Summary
Call of Dutyis the most famous first-person shooter video game franchise ever. Even those that don’t play are probably familiar with its reputation for approachability and low-stakes and fast-paced combat.
Fans of the franchise who have played most games know that some maps are more exciting than others. Put all the games in theCall of Dutyseries together, and people get a plethora of great maps, some gripping, and some a little disappointing. So for those marathonCall of Dutyplayers, we have collected the best and most exciting maps in allCall of Dutygames.
Updated August 07, 2025, by Jake Fillery:For players looking for thebest Call of Duty maps, look no further. This list compiles some of the greatest across all Call of Duty games, allowing players to see just how the game has evolved, and how each map has a unique flair and level of detail to make it exciting and tense. Thebest COD maps of all timeoften range through different methods of combat, as well as intricate details to keep every match feeling different. Whether it’s the oldest COD, or the latest, maps are integral to the multiplayer experience, and here’s a great amount of fan favorites from across the decades.
Appearances
Many players probably don’t even know what this entry is in reference to. For all the faults thatCall of Duty: Ghostshad, it might be the entry with the most time put into its maps. The level design in Mutiny is reminiscent of the level of detail found in games likeOverwatch, with many small details around the map that are thematically tied to the setting. The inn echoes with the voices of past patrons, while the sounds of dogs barking can be heard from the prison cells.
It’s interesting environmental storytelling, and it’s definitely creepy to walk around in a solo lobby.Call of Duty: Ghostswas also the entry that had Field Orders, granting themed Killstreaks on completion. This meant it was possible to see a player escorted by Ghost Pirates, or have a ship out of harbor barrage the port with cannonballs every so often. While not necessarily cohesive with the main game’s artstyle, Infinity Ward committed when it came to the theming of Mutiny. The map is even part of a literal Easter egg hunt that grants XP to those who can solve it.
“Sin City! Deal out some damage in this fast action shoot’em up.”
Call of Duty: Ghostsis seen as one of the mostunderratedCODgames, and the maps featured definitely deserve some recognition of greatness. Octane puts players deep into the Nevada desert, where they will face off within an abandoned town, filling empty streets and buildings with blood, bullets, and bodies as they face off in a multitude of high-energy game modes like Kill Confirmed.
There’s some creativity here not seen in other maps, as players can blow up the EZEB gas station to create some extra cover, ruining a potential spot for snipers and other nesting players to lay. There is plenty of corner cover and obstacles in the way, allowing players to run cover-to-cover as they seek out targets, bringing intensity to the ongoing warfare.
“A small town in France, great short range combat with lots of cover and many flank routes.”
A beloved classic to many, Carentan exists as one of the bestCall of Dutymaps. It’s a map for veteran players, those who have been around since the very first game to remember how the maps used to be. Carentan has only ever been remade for modern consoles once thanks toWW2, and it still features in all its glory, begging the question as to why this well-designed small French town has not returned.
Players can experience several flank routes thanks to the many walls and buildings, tightly woven together to create a great espionage map for those who adore sprinting around looking for hostiles. The many buildings give plenty of opportunity for surprise attacks, orsniper nests, allowing players to navigate and fight their way throughout.
“Port of Singapore. Good for close quarters engagements and verticality.”
There are many reasons whyBlack Ops 2is seen as one of the bestCODgames of all time, but part of that reason is the intricately designed maps found within this game and no others. It’s strange that maps like Cargo have not been remade for futureCODtitles, especially when one considers the detail of the map itself, where a crane can often move shipping containers and change the layout somewhat, adding a sense of unpredictability to the combat.
The warzone of Cargo is always changing, and players can often fight with independence, whether they likehiding with shotgunsinside small buildings or sniping from a prone position inside a shipping container, there’s a lot going on in Cargo, as well as a lot of ways to die, as cargo containers can and will crush players underneath them.
“Fight on a Battleship at sea near the White Cliffs of Dover.”
