Call of Duty is one of the most popular and successful video game franchises in history. The first person shooter is extremely fun, addictive and features a new installment every year. One of the features that people look forward to in each new game are the new multiplayer maps. A great map can make a game that much better and a bad map can lessen the reputation of an otherwise great game. Throughout the history of Call of Duty there have been a boat load of brilliant maps and this article will look at the 10 we feel are the best. Of course, there are some great maps that had to be left off this list, so we apologize if your favorite didn’t make the cut.
10. Bog in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
This map, like many others on this list will be, is among the most unique offerings in the entire Call of Duty franchise. First of all, not many Call of Duty maps are set at night, and of the ones that are, “Bog” stands at the top of that mountain. The field is small, but looks vast and is filled with tanks and buses used for cover that provides really fun and all-around gameplay that can favour both snipers and those who like to flank. It is also one of the few maps in Call of Duty that actually feels like a real war zone and can really put you “in the zone”.
9. Hijacked in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
This is one of the most visually appealing and creative map ideas in Call of Duty history. “Hijacked” is set on a yacht that is in the middle of the ocean and its gorgeous. The map is fairly fast paced, but it doesn’t have the common problem in most fast paced maps — that you die a second after respawning, which can be extremely annoying. Another thing “Hijacked” does right is that it provides various areas throughout which are suitable for all kinds of weapons from shotguns to snipers. It’s one of those rare examples of a fast paced map where any types of players can find success.
8. Overgrown in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4 introduced this amazing map and Modern Warfare 2 reintroduced it in their first map pack that could be downloaded. Regardless of which version of the map/game you play, Overgrown never ceases to amaze and be a fantastic map that offers something for everybody. Overgrown is one of the larger maps within the Call of Duty franchise, and can fit the preferences of nearly every type of player. The map has long lines of sight for snipers and also offers a river bed that is perfect for being an aggressive player and rushing your opponent.
7. Firing Range in Call of Duty: Black Ops
This is one of those maps that most people are very happy to see come up in the playlist rotation. “Firing Range” is a great example of how a Call of Duty map can be medium sized and still be action-heavy, while maintaining a use for slow and methodical players. While this map may not be that visually appealing to the eye, it plays better than most maps in Call of Duty and is very fair and balanced, which give it high replayability and a positive reputation. No matter your play style, you can find success and have a great time playing this map.
6. Estate in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
This map appears on the list because it just “works”, if you know what we mean. It flows smoothly and looks organic, but there are plenty of well-designed cover spots and flank routes disguised as vegetation or other things that would be believable in the setting. The estate is perched on a hilltop, the hillside dotted with small buildings and plenty of cover. And with the map being so large, it can have a lot of snipers and campers, but there are enough routes to sneak up behind anyone so that even those run n’ gunners can have success.
5. Highrise in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
“Highrise” is usually a snipers’ playground. This map is set on the roof of a skyscraper, and any wrong step could lead to your death through the scope of a sniper. In fact, the very moment you spawn there’s a line of site that leads to the other teams’ spawn, which has made for a ton of multi kills. It can be annoying, since you could be sniped two seconds into the round, which means there is no time to mess around. The map itself is great, but what sets it apart are the many secret areas you can reach. There are cranes you can jump on outside the map, and there are high floors on the buildings found on each of the two sides of the map which you can reach using secret ways, which not a ton of people know about or know how to get to.
4. Terminal in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Despite being infested with campers at almost every corner, this is still a very high quality and fun map to play. It is one of the more interesting map settings, as it takes place at an airport terminal. It has both long sights for the snipers and short close quarters paths for those run n’ gunners. While the map is okay for modes like Team Deathmatch and Free for All, where “Terminal” really shines is in objective game modes like Domination or Search and Destroy. All-in-all, the map combines a great setting with varied gameplay, which is why it comes in at No. 4 on this list.
3. Nuketown in Call of Duty: Black Ops
This is just one of the maps. You either love “Nuketown” or you hate it. It can only be one or the other. The map is set in an old nuclear testing facility in Nevada and is extremely small, which makes the action very high paced and dangerous regardless of your position on the map. It can be somewhat annoying, as you often die seconds after spawning. Also, the bright and colorful color scheme of the map is a great change of pace from the rest of the game, which is usually filled with browns and greys. If you want a quick, high action, and close quartered battle, “Nuketown” should be one of your go to choices! It’s such a favorite map that it has been recreated in both of the Black Ops sequels.
2. Rust in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
This is one of the quintessential 1v1 maps in the history of Call of Duty. Although “Rust” is one of the smallest maps in the entire Call of Duty franchise and is laid out fairly simply, it is also a fan favourite. Due to its unique layout of mainly ground fighting with one high central tower, snipers and campers thoroughly enjoyed this map, as they picked off their enemies from that huge tower. If the action got too frantic, the small tin shack and the burning truck made for excellent cover from the mayhem that was occurring all around you. This map was probably some of the most fun we’ve ever had playing the Call of Duty franchise.
1. Crash in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
And finally, we have come to the greatest and best Call of Duty map of all time. “Crash” is iconic in the series and is basically the perfect size for all game types, with a great sense of “levels” to it, ranging from the various multi-level buildings and smaller, confined spaces throughout. This map added an element of depth to the franchise as it forced players to adapt to various vantage points, flank routes, head glitches and camping spots. It truly was a masterpiece that tested the will and fortitude of any gamer who played it.
