Strangest Maps In Call Of Duty

Call of Duty takes players across a wide range of settings, from the historical battlefields of World War II to the modern era. With each title exploring both fictional and historical conflicts, it’s only natural that the series also features a diverse roster of maps for players to play on.

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Call of Duty offers a variety of battlegrounds, from large-scale Battle Royale maps to smaller, more confined Multiplayer arenas. While many maps fit seamlessly into the game they’re featured in, some stand out as particularly unusual. With that in mind, here are some of the strangest maps in the Call of Duty franchise.

8

Wasteland

Open Multiplayer Battlefield From Modern Warfare 3

Kickstarting this list is Wasteland, a map that many might not necessarily consider strange. After all, it originally debuted as Wasteland in Modern Warfare 2 after previously being known as Brecourt. The map itself generally fits with the overall theme of Modern Warfare 2, serving as a war-torn battlefield complete with trenches and a bunker. However, there are a few factors that make this map unusual.

To start, the overall layout is pretty unconventional, with a large mound dividing the map down the middle. This mound houses the central bunker, an area designed primarily for close-quarters combat. In contrast, the rest of the map is vast and open, offering minimal cover aside from grass, trees, and a few destroyed vehicles, making it a haven for Snipers. Pair all this with the map’s grim color palette and its Chornobyl setting amidst the aftermath of a nuclear disaster, and players are left with a rather unsettling battleground to fight on.

7

Ruins

Predator-Themed Jungle Multiplayer Map From Ghosts

Next up is Ruins, a Core Multiplayer map that arrived alongside Behemoth, Collision, and Unearthed as part of Devastation—the second major DLC for Call of Duty: Ghosts. The map takes place in the ruins of a Mayan temple, surrounded by a mountaintop jungle. While this location is certainly unique, what truly sets Ruins apart from most other maps in the Call of Duty franchise is its inclusion of a unique crossover.

Ruins features two exclusive Field Order rewards, which function as mini-challenges that can be completed during a match. The first possible reward triggered a volcanic eruption, sending debris onto the map with the potential to eliminate players. The second allowed players to become the iconic Predator, complete with wrist-blades for melee combat, a Plasma Caster, semi-invisibility, and increased health. As far as Call of Duty maps go, Ruins was truly a standout map, making it one of the most unique maps to ever debut in the franchise.

6

Scrap

Lunar Scapyard Multiplayer Map From Infinite Warfare

Heading to the moon might be one of the most outlandish settings in Call of Duty, but surprisingly, it has happened twice. The first instance was the aptly named Zombies map, Moon, while the second was the Infinite Warfare Multiplayer map, Scrap. Scrap arrived in Infinite Warfare with the Continuum DLC, and while the moon itself isn’t the most unusual setting for a game that literally takes place in space, what makes it strange is that the map is nothing more than a scrapyard rather than a futuristic, high-tech moon base.

The setting isn’t the only thing that makes this map peculiar, though. One unique gameplay feature that sets Scrap apart is the various large magnets scattered throughout the map. If players pass underneath them, the magnets pull them upward, flipping them upside down. This mechanic is jarring, to say the least, but it adds an exciting way to throw off opponents during a match, leading to some seriously epic moments.

5

Turista

Sticking with Infinite Warfare maps with Turista, a Multiplayer map that arrived alongside Scrap with the debut of the Continuum DLC. While Scrap was already unusual, Turista takes things even further. The map is set in a luxurious holiday resort, which may or may not be located on a terraformed Mars. It is surrounded by a vast ocean and dense, jungle-like flora—but that’s far from the strangest part.

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What truly sets Turista apart is that it’s built near the skeleton of a massive creature, with its head visible in the distance. In Call of Duty, the existence of aliens is typically reserved for both the Zombies and Extinction modes, so seeing one featured in a Multiplayer map is both an epic and bizarre addition, to say the least.

4

Infection

Mind-Bending Multiplayer Map From Black Ops 3

In-universe, Black Ops 3’s Multiplayer takes place within a combat simulation, where the game’s roster of Specialists put their skills to the test before real deployment. This premise allows for some seriously wacky map designs, and while Infection isn’t the only strange Black Ops 3 map on this list, it may be the most mind-bending for one particular reason.

Infection is set on a World War II battlefield, though there is some debate over whether it takes place in France or Belgium, as the map’s description and various in-game assets suggest both locations. Regardless, its historical setting feels out of place in a futuristic title like Black Ops 3. However, what makes Infection truly bizarre is the second battlefield attached to it—one that has been completely flipped on its head, resembling a scene straight out of Inception. This ‘wall,’ as some refer to it, is the map Carentan from the original Call of Duty, serving as a neat Easter egg for longtime fans of the series.

3

Outlaw

Standoff Reimagined For Black Ops 3

Continuing the trend of wacky Black Ops 3 maps is Outlaw, which debuted with the Salvation DLC. Outlaw is essentially a reimagining of Standoff from Black Ops 2, but this time set in an old Western town, complete with saloons, hay bales, and various other landmarks reminiscent of classic Western films.

The setting of Outlaw is strange, to say the least, which can once again be attributed to Black Ops 3 taking place within a simulation. To add to the weird factor, a steam train periodically races through the center of the map, fully capable of killing any players caught in its path—similar to previous maps like Express from Black Ops 2.

2

Micro

Black Ops 3 Multiplayer Map Taking Place On A Picnic Table

Following Outlaw is Micro, arguably one of the most bizarre Call of Duty maps to date. Micro yet another Multiplayer map introduced in Black Ops 3’s fourth DLC, Salvation. While many of the other maps in the pack were also unconventional for a series that prides itself on being a military first-person shooter, Micro took things to an entirely new level with its rather gimmicky design.

If the name doesn’t give it away, Micro shrinks players down to the size of insects, with the entire map taking place on a picnic table. Players can battle it out among towering cheeseburgers and hot dogs, wall-run across soda bottles, and take cover inside boxes of soda cans. The map also includes some hidden Zombies Easter eggs, as well as interactable ants crawling across the battlefield. With its quirky design and unique setting, Micro stands out as one of the most amusing maps in Call of Duty history—though it may not be the most remembered.

1

Bullet

Single Lane Map From Black Ops 6

Out of all the maps on this list, Bullet from Black Ops 6 may just be the strangest yet. Bullet arrived as part of the Season 2 Reloaded content drop and is a Strike Map designed for Face Off and Gunfight. What makes this map so unusual is that Bullet takes place entirely on a moving train, featuring only a single lane—a massive departure from what players are typically used to in Call of Duty.

With the map consisting of just one lane and the fact that players can move across it incredibly quickly, Bullet may be one of the most chaotic maps in Call of Duty history. However, players aren’t necessarily confined to the train’s interior, as they can also take to the roof for epic, high-speed gunfights. With predictable spawn points and an overall claustrophobic feel, Bullet is an ideal map for camo grinding—but it also cements itself as one of the weirdest maps to date.

Released

October 25, 2024

OpenCritic Rating

Strong