Legends of Call of Duty: The 30 best maps in the history of the series

Call of Duty has become a cultural phenomenon, setting an unrivaled benchmark for online arcade shooters over the past 20 years. The franchise has introduced a vast array of maps, each hosting countless intense battles every season. We've curated a list of the 30 best maps in Call of Duty's storied history. Let's take a trip down memory lane and explore 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)

0 0 Comment on this Payback (Black Ops 6, 2024)

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A multi-level mansion nestled in the Bulgarian mountains, Payback is designed for tense firefights and versatile gameplay. Despite its compact size, it offers a perfect balance for all playstyles. Its intricate architecture allows for ambushes and skillful escapes, like jumping out of a window.

Ocean Drive (Black Ops 6, 2024)

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Inspired by iconic 80s action films, Ocean Drive features gunfights among luxurious hotels and flashy cars. The contrast between spacious streets and cramped interiors makes it suitable for various game modes, offering a dynamic and engaging experience.

Crown Raceway (Modern Warfare II, 2022)

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Set among garages, stands, and pit-stop areas, Crown Raceway transforms into a fast-paced battleground as soon as the match starts. With the sounds of racing cars in the background, this map's unique design and dynamic combat ensure that every player's kill/death ratio will eventually balance out, no matter their skill level.

Moscow (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)

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Transporting players to the heart of Cold War–era Moscow, this map offers a mix of harsh, majestic settings filled with hidden threats. Battles occur in narrow alleys, spacious boulevards, and inside government complexes, providing a balance between tactical and aggressive gameplay.

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 areas with partially destroyed buildings and narrow corridors offer excellent opportunities for assault players to shine.

Miami (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)

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With glowing neon signs reflected on wet asphalt, nightclubs, and palm trees, Miami immerses players in the atmosphere of the 1980s criminal underworld. The map combines narrow streets and wide boulevards, making it ideal for a variety of tactical approaches.

Ardennes Forest (WWII, 2017)

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Set amidst snowy forests, trenches, and blazing ruins, Ardennes Forest captures the essence of a real warzone. This map's well-thought-out symmetry leads to particularly brutal battles, where the snow is soaked in blood, and every step could be your last.

London Docks (WWII, 2017)

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Set during World War II, London Docks features dark alleys, wet cobblestones, and industrial architecture, creating a grim wartime atmosphere. The map's details cater to different playstyles: narrow alleys for ambushes, spacious warehouses for firefights, and docks for vantage points.

Turbine (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Spanning across canyons, Turbine offers a mix of vertical gameplay, open spaces, and hidden routes for tactical flanking. The central broken turbine can serve as cover or become a trap, making it a strategic focal point.

Plaza (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Welcome to the vibrant neon world of Plaza, a futuristic metropolis where battles unfold among upscale clubs and narrow alleys. The map's architecture offers potential cover at 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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An overgrown abandoned village with ruined buildings and excellent sniper positions, Overgrown is perfect for players who love to camp. Elevated spots and watchtowers allow for monitoring enemy movement, making it one of the most tactical maps for both stealth and open engagements.

Meltdown (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Set on the grounds of a nuclear power plant, Meltdown features strategically important areas and multiple routes. The central reactor complex, with its maze of tunnels, is perfect for close combat and unexpected flanking attacks.

Seaside (Black Ops 4, 2018)

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A charming seaside town with cozy squares and dangerous alleyways, Seaside offers open areas for long-range shootouts and narrow lanes for close quarters. Stunning views might be distracting, but remember, an enemy could be lurking around any corner.

Crossfire (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)

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Set in a city abandoned during an ongoing military conflict, Crossfire features a long street flanked by ruined buildings and sniper nests. Players can engage in prolonged ranged battles or break through for close combat via side alleys, but only if they're truly skilled.

Karachi (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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With dusty streets, abandoned buildings, and a chaotic layout, Karachi is perfect for ambushes from rooftops and close-quarters combat in cramped corridors. The city ruins create an unpredictable landscape ideal for flanking maneuvers, requiring players to stay vigilant.

Estate (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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A luxurious mansion on a hill overlooking a dense forest, Estate is memorable for its fortifiable interior and surprise attack opportunities in the surrounding woods. Many players recall its effectiveness in campaign mode, where it served as a stronghold.

Dome (Modern Warfare 3, 2011)

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Compact yet lethal, Dome is a ruined military base centered around an abandoned dome. Battles here are lightning-fast, with hostile fire coming from any direction. It's ideal for aggressive play, where reflexes and cover knowledge are crucial.

Favela (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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A densely built Brazilian slum district, Favela is perfect for sudden ambush attacks through narrow corridors, rooftops, and hidden passages. It's a dangerous place where a shotgun can be your best friend.

Express (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Experience rapid-fire shootouts on one of the busiest train platforms with Express. The moving train adds tension and can be a deadly trap for careless players. Strategy, speed, and smart use of cover are key to winning here.

Summit (Black Ops, 2010)

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A snowy mountain base with various routes and tight corridors, Summit requires caution in both open areas and closed-off labs. Watch your step near steep cliffs, as a fall could be fatal.

Highrise (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Set atop a skyscraper, Highrise offers combat through cramped offices and open rooftop areas. It's renowned for hidden approaches that enable sudden attacks and intense sniper duels across the map.

Crash (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)

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An urban map with three main combat lanes, Crash features ruined buildings and narrow alleyways that make every skirmish tense. 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 perfect for ambushes, Standoff offers various fighting styles, from hidden routes to firing down from above. It's cinematic, but remember to reload in time to avoid being caught off guard.

Raid (Black Ops II, 2012)

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A modern mansion in Los Angeles with a pool, marble corridors, and open courtyards, Raid is balanced for both close-quarters combat and longer-range shootouts. The high-paced action here appeals to players of all skill levels, making it one of the best maps in the series.

Hijacked (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Set on a luxury yacht, Hijacked turns the deck, cabins, and every corridor into a battleground. Its small space and limited cover result in maximum adrenaline, making every encounter intense.

Shipment (Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 2007)

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A tiny, square map with chaotic firefights among shipping containers, Shipment is a paradise for shotguns and close-range weapons. It's complete anarchy across three lanes, where you can easily rack up killstreaks or get killed instantly.

Firing Range (Black Ops, 2010)

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A military training ground perfect for mid-range battles, Firing Range offers multiple elevation levels, small buildings, and long open areas. It's ideal for any type of weapon and playstyle.

Terminal (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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An airport blending spacious terminals, narrow corridors, and an open tarmac, Terminal allows for ambushes, vantage point control, and close-quarters combat on the airplane. Keep the enemy in your sights and avoid rushing blindly toward your objective.

Rust (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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A miniature desert map with an oil rig at its center, Rust offers tight, vertically oriented gameplay. Perfect for one-on-one duels and intense firefights, there's no time for second thoughts as combat starts immediately.

Nuketown (Black Ops, 2010)

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A small yet incredibly dynamic map, Nuketown has become a hallmark of the series. With two symmetrical streets, a couple of houses, and some backyards, it's ideal for high-speed skirmishes. The limited space forces constant movement and readiness, with the added thrill of a potential nuclear explosion.

These 30 maps have left an indelible mark on millions of players, becoming timeless classics in the Call of Duty universe. Each map offers something unique, whether it's frantic close-quarters action, tactical fights in open terrain, or a blend of both. No matter your preferred playstyle, you're sure to find the perfect battleground on this list.