Call of Duty has evolved into a cultural phenomenon over the last two decades, setting the gold standard for online arcade shooters. The franchise has introduced a vast array of maps, each hosting thousands of intense battles every season. Here, we've curated a list of the 30 best maps in the history of Call of Duty. Let's take a trip down memory lane and revisit these iconic battlegrounds.
Table of Content ---
- Payback (Black Ops 6, 2024)
- Ocean Drive (Black Ops 6, 2024)
- Crown Raceway (Modern Warfare II, 2022)
- Moscow (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)
- Farm 18 (Modern Warfare II, 2022)
- Miami (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)
- Ardennes Forest (WWII, 2017)
- London Docks (WWII, 2017)
- Turbine (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Plaza (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Overgrown (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
- Meltdown (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Seaside (Black Ops 4, 2018)
- Crossfire (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
- Karachi (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
- Estate (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
- Dome (Modern Warfare 3, 2011)
- Favela (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
- Express (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Summit (Black Ops, 2010)
- Highrise (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
- Crash (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
- Standoff (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Raid (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Hijacked (Black Ops II, 2012)
- Shipment (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
- Firing Range (Black Ops, 2010)
- Terminal (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
- Rust (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
- Nuketown (Black Ops, 2010)
Payback (Black Ops 6, 2024)
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Nestled in the Bulgarian mountains, Payback features a multi-level mansion that's tailor-made for tense firefights and diverse gameplay. Despite its compact size, this map strikes a perfect balance for all playstyles. Its intricate architecture allows for strategic ambushes as well as quick escapes, such as jumping out of a window to evade foes.
Ocean Drive (Black Ops 6, 2024)
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Drawing inspiration from iconic 80s action films, Ocean Drive plunges players into gunfights among luxurious hotels and flashy cars. The map's design, with its contrast between spacious streets and cramped interiors, makes it versatile and suitable for a range of game modes.
Crown Raceway (Modern Warfare II, 2022)
Image: reddit.com
Crown Raceway transforms into a high-octane battleground with its garages, stands, and pit-stop areas. From the moment the match starts, the environment becomes a blood-soaked racetrack, complete with the roar of racing cars. Its unique design and dynamic combat ensure that even the most skilled players will find their kill/death ratio tested.
Moscow (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Set during the Cold War era, Moscow captures the harsh yet majestic essence of the Soviet capital. Battles unfold amidst massive concrete buildings, opulent marble halls, and metro stations. The map balances tactical and aggressive playstyles with engagements in narrow alleys, on spacious boulevards, and within government complexes.
Farm 18 (Modern Warfare II, 2022)
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An abandoned military training base hidden in a dense forest, Farm 18's central concrete training ground becomes a hotspot for intense battles. The surrounding partially destroyed buildings and narrow corridors offer ample opportunities for assault players to exploit.
Miami (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)
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Miami immerses players in the vibrant atmosphere of the 1980s criminal underworld with its neon signs, nightclubs, and palm trees. The map's layout, featuring narrow streets and wide boulevards, supports a variety of tactical approaches.
Ardennes Forest (WWII, 2017)
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Ardennes Forest transports players to the heart of one of World War II's most intense battles, with snowy forests, trenches, and blazing ruins. The map's symmetrical design and brutal battles create a truly immersive warzone experience.
London Docks (WWII, 2017)
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Set during World War II, London Docks captures the grim wartime atmosphere with dark alleys, wet cobblestones, and industrial architecture. The map's detailed design, including narrow alleys for ambushes, spacious warehouses for firefights, and docks for vantage points, offers diverse tactical opportunities.
Turbine (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Turbine, sprawling across canyons, offers a mix of vertical gameplay, open spaces, and hidden routes for tactical flanking. The broken turbine at the center can serve as both cover and a deadly trap for unwary players.
Plaza (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Plaza invites players into a neon-lit, futuristic metropolis where battles unfold among upscale clubs and narrow alleys. Its architecture provides potential cover on every corner, with stairs, balconies, and glass storefronts adding variety to the gameplay.
Overgrown (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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Overgrown, set in an abandoned village, is ideal for snipers and tactical players. Elevated spots and watchtowers offer excellent vantage points to monitor enemy movements, making it perfect for both stealth and open engagements.
