Summary
For many years now,Battlefieldhas been the go-to series for anyone looking to jump into an FPS shooter that places a lot of emphasis onlarge-scale warfare. With that being said though, the hectic and chaotic battles that this series is so well known for are only made possible thanks to the many big and engaging maps featured in the games, some of which have gone on to become iconic among the fanbase.
RELATED:Best First-Person Shooters Of All Time
With there being so many mainlineBattlefieldgames now, along with plenty of spinoff titles, it means there have been a wide variety of maps included in this series that players have been able to enjoy over the years, though some have admittedly been received a lot more favorably by fans than others. Whether it’s because of the layout of the map, thelevel of destructibilityin the environment, or simply how stunning the visuals are, these are the maps that always ensure that the upcoming battle is going to be intense, exciting, and above all, a ton of fun to be a part of.
7Wake Island - Battlefield 1942
The fact that Wake Island has been remade countless times just goes to show how popular it really was when it first appeared inBattlefield 1942, and a big reason why comes from the fact that the map is literally one long-running open space that is incredibly easy tonavigate with vehicles. Because of how small and narrow the island actually is, it results in some extremely frantic gunfights with the only available cover being a few military defenses and small huts scattered across the map, making it ideal for full-lobby matches.
It’s also a very accessible and easy to learn map, especially considering just how manyjeeps and tanksspawn at each base that make getting to a flag very simple. Even after 20 years of being released, the map still holds up graphically today, and is a joy to jump in to with a large group of players.
6Karkand - Battlefield 2
Urban maps can be quite tricky to incorporate in a game as large asBattlefieldsince having multiple buildings instructing the player’s vision and movement can easily end up getting in the way of the action. However, Karkhand inBattlefield 2managed to be based in a small and desolate town while still having just enough open space to make for some incredible battles, without there being an abundance of buildings or debris.
RELATED:Best Battlefield Games (According To Metacritic)
The thick layer of dust covering the map was actually used to make up for the field of vision limitations at the time, but it simply ended up making the gameplay even more engaging as it forced players to keep their eyes peeled in case enemies suddenly appeared in the distance. This also added a fairlycreepy aestheticto the map which also helped make it a stand-out fromBattlefield 2.
Despite the destruction physics inBattlefield Bad Company 2being the best in the series so far, there unfortunately weren’t too many multiplayer maps that allowed players to use it to full effect as a way of re-arranging the map, but Arica Harbor was definitely an exception.
When playing on Conquest mode, players can fire a few explosives at the buildings surrounding the flags to make space for a potential flank route, adding a tremendous amount of strategy to the map and making full use of the destructive capabilities built into the game. There’s also plenty of verticality on this map thanks to the many buildings which is a great way to get the drop on unsuspecting ground enemies, and also the best hiding spot for anyone who loves picking off the enemy team from afar with their trusty sniper rifle.
4El Alamein - Battlefield 1942
Considering manyBattlefieldmaps are enormous in their size and scale, it has meant that vehicles always play an extremely important role in allowing players to move across an area in a fraction of the time it would take when running. With that being said though, El Alamein is so vast and open in its design, it essentially encourages every player to jump into a jeep to engage in somevehicle warfare, with tanks crashing into one another and planes spiraling into the ground being a very common sight on this desert map.
El Alamein might feature the least amount of terrain of anyBattlefieldmap, but this absence of cover is really why it’s become so memorable, making it an all-out bloodbath from the moment players spawn in. If there was any map that showcased the exhilarating and unpredictable nature of theBattlefieldseries the best, it would undoubtedly be this one fromBattlefield 1942.
3Propaganda - Battlefield 4
As soon as fans caught a glimpse ofBattlefield 4gameplay in itsearly trailers, it was immediately apparent just how big of a leap the series had taken in terms of its graphics which was all thanks to the arrival of theeighth generation consoles, and a map that showcased this in full force was Propaganda. Based in North Korea, the map uses a mixture of different colors and aesthetics to bring the entire area to life, and that’s not even mentioning the structure and design of the map itself which is already excellent.
RELATED:Most Iconic Weapons in Battlefield History
On one side of the map is a large open space surrounding a monument where snipers duke it out for dominance, while on the other side are small narrow villages thatfavor those classesthat are more focused on close quarter combat. The roads that circle around the entire map also provide newcomers with a waypoint to guide them straight to the action, with the pairing of colorful graphics and expertly crafted level design making this one of the most fun maps in the entire series.
2St. Quentin Scar - Battlefield 1
Battlefield 1has gone on to be one of the most critically acclaimed games in the series, and much of this has to do with just how immersive theWorld War 1 settingis, with the gameplay creating a perfect visualization of just how bloody and terrifying this war really was. In truth though, DICE still did decide to take a few creative liberties in order to ensure the game still felt fast-paced and exciting, such as allowing people to use automatic weapons, but St. Quentin Scar really made players feel as if they were experiencing thedark and grittyhorrors of the Great War through their own eyes.
With long-running trenches stretches on either side of the map, giant blimps floating overhead, and terrifying tanks rolling across the dirt and rubble, this map truly provides a gameplay experience like no other and really leans into the game’s historical context as much as possible. Only the most courageous of players would run out from their trenches when spawning on this map, but then again, it might be worth it to acquire thespecial weapondrops such as the flamethrower that can be absolutely devastating in the right hands.
1Caspian Border - Battlefield 3
Caspian Border proved to be so popular among the fanbase when it was first introduced inBattlefield 3that DICE immediately made the decision to bring it back in the very next game, realizing that they had struck gold with the design and visuals of the map. Despite being one of the largest maps in the game, Caspian Border still manages to provide a perfect balance of small industrialized areas that provide plenty of cover, alongside open spaces that favor tanks and jeeps.
Alongside howstunning the map is to look at, with the sunlight complimenting the very bright and vibrant colors of the buildings and giant white antenna that stands at the center, the environments are also incredibly varied. When playing Conquest, each flag is based in a very distinct area, so while one is located near the antenna which is very out in the open, another is found hidden within adense forest, while a different flag is right in the middle of a gas station. All of this comes together to create a map that provides a completely different experience every time the player jumps in, with it being the most iconic, memorable, and fun map in the entire series.
