Call of Duty has evolved into a cultural phenomenon over the past 20 years, setting the gold standard for online arcade shooters. The franchise has introduced a vast array of maps that have hosted countless intense battles each season. In this article, we've curated a list of the 30 best maps in the history of Call of Duty. Let's take a nostalgic journey through these iconic battlegrounds.
Table of Contents
- 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 is a multi-level mansion designed for intense firefights and diverse gameplay. Despite its compact size, the map strikes a perfect balance for all playstyles. Its intricate architecture allows for both setting up ambushes and making quick escapes, such as jumping out of a window to evade opponents.
Ocean Drive (Black Ops 6, 2024)
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Inspired by iconic 80s action films, Ocean Drive transports players to a world of luxury hotels and flashy cars. The map's design contrasts spacious streets with cramped interiors, making it versatile for various game modes and strategies.
Crown Raceway (Modern Warfare II, 2022)
Image: reddit.com
Crown Raceway offers a fast-paced battle setting among garages, stands, and pit-stop areas. As soon as the match starts, the environment transforms into a blood-soaked racetrack. The sounds of racing cars add to the dynamic atmosphere, and the map's unique design ensures balanced gameplay regardless of skill level.
Moscow (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Set in Cold War-era Moscow, this map immerses players in the Soviet capital's harsh yet majestic environment. Battles unfold amidst concrete buildings, marble halls, and metro stations. The map balances tactical and aggressive play, with fights taking place in narrow alleys, spacious boulevards, and government complexes.
Farm 18 (Modern Warfare II, 2022)
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An abandoned military training base hidden in a dense forest, Farm 18 features a concrete training ground that becomes a fierce battleground. Surrounding buildings, narrow corridors, and hidden paths offer excellent opportunities for assault players, making it a thrilling map for close-quarters combat.
Miami (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)
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With glowing neon signs, nightclubs, and palm trees, Miami captures the essence of the 1980s criminal underworld. The map's layout, combining narrow streets and wide boulevards, supports a variety of tactics, making it ideal for diverse gameplay experiences.
Ardennes Forest (WWII, 2017)
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Ardennes Forest plunges players into the heart of one of World War II's fiercest battles. The snowy forests, trenches, and blazing ruins create an authentic warzone atmosphere. Its well-thought-out symmetry leads to brutal battles where every step could be your last.
London Docks (WWII, 2017)
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Set in wartime London, London Docks features dark alleys, wet cobblestones, and industrial architecture, creating a grim wartime atmosphere. The map's detailed design, with narrow alleys for ambushes, spacious warehouses for firefights, and docks for vantage points, caters to various playstyles.
Turbine (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Turbine is a vast map set across canyons, offering vertical gameplay, open spaces, and hidden routes for tactical flanking. The broken turbine at the center can serve as both cover and a trap, making it a strategic hotspot for intense battles.
Plaza (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Plaza transports players to a futuristic metropolis filled with upscale clubs and glowing signs. The map's architecture, with every corner offering potential cover, stairs, balconies, and glass storefronts, adds variety and excitement to the gameplay.
Overgrown (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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An overgrown abandoned village with excellent sniper positions, Overgrown is perfect for tactical players. Elevated spots and watchtowers allow for monitoring enemy movements, making it one of the most strategic maps in the series.
Meltdown (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Set on the grounds of a nuclear power plant, Meltdown features intense firefights around strategically important areas. The central reactor complex, with its maze of tunnels, is ideal for close combat and surprise flanking attacks.
Seaside (Black Ops 4, 2018)
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A charming seaside town with cozy squares and dangerous alleyways, Seaside offers a mix of open areas for long-range shootouts and narrow lanes for close-quarters combat. Players must stay alert, as enemies can lurk around any corner.
Crossfire (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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Set in a city abandoned during 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 take the risk.
Karachi (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Karachi's dusty streets and chaotic layout make it a challenging yet exciting map. Rooftops are perfect for ambushes and controlling narrow alleys, while lower levels offer cramped corridors and shadowy passages, ideal for shotguns and flanking maneuvers.
Estate (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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A luxurious mansion on a hill overlooking a dense forest, Estate is memorable for many players. Inside, you can fortify your position to hold off enemies, while the surrounding forest offers ample hiding spots for surprise attacks.
Dome (Modern Warfare 3, 2011)
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Compact yet deadly, Dome is a ruined military base centered around an abandoned dome. Battles here are fast-paced, with hostile fire coming from any direction. It's perfect for aggressive play, where reflexes and cover knowledge are crucial.
Favela (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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A densely built Brazilian slum, Favela is perfect for sudden ambush attacks. Narrow corridors, rooftops, and hidden passages make it a thrilling map for close-quarters combat, especially for shotgun enthusiasts.
Express (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Express features rapid-fire shootouts on busy train platforms, with a moving train adding tension and potential danger. This dynamic battlefield rewards strategy, speed, and smart use of cover, making it a favorite among players.
Summit (Black Ops, 2010)
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Set on a snowy mountain base, Summit offers various routes and tight corridors. Battles occur in open areas and inside closed-off labs, requiring caution, especially near steep cliffs above an abyss.
Highrise (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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Highrise sets combat atop a skyscraper, with cramped offices and open rooftop areas. Known for hidden approaches that allow for surprise attacks, it's also famous for brutal sniper duels across the map.
Crash (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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An urban map with three main lanes of combat, Crash features ruined buildings for tactical play and narrow alleyways for tense skirmishes. The crashed "Black Hawk" at the center evokes vivid memories for many players.
Standoff (Black Ops II, 2012)
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A classic small town ideal for ambushes, Standoff offers various combat styles, from lying in wait to firing from above. Its cinematic feel and fast-paced action make it a memorable map in the series.
Raid (Black Ops II, 2012)
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A modern mansion in Los Angeles with a pool and marble corridors, Raid is superbly balanced for both close-quarters and long-range combat. Its high-paced action appeals to players of all skill levels, cementing its place as one of the best maps.
Hijacked (Black Ops II, 2012)
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Set on a luxury yacht, Hijacked turns every corridor and deck into a battleground. Its small space and limited cover lead to maximum adrenaline, making it a thrilling map for intense combat.
Shipment (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)
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A tiny, square map with chaotic firefights among shipping containers, Shipment is perfect for racking up killstreaks or getting killed instantly. Its three lanes make it a paradise for shotguns and close-range weapons.
Firing Range (Black Ops, 2010)
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A military training ground designed for mid-range battles, Firing Range offers multiple elevation levels, small buildings, and long open areas, catering to various playstyles and weapon types.
Terminal (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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An airport map blending spacious terminals, narrow corridors, and an open tarmac, Terminal is perfect for ambushes and close-quarters combat on the airplane. Keeping the enemy in sight and avoiding blind dashes are key to success here.
Rust (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)
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A miniature desert map with an oil rig at the center, Rust offers tight, vertically oriented gameplay. Perfect for one-on-one duels and intense firefights, it's a map where combat starts immediately and continues until the last bullet.
Nuketown (Black Ops, 2010)
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A small yet incredibly dynamic map, Nuketown has become a hallmark of the series. Its symmetrical streets, houses, and backyards create an ideal battlefield for high-speed skirmishes, with the added thrill of potential nuclear explosions.
These 30 maps have left an indelible mark on the memories of millions of players, becoming Call of Duty classics. Each map offers unique gameplay, whether it's frantic close-quarters action, tactical fights in open terrain, or a mix of both. No matter your preferred playstyle, you're sure to find the perfect battleground on this list.