Meltdown (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Located on the grounds of a nuclear power plant, Meltdown features intense firefights in strategically important areas with multiple routes. The central reactor complex, with its maze of tunnels, is perfect for close combat and surprise flanking attacks.
Seaside (Black Ops 4, 2018)
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Seaside combines the charm of a seaside town with the danger of its alleyways. The map alternates between open areas for long-range shootouts and narrow lanes for close-quarters combat, where enemies could be lurking around any corner.
Crossfire (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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Set in an abandoned city amidst a military conflict, Crossfire features a long street flanked by ruined buildings and sniper nests. Players can engage in prolonged ranged battles or attempt close combat through side alleys, but only if they're skilled enough to survive.
Karachi (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Karachi's dusty streets and chaotic layout, with rooftops for ambushes and lower levels for cramped corridors, make it a challenging map. The city ruins offer unpredictable terrain perfect for flanking maneuvers, demanding constant vigilance from players.
Estate (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Estate, a luxurious mansion overlooking a dense forest, is memorable for its strategic versatility. Inside, players can fortify positions to hold off enemies, while the surrounding forest provides ample cover for surprise attacks.
Dome (Modern Warfare 3, 2011)
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Dome, a compact yet lethal map centered around a ruined military base with an abandoned dome, is perfect for aggressive play. Quick reflexes, cover knowledge, and timing are crucial in its fast-paced battles.
Favela (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Favela, set in a densely built Brazilian slum, is ideal for sudden ambushes. Its narrow corridors, rooftops, and hidden passages make it a dangerous yet exciting battlefield, especially for those armed with shotguns.
Express (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Express features rapid-fire shootouts on a busy train platform, with a moving train adding tension and potential traps. This dynamic map requires strategy, speed, and smart use of cover to emerge victorious.
Summit (Black Ops, 2010)
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Summit, a snowy mountain base, offers various routes and tight corridors for combat. Players must remain cautious, especially near the edge of the steep cliffs above a bottomless abyss.
Highrise (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Set atop a skyscraper, Highrise features combat in cramped offices and open rooftop areas. Its hidden approaches allow for sudden attacks, while the map is also renowned for its intense sniper duels.
Crash (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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Crash, an urban map with three main combat lanes, offers numerous tactical possibilities amidst ruined buildings and narrow alleyways. The iconic crashed "Black Hawk" at its center evokes vivid memories for many players.
Standoff (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Standoff, a classic small town, is perfect for ambushes with its small buildings and hidden routes. The cinematic setting supports various combat styles, from lying in wait to firing from above, making it a favorite among players.
Raid (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Set in a modern Los Angeles mansion, Raid offers a balanced environment for both close-quarters and long-range combat. Its high-paced action suits players of all skill levels, cementing its status as one of the best maps in the series.
Hijacked (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Hijacked, set on a luxury yacht, transforms every corridor and deck into a fierce battleground. Its small space and limited cover create an adrenaline-pumping experience.
Shipment (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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Shipment, a tiny square map with chaotic firefights among shipping containers, is a paradise for close-range weapons and shotguns. It's a place where players can quickly rack up killstreaks or be taken out in an instant.
Firing Range (Black Ops, 2010)
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Firing Range, a military training ground, caters to mid-range battles with its multiple elevation levels, small buildings, and long open areas. It's an ideal map for any weapon type.
Terminal (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Terminal, an airport map, blends spacious terminals, narrow corridors, and an open tarmac. Players can set up ambushes, control vantage points, or engage in close-quarters combat on the airplane, always keeping the enemy in sight.
Rust (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Rust, a miniature desert map with an oil rig at its center, offers tight yet vertically oriented gameplay. Perfect for one-on-one duels and intense firefights, there's no time for hesitation as combat starts immediately.
Nuketown (Black Ops, 2010)
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Nuketown, a small yet incredibly dynamic map, has become a hallmark of the series. Its symmetrical streets, houses, and backyards create an ideal setting for high-speed skirmishes. The ever-present threat of a nuclear explosion adds an extra layer of excitement.
These 30 maps have left an indelible mark on the memories of millions of players, becoming true classics of the Call of Duty franchise. Each map offers unique gameplay experiences, from frantic close-quarters action to strategic battles in open terrain, ensuring there's something for every type of player.
