Counter-Strike is a game that brought players of different ages worldwide together and made them join exciting battles. The gamers meet each other while playing various modes such as competitive, classic, deathmatch, arms race, etc. Everybody prefers a specific gameplay type; usually, the in-game pastime isn’t limited by traditional matchmaking. Therefore, the developers created various CS: GO maps, and each suits the specific mode. So, let’s discover the most enjoyable maps in the game and understand their particular positions for terrorists and counter-terrorists.
Classification of Maps
CS: GO maps have different structures corresponding to the aim that players follow.
Therefore, there are several classifications depending on:
- Scenario.
- Game balance.
- Origins (Steam Workshop maps).
So, let’s discover what maps each type includes and their peculiarities.
Maps Depending on the Scenario
There are 5 standard game modes, and there is a specific number of CS: GO maps for each:
- Bomb Defusal. It’s a mode in which the terrorists aim to plant the bomb at one of 2 spots (A and B) and defend it until it explodes within 40 seconds (45 in classic mode). The CT side needs to defuse it; that takes 10 seconds without the kit and 5 with it. Such a scenario is available on Dust 2, Overpass, Cobblestone, Vertigo, Inferno, Nuke, Train, Cache, and Mirage.
- Hostage Rescue. There are commonly 4 hostages that the CT side needs to bring to the rescue zone. The terrorists win if all counter-terrorists are killed, or the captives aren’t rescued until the round ends. The mode can be played on Office, Italy, Militia, Assault, and Agency.
- War Games. It’s the mode that consists of several additional scenarios. The most popular are:
- Arms Race: the players acquire a higher level after killing a specific number of enemies. The one who reaches the “gold knife” stage and kills somebody with it wins the match. The maps for the Arms race are Lake, Baggage, Safehouse, St. Marc, Shoots, Lunacy, and Monastery.
- Demolition: it’s similar to bomb defusal mode. However, the weapons can’t be purchased, and the players receive additional weapons for kills. CS: GO maps for this mode include Lake, Safehouse, Sugarcane, Bank, St. Marc, and Shortdust.
- Danger Zone. The scenario is based on the royal battle gameplay. The 16 players (18 in Wingman mode) must survive while the location consistently narrows to smaller sizes. The one who took the best ammunition and stayed became a winner. CS: GO maps for Danger Zone are Blacksite, Sirocco, Jungle, Frostbite, County, Ember, and Vineyard.
The most popular scenario is Bomb Defusal, the primary mode for matchmaking. It’s played on each CS: GO championship, and the maps are known to each player.
Maps Depending on Game Balance
Here, there are 2 primary types of CS: GO maps:
- Front-line maps. These are the most balanced ones, in which both CT and T have equal chances to win the round, and the victory conditions primarily depend on the players’ skill. The maps are used in all minor and major tournaments, and the pro gamers train on them. Dust 2, Mirage, Inferno, Nuke, Vertigo, Overpass, and Ancient, belong to this category.
- Additional maps. These maps are less balanced than the previous ones, so they’re not used in tournaments. All non-front line maps belong to this category.
The players mainly prefer front-line maps because they are the priority for competitive matches and allow ranking up.
Workshop Maps
This type is provided for having fun and training shooting, or grenade spread skills, and the gamers play on them in custom lobbies. Such CS: GO maps are developed by ordinary community members who determine their gameplay and structure. The most popular maps are aim_allpistols_dust, aim_map, Home Invasion (cooperative gameplay), Prison (Hide and Seek), and others.
Most Popular Maps in CS: GO
So, let’s discover what CS: GO maps community loves the most and plays thousands of matches daily.
Dust 2
It’s a legendary Bomb Defusal map in the game. Due to the scenario, the location is Morocco. The map was updated multiple times to reach the balance for both sides. The most popular positions are Short, Long, Mid, Suicide, Tunnels, Pit, Green Box, etc. Dust 2 is a favorite map for Gambit and Astralis teams.
Mirage
The location of the map is the country in the middle east. The plot tells that the terrorists aim to explode the embassy, and the CT side must stop them. The A and B plants are the well-defended positions, which can be reached by passing through Apartments, Palace, Catwalk, and Connector. The other places famous for 1v1 confrontations are Mid, Window, and Jungle. Natus Vincere, a famous esports team, prefers picking Mirage for matches in the championships.
Nuke
The action takes place at a nuclear facility located in Germany. It has underground passages the terrorists use to reach the central storage they need to explode. Their preferable route to point B is the tunnel, and counter-terrorists do their best to defend it. The Radio Room and the Ramp are the most popular places for battles. This CS: GO map is the favorite for G2 and Vitality teams.
St. Marc
The Arms Race and Demolition modes can be played on this map. The confrontation occurs in the coastal port city of Saint-Marc, Haiti, deep in the Caribbean. Terrorists are trying to blow up a truck carrying chemical weapons. The exciting confrontations make it one of the favorite maps for War Games.
Aim_Map
It’s the famous community map the players use to train shooting with AK-47 and M4A4. The gamers create a lobby and play 1v1 until one wins the necessary number of rounds. A lot of the map remakes were provided, but it remains the best to improve accurate shooting.
Overall, many CS: GO maps are classified depending on the scenario, balance for equal winning opportunities, and the origins. Dust 2 remains the most popular map through the ages, and it’s the priority for playing competitive matches. However, the most devoted Counter-Strike fans have played on each map and know all the positions and secrets of winning.
