Introduction

Over the years, there have been many maps introduced in the Call of Duty games, including some of the most iconic maps, such as Shipment and Favela. However, with many maps created, there were some maps that were overshadowed by them or slept on by players despite being great.

These maps were chosen based on the number of recognitions by fans, how well they play, and how they aren’t mentioned enough in discussions. This list also considers important elements of map design such as the pacing of the matches and how well these maps are crafted.

Arkaden (Modern Warfare 3)

Starting off with the first map from Modern Warfare 3, Arkaden is a severely underrated map that hasn’t been brought back since then.

What makes this map great is its unique map design that offers brilliant matches. There are a lot of pathways and corners to take without disrupting the quality of the map design. All these factors were masterfully blended and thoughtfully designed by the developers.

Its verticality, along with lots of flank routes, makes the gameplay a lot more rewarding and engaging. Because of the escalators and staircases leading to other areas, this changes up the gameplay by adding more tactical depth and variety. Players can jump from a ledge or perform jump shots if they are using close-quarter weapons.

Not only its verticality makes it great, its design also complements every playstyle, whether someone’s a sniper or sneaking around enemies. There are plenty of long sightlines for snipers and plenty of pathways for shotgun users to sneak up to enemies without being caught far away.

Overall, players enjoy maps that works all kinds of playstyles by not restricting playstyles and having lots of strategic depth.

Bailout (Modern Warfare 2)

Another underrated Call of Duty map is Bailout from Modern Warfare 2. While it is considered a three-lane map, its distinct narrow layout provides its distinct layout along with the several immersive inclusions.

By having this narrower design, the map is a lot tighter with fewer areas to go to, forcing players to engage in combat easily. Players end up fighting throughout the apartments and stores, from one side to the other side of the map. This encourages players to engage in gunfights differently, where it’s not just about jumping from one lane to the next.

Then, it has some inclusions that make this map very immersive. In Bailout, there are inclusions such as the pool sitting outside the condominiums and the parking lot on one side of the map, which has several objects placed. Objects include cars, crates, and a bunch of debris.

This helps make the map more realistic, because they give the impression that people would live here and that this area would exist in real life. The developers put some thoughts on preventing this map from being too obviously a generic three-lane map by placing them asymmetrically.

The map may not have the most depth compared to popular maps such as Favela and Terminal. However, its unique narrow design makes the map deserving of more recognition.

Getaway (Modern Warfare 3)

The original Modern Warfare 3 game has yet another underrated map, which is Getaway. It is a DLC map intended for the Face Off game mode. As for the map itself, there are two factors that make this map amazing, which are its setting and its map design.

With Getaway’s setting not a war-torn city or some factory, it benefits Getaway in standing out from the other MW3 maps. The map takes place at a beach house in Brazil, which is a very luxurious beach house having a magnificent view of the beach.

While players prefer the more realistic settings such as Berlin or New York City, being at a beach house helps make it distinct. It does not take place at some factory or a warehouse in the middle of nowhere, which Call of Duty has a ton of maps set at these types of locations. There is nothing wrong with these locations, but Getaway being at a luxurious beach house helps make it distinct.

For matches, it is perfectly designed for matches with a low number of players, offering plenty of cover and flanking routes. It is a very close quarter focused map, meaning players are highly recommended to use SMGs and shotguns instead of LMGs. While playstyles are restricted, this changes the type of gameplay in this game by pushing players to use close-quarters-type weapons.

Since there is not much cover, this makes the gameplay much more chaotic. Players can expect to find enemies easily and not to be out of the action at any moment. There aren’t any large buildings or barriers to provide much cover. Historically, players love these types of chaotic maps, and Getaway fits in this category for sure.

Its chaotic gameplay taking place at a luxurious beach house it what makes this map beloved by the fans. It is one of the best maps for tight, close-quarters gunfights.

Warhawk (Ghosts)

Warhawk is an underrated Ghosts map that was overshadowed by Ghosts’ terrible maps. Those terrible maps were very large and took forever to find the enemy team, which matches usually ran out of time. Because of those terrible maps, fans ended up overlooking Warhawk and focused on maps such as Chasm or Stonehaven.