The port and the starboard have never felt deadlier than on board the USS Texas, a giant battleship that calls players to action from either side. The ship itself is massive and often rocks due to the unpredictable waves of the water. Players can expect some long-range battles from snipers at either side of the map or intense close-quarter situations within the ship’s interior.
It’s a creative map, and remains a fan favorite, despite its lack of appearances over the franchise’s history. Only appearing in two titles, USS Texas cements itself as one of the best for a good reason, that being the range of attack methods available and in a unique location within the waters.
“Parisian district. Great for Domination and Kill Confirmed.”
Taking place on the streets of Paris, France, players will have an opportunity to get to Europe. The map can be all-out warfare, and the cinematic flair of seeing the Eiffel Tower in the distance visually makes Resistance a great map. The inclusion of multiple buildings, in which players can hold ground, watch for open spaces, and defend their point, makes for an intense playing ground when it comes to warfare.
This map is well-known and featured inModern Warfare 3, and with its medium size, it leaves plenty of room for running and gunning. Players may find themselves battling in the busy streets, or closer to the buildings where they will find more cover. Due to the vehicles around the map, players can set death traps for their opponents,by exploding these vehicles.
“Gondola is back in service… the peak awaits.”
There’s a reason that Summit has appeared across multipleBlack Opstitles. It’s one of the most well-known maps and one of the coldest due to the harsh winter climate. On a snowy mountain research facility, players can expect bullet fire from every angle of this highly engaging map. There’s a lot to explore within this map, including the unique use of the ski lift.
Players can run and jump into the ski lift, where although they may be a sitting duck, they are rather well disguised when prone, allowing them to pick off targets that run past, blissfully unaware. The map itself is mainly comprised of a large open section, with the array building being the main focus of combat, due to the ability to hide within the stairs and server points.
“Tiny Russian shipyard. Fast paced action with no hiding.”
Another highly intenseCall of Dutymap that has returned across multiple games is Shipment. This is by far one of the smallestCall of Dutymaps in Multiplayer, and the match will be over within minutes due to the randomness of the spawns, and the bizarre nature of this hectic map that features quick games, and fast-paced action with a complete lack of hiding and zone positioning.
Shipment has plenty of shipping crates for cover, but considering the map is a glorified box, players will have no way to save themselves from impending gunfire. Perhaps the most useful tip for Shipment is to just accept that death is inevitable within this map, and a shotgun in such close quarters is perhaps the best way to pick up quick kills for this frenzy of a map.
“Los Angeles bullet train station. Good long to medium engagements up and down the bullet.”
Players will find themselves within a Los Angeles terminal for a High-Speed Rail on the Express map. Express was one of the best maps fromBlack Ops 2, and one of the finest, most intense maps for game modes like Search and Destroy. Players can hide within the trains, or fight at medium and long-range distances once inside the train station. There are some intense gunfights waiting for players in Express.
The map layout for Express is like a half-crescent, and it makes for some exciting gameplay. Each match that takes place on Express will differ depending on the players, as there are many different ways to fight each other on Express. Whether it’s keeping the high ground, hiding in trains, or fighting from across train stations, Express is all about advantage and positioning.
“Clock in, streets need another cleaning.”
Another mighty map fromBlack Ops 2is Slums, which takes place in Panama. This is one of the Black Ops franchise’s largest maps, and it deserves recognition for the different types of combat that players can enjoy. This map is for everyone, withplenty of space for close-range fights, medium-range fights, and long-range fights. However, maybe it’s best to avoid the center of the map, as the fountain is usually a hot spot for snipers and other marksman rifles that will surely take the head off the player.
The main spawn points for Slums have players on either side of the map, whether that’s near the laundry mat or the parking lot. These spawn points give players a few seconds to find each other, and perhaps throwing grenades across the map is a good point of combat for this one, since the size of the map can create some alarming and dangerous situations.
