The 15 best Call of Duty multiplayer maps of all time
The Call of Duty series has given us countless memories over the years, for better or worse, and with that, we’re going to take a look at some of the best multiplayer maps in series history.
Ever since its inception in 2003, Activision’s Call of Duty series has been one of the most popular video game properties of all time, releasing on a near-constant yearly basis and topping sales charts year-on-year. This is despite many claiming that CoD is dead, which couldn't be further from the truth. Love it or hate it, Call of Duty is going nowhere.
Call of Duty is known for its over-the-top, Hollywood-esque single-player campaigns, almost the equivalent of an easy-to-watch popcorn movie. However, its multiplayer modes are a different proposition, and unlike much of the single-player campaigns, things can get much more intense, and we’re not just talking about the infamous lobbies.
For many, the Call of Duty multiplayer is the series' bread and butter, and is the sole reason why players pick up the latest game every year. There are well over 500 maps in the mainline series (many of which are variants), which is why we could be here all day discussing which are the best. That being said, let’s give it a go with 15 of the absolute best the series has to offer (in no particular order).
15 of the best Call of Duty multiplayer maps of all time
Raid - Debut: Black Ops II (2012)
We’ve seen three other variants since its debut; the most recent was in Black Ops Cold War (2020). This map offered players three main paths, each offering tactical decision-making catering to close-quarters and long-range combat. It has various entry points across the vertical map, which not only kept players on their toes but also helped them go against those pesky campers, allowing players to surprise attack them from all sides. Raid is high-octane action at its best.
Favela — Debut: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
This is a proper love it or hate it map, and has had three variants since its debut, with the most recent being Modern Warfare III (2023). Favela blended verticality and close-quarters combat to near perfection. This map blessed those who love to run and gun with a shotgun or SMG. It’s fast, frantic, and if you’re skilled/lucky enough, you’d find yourself racking up killstreaks in no time. Favela is pure chaos, which is why it’s remained a fan-favourite for so many years.
Shoot House — Debut: Modern Warfare (2019)
By this series standards, Shoot House is a new map; it’s had two variants since its debut, the most recent being in Modern Warfare II (2022). It’s another fast-paced map that results in close-quarters mayhem. While its elevated and small map design is somewhat more basic, this made the combat feel more free-flowing, with players almost instantly engaging with each fresh respawn.
Carentan — Debut: Call of Duty (2003)
This is an OG of the Call of Duty series and has seen four variants since its inception (not including the BO7 easter egg); the most recent mainline appearance was in Call of Duty: WWII (2017). Long before the days of advanced warfare, Carentan was truly back to basics with its WWII setting. However, while the weapons were basic, this map was surprisingly tactical, offering players many entry points, positions to hold or ambush. It also blended close-quarters and long-range fantastically. This map is a classic, and it would be great to see a variant in Modern Warfare 4.
Nuketown — Debut: Black Ops (2010)
It pretty much goes without saying that Nuketown is probably the most iconic multiplayer map in the series and a standout fan-favourite. Which is why it's the most recurring map by quite a distance, with 11 additional appearances, the latest in Black Ops 7 (2025).
Close combat with some opportunities to hold a brief sniper position. It had a symmetrical layout with each opposing team having essentially the same layout on each side of the condensed cul-de-sac map. Some might feel that Nuketown has long overstayed its welcome, but its easy-to-learn layout and frantic action are a key reason why fans always want more. We won't be seeing the last of this map anytime soon.
Mercado Las Almas — Debut: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Another new map in the series, other than its initial debut, has only reappeared in the Warzone 2.0 map. Despite being quite a small map, it never felt overly cramped, compared to the likes of Shipment. While it’s great for close-quarters combat, there’s also plenty of places to take cover, so you never really feel too exposed. It has a good flow to its action and is one of the most underrated maps on this list.
Rust — Debut: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
This is another fan-favourite on this list and one that is often looked upon favourably; though, saying that, some do dislike its close-combat and vertical approach to the action. Another very much “love it or hate it” kinda map. That being said, since its inception, it's seen five variants, the most recent being in Modern Warfare III (2023). So, given how many times this map has appeared, it’s clearly doing more good than not. It’s a chaotic map, just not quite as chaotic as the bonkers Shipment.
