Guessr database and locate the exact matching image.
- Identify the in-game location from the database entry.
This reveals the location: Mariowe Drive
Method 2 — Manual Exploration (Hard Mode)
For players who did not recognize the source, the alternative was manual exploration.
Approach
- Load GTA V in free roam mode.
- Explore the map while comparing environmental details to the screenshot.
- Pay close attention to:
- Road curvature
- Elevation changes
- Surrounding landscape
- Nearby landmarks
After careful comparison and exploration, the location can be identified as: Mariowe Drive
Final Answer
Mariowe Drive
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