Fans of the Friday the 13th franchise got something they never thought they would: a good official game. Part of Friday the 13th: The Game's success is its ability to meticulously craft various locales seen in the film series.
Camp Crystal Lake is seen almost exactly as it was in the film. The same goes for sequel locations like those seen in Friday the 13th Part II, III, The Final Chapter, and A New Beginning. However, like those films, some are a more enjoyable experience than others.
Pinehurst
Due to the (recently resolved) legal issues surrounding the Friday the 13th franchise, fans will never get to see the Grendel from Jason X. However, they did get Pinehurst Youth Development Center from Friday the 13th Part V: A New Beginning.
The game manages to capture that film's slightly off visual aesthetic (in comparison to the remainder of the series, particularly the four films that preceded it). It's a creepy map that manages to differentiate itself just enough from the similar Camp Crystal Lake. A downside is that it's larger than that map which, like Jarvis House, can lead to some lulls in the gameplay.
Higgins Haven
Higgins Haven is extremely dark, which helps its ambiance considerably, but also can lead to the map feeling far too expansive.
The cabin and barn are a joy to traverse, either as a counselor or Jason, but outside of that are some structures that weren't even featured in the movie (a necessity in these larger maps). Higgins Haven is fun enough, but there's a superior version available. Be it that version or this one, it's particularly fun to either play as (or stalk) Friday the 13th Part III character Shelly Finkelstein.
Packanack Lodge
There's a better version of Packanack Lodge, but the larger version is still fun to play. If playing as a counselor, there are plenty of places to hide. The main house alone is easy to traverse (especially for those who have seen Friday the 13th Part II numerous times) and avoid Jason should the need arise.
If playing as Jason, just be sure to play as one that can swim well. Counselors in Packanack Lodge tend to go right for the lake.
Camp Crystal Lake
The original Friday the 13th ranks so high partially because its setting is so memorable. Thankfully, the game does an excellent job of putting the player right there. However, it misses a key detail (despite being the larger version of the map).
There's an extended scene in the film of Alice barricading herself in the main cabin. It's very memorable and the entire cabin's omission is a shame. Outside that, though, playing Camp Crystal Lake can be like walking through the original 1980 film. That alone makes the game worth a purchase.
Packanack Lodge (Small)
The small version of Friday the 13th Part II's Packanack Lodge is a good starter map for those jumping into Jason's shoes for the first time. Like the other Small maps, it essentially relegates itself to the location's features seen in the movie. This, fortunately, makes it easier for Jason to successfully target the counselors in Friday the 13th: The Game.
There's the lake with the lifeguard tower, there's the main house's massive porch, there's even the cabin where Ginny and Paul bunked. There aren't many superfluous locations seen outside of Part II, which took place in a relatively small area even for the series (besides the scenes where the counselors go to town and drink).
Jarvis House
The Jarvis House ranks high if only for how movie-accurate it is. The home of Tommy & Trish Jarvis (and their mother) is perfectly recreated.
The next-door house, where the teens (including Crispin Glover) briefly partied, is also meticulously recreated. Almost everything seen in the film is in the game, and if playing as Part IV Jason the gamer can effectively recreate Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (with a Part VII sleeping bag kill thrown in for good measure).
Higgins Haven (Small)
It wouldn't be an unpopular Friday the 13th opinion to say that Higgins Haven is an iconic location. Fortunately, the smaller version of it in Friday the 13th: The Game is startlingly accurate in its representation.
The game makers managed to get every detail of Chris Higgins' (parents') cabin. The spiral staircase, the bookshelves, the fireplace where Shelly prods the burning wood before looking right at the camera. Higgins Haven (Small) is just about the most potent nostalgia the game can give fans.
Camp Crystal Lake (Small)
The smaller variation of Camp Crystal Lake in Friday the 13th: The Game is preferable to the larger one in that it cuts superfluous buildings and space.
Camp Crystal Lake (Small) is the best way to play the game for die-hard fans of the series (despite the anachronism of Jason doing the killing in the Jason-free first installment's location). It's a more constrained version of a truly impressive recreation and stands as the best map of Friday the 13th: The Game.