8 Best Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Maps

With the most realistic graphics we’ve ever seen in a Call of Duty, weapons that kickback when you fire them, and new movement mechanics, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is the most realistic Call of Duty we’ve ever seen. However, one of the main critiques centers around some of the maps designs. With rather large maps meant for Ground War maps, some players think it’s become too excessive, while others are content with the maps. Either way, maps design is perhaps the most important part of any FPS. So, what are the best maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare?

Here are our eight best maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare:

1. Shoot House

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Shoot House was one of the multiplayer maps that was added during the early patches in the Modern Warfare cycle. The map quickly became one of the go-to maps for players seeking an online game, and it was often featured in the 24/7 playlists.

The map even warranted a blog post about the design elements that were involved in making the map. You can check out the blog post here, but below are some keynotes about Shoot House:

Shoot House spoke to Call of Duty® 4: Modern Warfare®’s map, Shipment. We think Shoot House falls in that vein of map, but it’s bigger and may require more strategy.

Shoot House is a training facility set in an undisclosed location. It’s owned and operated by a third party, so any faction or country can use it.

2. Crash

Activision Publishing, Inc.

The classic map that was originally introduced during Call of Duty Modern Warfare made its way back into the game during one of the mid-season updates. Crash has always been a fan favorite when it comes to maps, and this version is no exception.

Remastered for modern day hardware, the map itself is gorgeous. Infinity Ward did a fantastic job at recreating the map. If you’re looking to play a classic map in the game, look no further than Crash!

3. Hackney Yard

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Showcased as one of the original Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Beta maps, Hackney Yard is the classic three-lane style of map that Call of Duty players has been accustomed to in previous games. The three-lane system is where the map has three distinct lanes that players will typically follow as they play out the map. This makes for equal action throughout the map while maintaining a steady flow of movement.

Players have been considering Hackney Yard to be one of their favorite maps so far. The primary reason is that Hackney Yard is relatively smaller in size compared to the other maps in Modern Warfare.

From its traditional design to its well-thought-out cover and building placement, Hackney Yard has made every game mode enjoyable to play and has become the go-to map for players across the world. It’s a classic Call of Duty map that should keep players entertained for months to come.

4. Hovec Sawmill

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Hovec Sawmill is the newest map to be featured on our list. The map was added into Modern Warfare during Season 3 in April of 2020. The map has a beautiful design. It’s based around an isolated Sawmill that was once populated but is now filled with chaos.

The map has plenty of cover angles, and features some great points of interest if you’re playing certain game modes in Modern Warfare. The Call of Duty blog posted some intel regarding the map:

Hovec Sawmill is an oasis within the war-torn territory of Al-Qatala, specifically in Kastovia, 14 klicks outside of Venskaya and in the same country as Verdansk.

Here, its villagers lived simple lives, working and shopping at the local butchery, an organic veggie farm, and the beekeeper’s area. In fact, if it were not for the successful logging industry, this village would be known for its delicious honey, which is stacked in crates and was ready to be shipped out across Eastern Europe.

However, the focal point for this village is the Sawmill, where workers harvest the forest surrounding them to export lumber for a variety of industries.

Unfortunately, this peaceful village went under siege; during this time, the Sawmill caught fire, partially collapsing and still smoking from the remaining embers. Both the Allegiance’s 12th Spetsnaz Brigade and the Coalition’s Delta Detachment of the SAS forces.

5. Aniyah Palace 

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Let’s look at one of the more Battlefield-esque style maps in Modern Warfare — Aniyah Palace. It’s one of the largest 10v10 multiplayer maps in the game, and it’s centered around this once astonishing palace that seems to be destroyed from warfare. The action on this map is primarily found in or around the palace that’s nestled at the map’s center.

6. Grazna Raid

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Grazna Raid is another map that was a star in the COD Modern Warfare Beta. While Grazna Raid has a similar style to the traditional Call of Duty maps, its size makes it unique. It somewhat has three lanes of action throughout the match. However, the center of the map where all of the destroyed buildings lay is where players can find most of their enemies. Grazna Raid features multiple headshot angles for players to spot up. It also has numerous corridors for close-range engagements depending on the game mode.

7. Gun Runner

Activision Publishing, Inc.

The final map on this list is another map that was present in the COD MW beta. Gun Runner is set in what looks like a once oil mining complex that was turned into a battlefield. This map blends the perfect mix of buildings for close-range engagements and long-distance ones, with the railyard on one half of the map and the forest area on one of the other sides. 

Here’s another feature that makes Gun Runner one of the best Call of Duty: Modern Warfare maps so far: like most of the maps on this list, it adopts the three-lane feature that’s become synonymous with Call of Duty fans. 

Gun Runner has also been one of the best maps for objective-based game modes, such as Domination or Headquarters. As for some of the map being so tight-knit, it makes for amazing action surrounding some of these objectives.

8. Piccadilly

Activision Publishing, Inc.

Set in the United Kingdom, Piccadilly is also one of the smaller multiplayer maps in the game, and it’s the star of the second campaign mission in Modern Warfare. The map is designed around a shopping district and features multiple buildings off to the sides of the map, all of which have numerous stories and windows. All of these buildings are fixated around the double-decker buses that the UK is well known for. Although you can’t get into any of these buses while playing, they offer fantastic cover for players to avoid the pesky enemies in the buildings.

Piccadilly is one of the darker maps in multiplayer. It doesn’t have a day or night version like some of the other maps on this list. However, the setting and attention to detail around this map are some of the best in the game.

Which map is the best?

It all comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. Some players have been enjoying the larger scaled maps because they offer some unique dynamics to the gameplay, as opposed to the ultra intensive gameplay from the previous Call of Duty games. Other players are so accustomed to this playstyle that it’s hard to play more laid back like you would while playing Battlefield.

What are your favorite Call of Duty: Modern Warfare maps so far?

Let us know in the comments section below!

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Top image via Activision

This article was written by Nick Farrell, an experienced journalist who aims to provide insightful and proactive articles daily.