10 Best Multiplayer Maps In Call Of Duty: Black Ops History

Treyarch’s Call of Duty: Black Ops series—a collection of four titles themselves a part of a much more expansive gaming franchise—is often heralded as an FPS pinnacle amid a sea of wannabe titles.

While Activision has been steadily bleeding these games dry for well over a decade, this subseries has always carried with it a certain amount of ethos. Entries like Ghosts or Infinite Warfare may have come across as cash grabs, but these titles genuinely feel warranted.

While Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare games have contributed a fair amount of amazing multiplayer maps, it’s tough to beat the often dynamic, memorable arenas Treyarch have introduced over the past nine-odd years. From the rough-yet-vibrant streets of Black Ops 2’s Slums to the high-flying action of Black Ops 3’s Redwood, some of these maps simply have no equal.

Treyarch is currently in the middle of Black Ops 4’s DLC season, and they’re busy dishing out content in ways new to the franchise. While the community continues to postulate on what could be head their way in the future, let’s take a look at the best multiplayer maps the Black Ops series has ever hosted (though there's nearly too many to count).

A launch map for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Contraband is easily one of the best looking multiplayer arenas ever released under the CoD banner. Featuring both a lush jungle section and a beautiful run of ruins set atop some pristine, vibrant turquoise water, Contraband is an absolute feast for the eyes.

While it’s yet another variation on Treyarch’s tried-and-true three lane setup, the map features just enough variation to remain interesting during the ten to twenty minutes it takes to play through a match. While certain sight lines near the bridge in the center of the map can be a headache, it’s definitely an enjoyable locale.

A mid-sized map, Contraband is sizable enough to accommodate almost all modes and styles of play. Hardpoint is typically a little weird here, though the placement of the B flag in domination always makes for some hectic gameplay.

It isn’t a universally beloved map—few are, of course—but it was a standout among Bo4’s anemic launch lineup. The much-hated advanced movement mechanics may be gone, but that doesn’t mean that multiplayer map design has necessarily improved, and there are a good number of duds packed on the disc.