While Warhawk does not have an experimental map design such as Arkaden or Bailout, it is a well-designed, three-lane map for many game modes such as TDM or Domination.

The map has a very simple, three-lane layout with its rectangular shape and both teams spawning at both ends. Buildings and other routes, such as the alleys, exist for players to take advantage of to add more depth. These routes add varied encounters, such as for sniping and rushing when using the routes. Thanks to these additions, matches play very well and offer exceptional three-lane map gameplay.

While it is a three-lane map, it is still unique, with the map taking place in some town comprising stores and warehouses. It is possible for players to go a couple of stories high, which adds more to the gameplay by adding more tactics to use. They are also placed asymmetrically, meaning that Warhawk does not have a simplistic layout.

The setting is also great because it is very atmospheric. It is a very post-apocalyptic thematic map because of the buildings on fire, debris everywhere, and its gritty aesthetic. The theme being very gritty really made this map very immersive and atmospheric.

Warhawk might not be very innovative with its map layout, but it still deserves some recognition for being a well-designed, three-lane map.

Overwatch (Modern Warfare 3)

Another Modern Warfare 3 map that deserves a mention is Overwatch, which is also a DLC map. What makes this map very special is that it offers a lot of depth in its design, especially thanks to its unique setting.

The setting takes place on an unfinished construction site on top of a New York City skyscraper, which the developers thankfully had its setting influence the map design beneficially. There are many side routes and areas without railings that players can fall off. There is a central bridge in the middle where players engage. Players also have access to other areas, such as flank routes on the sides and the top level of the map.

This design promotes a lot of multi-directional gunfights, which increases chaos in matches. If players aren’t careful, they can fall off, experiencing instant death. Then, there are lots of side routes and passages for players along with the bridge in the middle of Overwatch.

The bridge offers a sightline for assault rifles, LMGs, and sniper rifles. Since it is in the center of the map, it leads to lots of chaos with players tossing explosives and firing their weapons from both sides.

Asylum (World at War)

Finally, World at War has an underrated map that deserves acknowledgement, which is Asylum. What makes this map underrated is that the more popular maps such as Dome and Seelow overshadowed Asylum because of their excellent design. While those maps are amazing, Asylum deserves more recognition for being an amazing map as well.

Because it takes place in an asylum, its setting influenced the map to have a squarer shape design. This influences players to take a roundabout approach when traversing Asylum because the center of the map is considered a kill zone. In the center of the map, it is almost empty, which players are easily exposed to attack from any direction.

This changes up the flow of the matches, encouraging players to move around the building instead of going outside the building. It offers lots of close quarter engagements and sharp corners, which players will need to watch out for enemy players flanking them. There are crevices and windows placed around the map, which makes the players vulnerable to flanks.

One small Easter egg is that players can become spectators to listen to ominous sounds in a certain section of the Asylum. This really makes the map much more immersive by having these creepy sound effects playing inside of the building and thoughtfully included based on the real-life asylums’ terrible history.

Historically, asylums were for patients who were mentally ill, disabled, and socially undesirable. These patients received inhumane treatment, such as lobotomies, electroshock without anesthesia and physical/sexual abuse by staff. Thanks to asylums and their history, Asylum’s atmosphere was enhanced, making the game much more immersive.

While Dome and Seelow were great maps, Asylum deserves more acknowledgement. Its square shape and many corners turn this into a great map.

Honorable Mentions

While there are many maps that deserve more recognition, it would take a long time to list them all on this blog post. Instead, some of them listed below that deserve honorable mentions:

• Satellite (Black Ops Cold War)

• Diesel (Black Ops Cold War)

• Pipeline (Modern Warfare)

• Freight (Ghosts)

• Seatown (Modern Warfare 3)

• Carrier (Black Ops 2)

What are your thoughts? Any map that should receive more recognition?

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Want to know what are the most iconic Call of Duty maps? Check out the post by clicking here!