Ranking the Best Call of Duty Multiplayer Maps of All Time

Published 05/24/2021, 3:48 AM EDT

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Over the past two decades, the Call of Duty series has delivered multiple blockbuster titles that have kept fans glued to their screens and longing for more. Call of Duty has set the benchmark and elevated the standard for the FPS genre to establish itself as one of the most popular and successful video game franchises.

The campaign missions have featured gripping storylines ranging from World War and Cold War history to futuristic combat in modern and sci-fi worlds. On the other hand, the multiplayer aspect has taken players to battle in some of the most iconic locales ever seen in a video game.

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We have seen developers like Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, and Raven Software working alongside Activision to create a host of diverse settings for 17 different games. Each new release brought with it a ton of multiplayer maps, and to this day, there have been hundreds of them.

While each map comes with a unique setting, combat style, and gameplay experience, some have been incredible and more exciting than the rest. In this article, we countdown our top ten picks for the greatest multiplayer maps seen in Call of Duty games.

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10 of the best Call of Duty multiplayer maps

10. Crossfire

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was riddled with some classic maps and Crossfire is certainly among the most popular. Thanks to the design of this map, it is a proper fit for different game modes and playstyles. The map features plenty of buildings, meaning players could take an offensive approach by working their way through them and taking down enemies with a shotgun in the process.

via Imago

Crossfire also houses a wide-open area between the two two-story buildings on either side of the central street. This complements assault rifle and sniper classes and makes for some rather interesting gun battles. Even players for whom sniping isn’t their forte, tend to give it a go on this gem of a map.

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9. Summit

Call of Duty: Black Ops rejuvenated the franchise in a big way by delivering some of the most memorable maps of the entire series. Summit is certainly one such map and it takes place at a research facility resting on top of a mountain. The snowy environment and terrain provide a breath of fresh air after the numerous city-based locales of previous titles.

via Imago

Despite being a narrow map, Summit features plenty of strategic pathways and hiding spaces along with a wide variety of buildings. The interior of the large building in the center is the most notable as this is where most of the action goes down.

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8. Rust

Rust from Modern Warfare 2 has been a fan favorite and the reasons are pretty obvious. The map is based in an oil yard in the middle of a desert, thus making for a unique setting. It also supports a wide variety of play styles. Players can contest for gaining control of the tall tower, which is a fantastic spot for snipers. Otherwise, they can traverse through the tunnels beneath that are ideal for ambushing and making stealthy plays.

via Imago

Due to the extremely small size of the map, very few camping spots are present. This contributes to a free-flowing match even though the potential for spawn killing and explosive spamming is not everyone’s cup of tea. That said, Rust has gained widespread notoriety for hosting 1v1 fights.

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7. Raid

Raid from CoD: Black Ops 2 is definitely a map for those who like to get up close and personal with the enemy. Set in a luxuriously large mansion in Hollywood Hills, this map largely focuses on close-quarters engagements, making shotguns and SMGs the ideal choice of weaponry.

via Imago

However, it doesn’t completely render snipers and other mid-to-long range weapons ineffective. There are a few somewhat open areas and longer lanes to take advantage of such weapons. Raid has become one of the signature CoD maps due to the chaos and hecticness it has to offer in combat.

6. Firing Range

Next, we have another classic map from Black Ops and it is Firing Range. Ideal for close-to mid-range engagements, this map takes players to a military training facility in Cuba and revolves around fast-paced gameplay, which is ideal for the offensive mindset. It features much more close-quarter areas such as the hotly contested wooden house.

via Imago

Long-range weapons are difficult to use due to the enclosed nature of the map. However, that doesn’t mean Firing Range doesn’t favor defensive strategies. The tower in the middle makes for a viable camping spot and claymores come highly recommended to prevent enemies from rushing. Overall, Firing Range has something to offer for everybody, although snipers might feel a bit left out.

