The Halo franchise has spawned some of the most iconic multiplayer maps ever made. Since it debuted in 2001, the series has seen players face off in Spartan on-Spartan action across legendary battlegrounds that have cemented themselves in gaming folklore.
With so many to choose from, how do you find the 10 best Halo maps ever? We’re going to try.
10. Valhalla
- Game: Halo 3
Valhalla felt like a natural evolution of Blood Gulch. Two bases facing off, separated only by a river. The wealth of vehicle options makes Valhalla a perfect Capture The Flag map, and the hilly terrain only adds to the tension as you escape the base with the enemy flag.
It returned in all three of 343 Industries’ Halo games as Ragnarok, Viking, and Vallaheim, respectively. After all these years, it plays better than ever.
9. Narrows
- Game: Halo 3
Narrows is symmetry perfected. The two small bases on each side are accessed quickly by the man cannons that fling you across the map. There’s a large bridge through the middle, featuring an upper and lower level. There’s even a vertical curve to the bridge, which makes for some interesting combat engagements.
Narrows matches are extremely fast-paced, thanks to the existence of the man cannons. You’ll not get a moment to rest until the game is finished!
8. Zanzibar
- Game: Halo 2
At times, it feels like Zanzibar is underrated by Halo fans. One team spawns in a power station, while the other starts on the beach. The two must fight for control of the giant spinning wheel in the middle of the map, giving Zanzibar an extremely dynamic feeling.
Its full commitment to its asymmetric design is admirable. This makes it perfect for 1 Flag Capture The Flag and Single Bomb matches, creating awesome “attack vs. defense” scenarios. Zanzibar’s Halo 3 remake, Last Resort, is great too.
7. Battle Creek
- Game: Halo: Combat Evolved
Battle Creek is a total brawl. This semi-symmetrical map takes place in a small canyon, featuring two identical bases. In 4v4 Slayer matches, you’re never far from the action, even if you spend most of your time on the respawn screen.
Taking your Xbox to a LAN party and playing split-screen Battle Creek is what classic Halo is all about. The map returned in Halo 2 as Beaver Creek, which is also one of the best Halo maps ever. The differences between the two are minimal.
6. Midship
- Game: Halo 2
Midship‘s Covenant setting gives it a unique aesthetic among the best Halo maps. It looks great, but it plays even better. It’s a small arena setting with a ton of verticality, making it ideal for Oddball and free-for-all Slayer matches.
Midship produces a unique brand of chaos that other Halo maps struggle to replicate. You won’t find campers here – there’s nowhere to hide!
5. The Pit
- Game: Halo 3
Halo 3‘s The Pit is a symmetrical map set in a UNSC training facility. It was an instant fan favorite on release in 2007, and has remained a staple of Halo‘s competitive scene ever since. The Pit has verticality, long sight lines, and close-quarters opportunities. There’s something for every playstyle here, hence its longevity.
The biggest compliment to The Pit is that it has been remade in every single one of 343 Industries’ Halo titles. Pitfall in Halo 4, Simulation in Halo 5: Guardians, and Empyrean in Halo Infinite. Still, you’re never beating the original.
4. Forge World
- Game: Halo: Reach
Halo 3 had Foundry and Sandbox as its primary Forge maps. Halo: Reach went one better with Forge World, an enormous blank canvas for players to bring their wildest ideas to life. The map has several different regions, each of which can be built upon to create something entirely new. It’s magnificent.
Bungie certainly had confidence in Forge World; many of Halo: Reach‘s base multiplayer maps were built in it. For better or worse, this started a series trend of Forge maps becoming matchmaking staples.
3. Guardian
- Game: Halo 3
It’s difficult to describe why Guardian works so well. It’s asymmetric, feels smaller than it is, and doesn’t play well with most objective game modes. Yet, it’s undeniably one of the best Halo maps ever made. Why is that?
The map is separated by a few different areas, where combat encounters are well-isolated. It rarely feels like you’re being attacked by multiple angles with little you can do about it, and you’re always fighting for control over a different area of the map. From a design perspective, Guardian is near-perfect.
2. Lockout
- Game: Halo 2
If you like verticality in your Halo maps, Lockout has three levels on what is otherwise a very small arena. Lockout features one central platform, from which the rest of the map spans out from. No matter where you spawn, Lockout does a great job of luring you back to that middle focal point, whether you come from the upper sniper tower, or from the Gravity Lift room.
With so many areas to worry about, you’re always taking a new combat engagement from interesting angles, and Lockout offers plenty of environmental cover for skilled players to use to their advantage. For this reason, Lockout is the best Slayer map ever made.
1. Blood Gulch
- Game: Halo: Combat Evolved
Blood Gulch is quintessential Halo. Two bases, one vast, open canyon. Plenty of vehicles on both sides. Snipers galore. Off to the races you go, Spartans. This is Capture The Flag at its very best, and there’s a reason Blood Gulch has returned in so many Halo games since.
Part of the beauty of Blood Gulch is its simplicity. Bungie didn’t overcomplicate anything, stripping the Halo multiplayer experience back to its core to create something magical. You can still play Big Team Battle matches on Blood Gulch in Halo: The Master Chief Collection, and it still feels as epic as ever.