READ MORE: The Best Call of Duty Games Worth Playing Before Modern Warfare 4
Shipment — Debut: Modern Warfare (2007)
We’ve mentioned Shipment a couple of times now, so it's about time it was mentioned officially on this list. After making its debut in 2007, it’s seen seven variants, making it one of the most popular maps of all time, but it also falls into the “love it or hate it” category. Its last mainline appearance was in Modern Warfare III (2023). Arguably, no map in the series better reflects close-quarters, high-octane action quite like Shipment. It’s one of those maps where you’re either going to get killed well into double figures or your kills will go well into double figures. It’s pure madness.
Hijacked — Debut: Black Ops II (2012)
When it comes to the most popular maps of the Black Ops series, Hijacked is right up there with the best of them, which is why it’s had five variants since its debut, the most recent being in Black Ops 7 (2025). Despite its compact map design, it encouraged all sorts of playstyles; whether you get up close and personal or attack from a distance, just about any weapon is fair game in Hijacked. It had three main lanes, vertical opportunities, and plenty of cover. This map pretty much has it all.
Crash — Debut: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
This is one of the standout maps of the original Modern Warfare, and has seen five other variants, the most recent in Modern Warfare III (2023). It has claustrophobic street alleyways, multi-tiered buildings, tight corners and a crashed USMC CH-46 Sea Knight military helicopter as its centrepiece. This, for some reason, attracted players like moths to a flame, making themselves easy targets for the kill. If you worked as a team, this was also an excellent map for control-based objectives.
Das Haus — Debut: Vanguard (2021)
Call of Duty: Vanguard might be one of the least favoured entries in the entire series, but if there’s one thing it did well, it’s the multiplayer modes, and Das Haus is widely considered its best map. It would later appear in a mobile game, as well as a reworked version in Modern Warfare III (2023). Das Haus was great at keeping players on edge with its small map size, fast pace, and close-quarters combat. It also had an unusual festive cheer, with Christmas decorations being left up by the Germans.
Terminal — Debut: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Many would consider Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 as the best game in the series due to its fantastic single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, during what could be considered a golden era for the series. One of its best maps is the airport Terminal, which would later have six variants, the most recent, once again, in Modern Warfare III (2023).
As cliché as it sounds, this map had everything. An iconic location that felt every bit like a deserted airport, with players being able to battle outside on the runway, inside a plane, in a departure lounge, a baggage area, retail stores and more. It encouraged run-and-gun, close-quarters, and long-range tactics. Simply put, Terminal is a G.O.A.T.
Firing Range — Debut: Black Ops (2010)
Despite its competitive nature, there was something oddly comforting about the Firing Range map; perhaps it was because it felt somewhat like a paintball session. It wasn't a complicated map; it encouraged all sorts of playstyles, had lots of hiding spots, as well as plenty of opportunities for those who were constantly on the move. It’s also one of the most distinctive maps in the series, but try not to get distracted by the moving target boards, because otherwise, you’ll become an easy target yourself. Firing Range would later make six more appearances, the last being in Black Ops 7 (2025).
Standoff — Debut: Black Ops II (2012)
Standoff is a map that looks like an ordinary area of any random town, which is probably one of the many reasons it became a fan-favourite, because it felt a little close to home. It had a three-lane core design, buildings to hold, cars to hide behind (just be careful when they explode), it was great for intense machine gun fire, and if you worked as a team, you could hold an area of the map and dominate the entire match, which also made it a great map for objective-based modes. The popularity of Standoff would see it return five more times, most recently, again in Black Ops 7 (2025).
Highrise — Debut: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Another unique map that sets itself apart from most of the others. It perfectly combined close-quarters and long-range combat. The layout is quite simple, with abandoned, multi-level office buildings on either side of the map, connected with a central open space, corridors and a helicopter landing bay. Players also got creative by using cranes that gave them a great sniping position, though on the flip side, they were also very exposed. Some were even able to get on top of the building by using unsavoury means. Highrise would return in five more variants, with its last mainline entry in Modern Warfare II (2023).
Topics: Call Of Duty, Activision, List