5. Highrise

Much like the other maps in Modern Warfare 2, Highrise has a unique feel to it and a variety of play styles to offer. It is a fairly sized map located on top of a huge skyscraper, which makes for a pretty original setting.

via Imago

Highrise features two office buildings on opposite sides with lots of open spaces in between. An elevated helipad sits in the center and the rest of the spaces consists of generators and an underground tunnel system that allows for easy navigation. While SMGs and shotguns are great for fighting around the office areas, ARs are more suitable for combat in the open lanes.

Besides, this map is a sniper’s paradise due to the numerous intricate sniping angles and vantage points one can hold to look over almost the entirety of the locale. It’s quite clearly evident why Highrise is one of the fan-favorite Call of Duty maps.

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4. Crash

Yet another masterpiece from the first Modern Warfare title is Crash. Set in a war-torn Middle Eastern city, the map is relatively small and revolves around a crashed helicopter. While this is where a majority of the action goes down, the map also contains many narrow corridors and building interiors.

via Imago

As a result, it favors camping and defensive strategies. Alternatively, the high rooftops and open spaces are great for snipers. The variety this map brings and the fact that certain scorestreaks are rendered ineffective due to the high availability of cover, meaning players have to rely on their gunplay, is what makes Crash stand out.

3. Nuketown

Since being featured in Black Ops, Nuketown has been remade and repurposed for many of the subsequent titles in the series. So much so that it has become one of the iconic Call of Duty locales. The map utilizes the setting of a typical 1950’s US suburb and is among the smallest maps in the franchise.

via Imago

Nuketown is pretty symmetrical with two double-storied houses, each with a garage and a backyard. A few different vehicles constitute the middle section of the map and the signature mannequins are scattered throughout. The gameplay has some variety to it as players can run and gun with automatic weapons or camp on the upper floors with sniper rifles.

A popular feature of this map is the nuclear explosion that occurs during the scoreboard sequence. This makes Nuketown one of the series’ most prominent maps.

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2. Hijacked

A reason why Hijacked from Black Ops is so incredibly fun to play is that the map takes place on an enormous yacht in the ocean. This map is relatively small and features some sharp corners and compact spaces that allow for intense close-range fights to go down.

via Imago

There are two multi-leveled main buildings on opposite ends of the deck with corridors on either side of the yacht. As a result, holding a line of sight on the enemy and taking them down with longer-ranged weapons is also a good possibility. The underground pathway passing through the engine room allows players to rotate to the other end of the map rather stealthily unless the enemy also has the same plan.

Overall, Hijacked is one of the most creative and aesthetically appealing CoD maps simply because of the unique setting it takes place in.

1. Terminal

Ever since its release with Modern Warfare 2, Terminal has become a hallmark for the franchise. The map received a remake for Modern Warfare 3 and then returned as a pre-order bonus for Infinite Warfare.

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via Imago

Based on an airport terminal, the indoor section features a lot of luggage, security checkpoints, and miniature shops. Meanwhile, the outside area features cargo and a stationed passenger plane on the runway, which is completely accessible. There are plenty of small areas, an abundance of cover, and a handful of vantage points for snipers to take advantage of.

The map is relatively large, making it suitable for a variety of playstyles. All in all, the map is truly a timeless classic and it’s suffice to say fans love themselves some intense action on Terminal.

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Ten is a tiny number to include the astounding amount of remarkable locales seen within the Call of Duty franchise. Therefore, we ask you, which CoD multiplayer maps are among your favorites thus far? Let us know in the comments below.

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Written by:

Souhardya Biswas

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Souhardya Biswas is an eSports writer for EssentiallySports. He joined the organisation in 2020, wanting to explore the sphere of professional eSports journalism. His passion for gaming started with titles like GTA San Andreas, Far Cry 2, Modern Warfare 2, FIFA 09, eventually developing an interest in Battle Royale games like PUBG and Apex Legends.
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