Top 30 Call of Duty Maps: A Legendary Series Retrospective

Call of Duty has not only become a cultural phenomenon but has also set the benchmark for online arcade shooters over the last 20 years. With an extensive array of maps that have hosted countless intense battles each season, we've curated a list of the top 30 maps in the franchise's history. Join us as we 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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Set amidst the Bulgarian mountains, Payback features a multi-level mansion that's perfect for intense firefights and diverse gameplay. Despite its compact size, the map balances well for various playstyles. Its intricate architecture allows for both setting up ambushes and skillfully evading them, often by making a daring jump out of a window.

Ocean Drive (Black Ops 6, 2024)

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Inspired by the iconic action films of the 80s, Ocean Drive is a battleground of luxurious hotels and flashy cars. The map's design, with its contrast between spacious streets and cramped interiors, makes it versatile for different game modes, offering players a rich and dynamic combat experience.

Crown Raceway (Modern Warfare II, 2022)

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Crown Raceway transforms into a high-speed arena among garages, stands, and pit-stop areas. As soon as the match begins, the environment becomes a blood-soaked racetrack, accompanied by the sounds of racing cars. This map's unique design and dynamic combat ensure that even the most skilled players will find their kill/death ratio tested.

Moscow (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)

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Moscow captures the essence of Cold War-era Soviet capital, filled with hidden threats. The map features massive concrete buildings, luxurious marble halls, and metro stations where intense clashes occur. From narrow alleys to spacious boulevards and government complexes, Moscow offers a balanced mix of tactical and aggressive gameplay.

Farm 18 (Modern Warfare II, 2022)

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Hidden in a dense forest, Farm 18 is an abandoned military training base. The central concrete training ground becomes a fierce battleground once the match starts, surrounded by partially destroyed buildings and narrow corridors. This map is a haven for assault players looking for strategic advantages.

Miami (Black Ops Cold War, 2020)

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Miami immerses players in the vibrant atmosphere of the 1980s criminal underworld, with neon signs, nightclubs, and palm trees. The map's design, combining narrow streets and wide boulevards, accommodates various tactics, making it a versatile choice for players.

Ardennes Forest (WWII, 2017)

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Ardennes Forest transports players to the heart of one of World War II's fiercest battles, with snowy forests, trenches, and blazing ruins. The map's well-thought-out symmetry leads to brutal engagements where every step can be perilous.

London Docks (WWII, 2017)

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Set in wartime London, London Docks features dark alleys, wet cobblestones, and industrial architecture. The map's details, from narrow alleys perfect for ambushes to spacious warehouses and vantage points at the docks, create a grim yet tactical atmosphere.

Turbine (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Turbine spans across canyons, offering a mix of vertical gameplay, open spaces, and hidden routes for tactical flanking. The central broken turbine can serve as both cover and a trap, making it a critical point for strategic play.

Plaza (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Plaza introduces players to a futuristic metropolis filled with upscale clubs, glowing signs, and narrow alleys. Its architecture provides potential cover at every corner, while stairs, balconies, and glass storefronts add variety to the gameplay, making it a visually stunning and tactically rich map.

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

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Overgrown is an abandoned village with ruined buildings and excellent sniper positions, ideal for those who enjoy camping. With elevated spots and watchtowers, it offers a highly tactical environment for both stealth and open engagements.

Meltdown (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Set at a nuclear power plant, Meltdown heats up with intense firefights. The map features strategically important areas and multiple routes leading to them, with the central reactor complex offering a maze of tunnels perfect for close combat and flanking attacks.

Seaside (Black Ops 4, 2018)

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Seaside offers a charming yet dangerous seaside town with cozy squares and treacherous alleyways. The map alternates between open areas for long-range shootouts and narrow lanes for close quarters, ensuring players stay alert amidst stunning views.

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

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Crossfire is set in a city abandoned during a military conflict, with 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 truly skilled.

Karachi (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Karachi features dusty streets and abandoned buildings with a chaotic layout. Rooftops provide excellent spots for ambushes and control, while the lower levels offer cramped corridors and shadowy passages ideal for shotguns. The city's unpredictable landscape demands constant vigilance.

Estate (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Estate is a luxurious mansion on a hill overlooking a dense forest. Players can fortify positions inside the mansion or use the forest's trees for cover and surprise attacks, making it memorable from both multiplayer and campaign modes.

Dome (Modern Warfare 3, 2011)

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Dome is a compact yet lethal map centered around a ruined military base with an abandoned dome. Battles here are fast-paced, requiring quick reflexes, knowledge of cover, and precise timing to succeed in aggressive play.

Favela (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Favela is a densely built Brazilian slum district where danger lurks around every corner. Its narrow corridors, rooftops, and hidden passages make it perfect for sudden ambushes, especially with shotguns.

Express (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Express features rapid-fire shootouts on a busy train platform, with a moving train adding tension and potential traps. This dynamic battlefield rewards strategy, speed, and smart use of cover.

Summit (Black Ops, 2010)

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Summit is a snowy mountain base with various routes and tight corridors. Combat occurs in both open areas and closed-off labs, requiring caution, especially near the steep cliffs above an abyss.

Highrise (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Highrise sets the stage for combat atop a skyscraper, with cramped offices and open rooftop areas. Known for hidden approaches and brutal sniper duels, this map challenges players to master both stealth and direct confrontation.

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

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Crash is an urban map with three main combat lanes, featuring ruined buildings and narrow alleyways for tense skirmishes. The iconic crashed "Black Hawk" at the center evokes strong memories for many players.

Standoff (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Standoff is a classic small town ideal for ambushes, with small buildings and hidden routes. Players can engage in various combat styles, from lying in wait to firing from above, making it a cinematic experience.

Raid (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Raid features a modern Los Angeles mansion with a pool, marble corridors, and open courtyards. Balanced for both close-quarters and long-range combat, the map ensures high-paced action regardless of skill level.

Hijacked (Black Ops II, 2012)

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Hijacked is a luxury yacht where every corridor and deck becomes a battleground. Its small space and limited cover create maximum adrenaline, making it a thrilling map for intense combat.

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

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Shipment is a tiny, square map with chaotic firefights among shipping containers. Ideal for quick killstreaks or instant deaths, it's a paradise for shotguns and close-range weapons, offering complete anarchy across three lanes.

Firing Range (Black Ops, 2010)

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Firing Range is a military training ground perfect for mid-range battles. With multiple elevation levels, small buildings, and long open areas, it caters to various playstyles and weapon types.

Terminal (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Terminal blends spacious airport terminals, narrow corridors, and an open tarmac. Players can set up ambushes, control vantage points, or engage in close-quarters combat on the airplane, requiring constant vigilance.

Rust (Modern Warfare 2, 2009)

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Rust is a miniature desert map with an oil rig at its center, offering tight, vertically oriented gameplay. Perfect for one-on-one duels and intense firefights, combat here starts immediately and continues relentlessly.

Nuketown (Black Ops, 2010)

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Nuketown is a small yet dynamic map that has become a hallmark of the series. With two symmetrical streets, a couple of houses, and backyards, it's an ideal setting for high-speed skirmishes, where players must stay alert and ready for action, with the added thrill of potential nuclear explosions.

These 30 maps have left an indelible mark on the memories of millions of players, becoming classics within the Call of Duty franchise. 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 in this list.