When the series first debuted nearly two decades ago in 2003, Call of Duty required no subtitle; a relatively standard FPS romp across World War 2's European Theater inspired by Electronic Arts' Medal of Honor series, it turned heads at the time, but it isn't celebrated as a series highpoint.
That would come with 2007's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. A daring foray into contemporary combat, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare ushered in a new era of military shooters and brought about a new formula for FPS multiplayer tailored specifically to consoles. Of course, the subseries' multiplayer components wouldn't have been nearly as memorable without some excellent maps, and the Modern Warfare games had those in spades.
Resistance
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
A marquee map from 2011's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Resistance was set in war-torn Parisian streets not far from the Eiffel Tower. One of the game's smallest multiplayer battlefields, players would vie for control of apartment interiors and blown-out storefronts, often dual-wielding the ridiculous FMG9s, which were, at close range, incredibly overpowered.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 probably stands among the most ill-remembered Call of Duty titles. Most of its multiplayer maps were sprawling and made for drawn-out firefights, but Resistance was a notable exception. The map also returned in Call of Duty: WWII, though the name was changed to Occupation.
Hackney Yard
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
After audience reception to Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 was relatively lukewarm, Activision and Infinity Ward switched gears and brought about a new era for the franchise in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. Something of a soft reboot of the subseries, the 2019 title took a slightly more grounded approach to multiplayer gameplay while introducing new movement mechanics and demanding more tactical play.
That said, Hackney Yard, one of the eight all-new maps to debut during the game's launch, had a very classic, fast-paced feel to it. One of the entry's most popular offerings, Hackney Yard was eventually ported to Call of Duty Mobile, as well.
Highrise
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Set across a series of skyscrapers, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's Highrise map sees two factions spawn in office buildings facing opposite one other and battle for an under-construction middle ground. Replete with lower tunnels perfect for players hoping to flank the enemy and a selection of supreme sniper sight lines, Highrise was among the best in the Modern Warfare 2 base game.
Highrise is probably best remembered for its ridiculous vantage points that allowed for unreal quick-scoping shots and throwing-knife tricks.
Dome
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Located at the site of an abandoned Cold War-era radio command bunker, Dome was the smallest map in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's multiplayer lineup, and it almost always guaranteed a hectic match regardless of game mode. Notably featuring a bombed-out bunker, a derelict command center, and a radio tower, Dome had plenty of interesting sightlines for savvy players, and it was a haven for those who preferred to run-and-gun with shotguns and SMGs.
Dome was among Modern Warfare 3's most well-received maps, and it was later reintroduced to Call of Duty: Vanguard, this time named Radar.
Shoot House
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
One of the first post-launch maps to be introduced to the Modern Warfare 2019 lineup, Shoot House was, in a way, the reboot's take on its predecessor's notorious Shipment map. Ridiculously tight and unbelievably fast-paced, Shoot House demanded expert reaction times and a quick trigger finger in order to outgun the many 725-sporting opponents.
Despite its small size, Shoot House went down as one of the most acclaimed multiplayer maps in Modern Warfare, and there's a significant chance that it could reappear in 2022's Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Vacant
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Taking place on a portion of an abandoned military base, teams battle across tight hallways and open corridors in order to establish supremacy in one of the original Modern Warfare's most legendary maps. Gritty and overgrown, Vacant had something of a post-apocalyptic atmosphere, though the frequent chaotic engagements on the mid-sized map meant none could spare time to admire the scenery.
So beloved was Modern Warfare's Vacant that it reappeared in 2019's pseudo-reboot, and it was also added to the free-to-play venture Call of Duty: Mobile in 2021.
Terminal
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
A sniper's haven replete with several long sightlines, a notorious stretch of hallway, and a central structure that provided an excellent vantage over much of the map, Terminal was always guaranteed to garner most of the votes in Modern Warfare 2 multiplayer lobbies.
Perfectly suited for just about every game mode, Terminal was a fan favorite at the time of Modern Warfare 2's release, but its legacy continues to endure, as it was reintroduced in Modern Warfare 3, Infinite Warfare, and Call of Duty: Mobile.
Shipment
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
One of the most controversial Call of Duty maps in series history, Shipment was taken as something of a joke when it first debuted in Modern Warfare. While it was excellent for the title's one-on-one Cage Match mode, it made for six-on-six matches so chaotic as to be essentially unplayable. Mowing down multiple enemies with a single clip wasn't unthinkable, and it was entirely possible to earn a six-man feed with a single grenade launcher round.
Frustrating as it could be, the map was undeniably memorable, and it returned in more than a few Call of Duty titles, Vanguard and Call of Duty: Mobile being two recent examples.
Crash
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
A quintessential Call of Duty three-lane map, Modern Warfare's Crash saw players engage in firefights in the close-quarters streets of a Middle Eastern city. The focal point of the map was a downed helicopter in the central courtyard, though supremacy was also often decided by those who controlled the nearby three-story building.
Catering to most play styles and modes, most Modern Warfare players would likely argue in favor of the map being a top-five for the subseries. Appearing in multiple Call of Duty games, Crash established a blueprint from which modern Call of Duty maps still draw.
Rust
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The ultimate one-on-one map, Rust was perhaps the most memorable of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2's assortment of multiplayer maps. Extremely small yet very open, players battled for a central structure and scrambled to get out of their opponent's line of sight when in any of the maps' many vulnerable points.
A fan favorite on the short list of the best Call of Duty maps of all time, Rust is a classic that has since returned in multiple Call of Duty titles including the 2019 incarnation of Modern Warfare.