When Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 releases in November, it will be launching with all 16 base maps from the classic Call of Duty title that many credit for ushering the series into mainstream popularity, Modern Warfare 2 (2009). Many longtime fans look back on the original Modern Warfare 2 fondly, and for many of them, it was the very first time they got to experience this fast-paced arcade shooter for the very first time. Therefore, when it was announced that the next game in this immensely popular series was going to be remastering the memorable and iconic roster of maps from Modern Warfare 2, it most certainly grabbed people's attention, and for good reason.

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The truth is though, while there was certainly a lot of variety in terms of the original game's maps, not all of them were met with praise by fans, especially some that were a little too big and favored those who enjoyed camping with snipers. Still, though, these shouldn't overshadow the majority of maps that are among some of the best-designed in the entire series which players can't wait to see make a triumphant return in Modern Warfare 3.

7 Sub Base

Sub Base is quite traditional in the way it's designed, featuring the classic 3-lanes that have become synonymous with the series, but it's the amount of verticality that really helps the map stand out. Players have the option to run through into the middle of the map to try and engage in some fierce gunfights on the ground, or they can take a detour to pick enemies off from high up if they're using a weapon that's a little more ideal for long range.

The map did admittedly fall a little flat on objective game modes, especially Domination where it was all too easy to spawn-trap the other team, but hopefully, Sledgehammer introduce a few new shortcuts or pieces of debris and cover in certain spots to solve this. Sub Base is also one of 2 maps featured in the classic Modern Warfare 2 that was based in a snowy environment, so the upgraded visuals and effects will no doubt make it a standout.

6 Skidrow

While there are one or two areas in Skidrow that allow for some mid-range gunfights, the map is primarily all about close-range encounters which really encourages players to pull out their SMGs and shotguns if they want any chance of racking up kills. Most of the fighting in this urban city area will take place through the apartment buildings which are at the center of the map, but since there's a plethora of ways to actually enter the buildings, it presents some great opportunities for flanks and back door tactics.

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Considering that the movement in Modern Warfare 3 has been sped up tremendously, with climbing and sliding being the fastest it's ever been, it's exciting to just think about how frantic and chaotic this map is going to be this time around. Skidrow is definitely one of the more intense and competitive maps to come out of Modern Warfare 2, so players will need to be on their A-game from start to finish if they want to make an impression on the leaderboards.

5 Scrapyard

Scrapyard has become such an iconic map that it even made an appearance in the Warzone battle royale mode, but since it was only a tiny part of a much bigger map in that mode, it made the area feel a little empty. Luckily, this most certainly won't be the case when it returns in all its glory for Modern Warfare 3, with this fairly small map encouraging all kinds of playstyles, thanks to the variation in terrain.

With two buildings situated on each side of the map, anyone who feels like completing some challenges with a marksman rifle or sniper will have a field day picking off enemies from a distance. However, this isn't to say that those who love getting up close and personal also won't enjoy this map as they will be able to duke it out for control over the airplane capsules scattered around the middle. It's hard to imagine this map being more fast-paced than it was in the original, but thanks to Modern Warfare 3's enhanced movement and emphasis on high-speed combat, it's guaranteed to be just as, if not more, fun than it's always been.

4 Afghan

Afghan has always been known as being quite a difficult map to play for anyone who hasn't taken the time to learn it. It's all too easy to run straight into the center next to the crashed plane without realizing that the area is wide open and essentially a hunting ground for everyone else perched upon the cliffs. This does also make it incredibly satisfying to learn though since there are plenty of small hidden shortcuts players can take to quickly navigate their way around the map.

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What also made Afghan such a highlight though was the spawns which is always a matter of contention when it comes to Call of Duty maps. Because each team has plenty of cover protecting them when spawning in, alongside a long runway, that gives them a clear sightline of any enemies, it allows players to breathe a little easier and makes it one of the most fun maps for objective modes.

3 Estate

A map that anyone who has completed the story of Modern Warfare 2 (2009) will know all too well, Estate is actually quite big in size, but the action always centers on one small area of the map, and that's the cabin. Any team who manages to hunker down in the cabin will make themselves prime targets, but they'll also have a great vantage point that they can make use of to have an overview of the entire map.

There was actually somewhat of a modern-day remake of Estate in the latest Modern Warfare 2 (2022) in the form of Pelayo's Lighthouse, but it didn't quite have the same feeling as the original due to how spaced out it was, and the night-time setting. Luckily, the original Estate really doesn't need to be changed much at all for it to be perfect, so simply giving it a visual revamp and launching it with the game is more than enough to have longtime fans excited.

2 Favela

Definitely the most vertical map to come from the original game, Favela has gone on to become one of the most iconic maps in Call of Duty history which actually made a brief return in Call of Duty Ghosts thanks to its enormous popularity. Aside from the bright and eye-catching aesthetic of the Brazilian slums which, no doubt, are going to look absolutely stunning in Modern Warfare 3, Favela is also well known for its unpredictability, in the sense that it's basically impossible for any single player to control the map.

Because of the sheer amount of buildings featured in the map, there's always going to be someone peeking out of a window or running across a rooftop which keeps all players on their toes, since they know they're never going to be fully safe. Favela is a map that has become so iconic among the fanbase that even if this was the only map making a return, it would, undoubtedly, bring many fans back who had a blast playing through it years ago.

1 Terminal

It's hard to define Terminal as being one single type of map because of just how varied it is in design. While it definitely grants opportunities for close encounter skirmishes, such as in the plane or the gift shop, for example, there are also plenty of open-ended areas where those rocking with assault rifles and snipers can pick up a few kills too. Because the map is essentially split in half in terms of being outdoors and indoors, it also makes airstrike killstreaks effective, but not too overpowered.

The map is also just a feast for the eyes in how it looks, with it being much more colorful than some of the darker and more dreary maps which can often become a little bland in their design. Terminal is as far away from bland as a map can get though, with it being one of the most well-known maps in FPS history and one that many fans are itching to jump back into.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is set to release on November 10 2023 for PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S and X, and PC.

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