All 19 CS2 Maps and What Makes Each One Noteworthy
By Arlo on Jan 9th, 2026, 08:50
Counter-Strike 2 is a popular FPS game that has stood the test of time. Among many elements that have made it stand out from other classic and modern games is its maps, many of which are iconic enough to serve as inspiration for more recent games.
In this article, we’ll take a brief look at all maps in Counter-Strike 2 that are active as of now. It’s still best to play them and get a feel for each one yourself, but it never hurts to do your homework if only to roughly work out what to expect from each one.
There are currently 19 maps available in the game, each with its own characteristics and game modes. There are six game modes across four map types, and it helps to have a basic understanding of each one.
Let’s begin with an overview of the six game modes.
| Game Mode | Description |
|---|---|
| Premier | The Tournament mode, where players earn points to qualify for seasonal leaderboards. In this game mode, players do not get to choose which map to play. Premier uses the Match Rounds 12 (MR12) rule, where a team must be the first to win 13 rounds to secure victory. A tiebreaker round is used in case of a tie. |
| Casual | Allows up to 20 players, with each team racing to be the first to win eight rounds. To make it more relaxed, there are a few key points that apply only to this mode: no rank restrictions on teams, and everyone receives body armor and defuse kits at the start of the match. |
| Competitive | The classic 5v5 matchmaking mode is familiar to long-time CS players. Also uses the MR12 rule but does not feature a tiebreaker round, so it is possible to end in a tie. |
| Deathmatch | This mode focuses solely on getting the most kills in the game. All players respawn immediately after death, and whoever scores the most kills in 10 minutes is the winner. |
| Wingman | Another game mode was introduced for casual play, but with 2v2 matches instead. This mode is played on smaller maps with only one bomb site. The first team to 9 winning rounds is the winner. |
| Arms Race | Players spawn with their weapon, and every two kills, they level up. Upon reaching level 16, a player gains access to the golden knife. The first player to score a kill using this golden knife wins the game. |
Now that we have a better understanding of the available game modes, let’s take a look at the map types and how they relate to each mode.
In the Premiere game mode, players cannot choose the map; the game randomly selects one from a pool. These maps are known as the Active Duty maps. Active Duty maps are also eligible to play for Casual, Competitive, and Deathmatch modes.
All of these maps are part of the game’s active rotation and may have been among the Active Duty Maps in the past. All Reserve maps can be played in Competitive, Casual, and Deathmatch game modes, but are not part of the random pool for Premiere matches.
Used for the Wingman game mode, maps are explicitly designed for 2v2 play and are compact to prevent matches from dragging on. While specific Wingman maps are specialized for the game mode, some are scaled-down versions of others, with just one bomb site.
These maps are specialized exclusively for use in the Arms Race game modes.
Now let’s get to know a bit about each of the game’s currently available maps. We won’t go into full details or deep strategies here; we’ll stick to a brief description and what makes each map unique.
Along with basic information for each, we’ll also list the type of map. As stated above, Active Duty maps double as Reserve maps and are available for Casual, Competitive, and Deathmatch, as well as Premiere.
Map type: Reserve
This is a multi-level map styled as a corporate office setting, featuring a hostage rescue scenario. While it was remade before release on CS2, it still sports a familiar layout for CS GO players, featuring a mix of small interior spaces and long, spacious areas such as the Lobby and Main areas.
Map type: Active Duty
Using an archeological site theme, this is a balanced map that emphasizes mid-section control, as whoever controls this vast space controls the match. It is a heavy favorite in the pro competition scene, having been the most popular competition map in 2024.
3. Anubis
Map Type: Reserve
An Egyptian-themed map that noticeably puts the defending team at a disadvantage. Bomb sites have various entry points, making it very difficult to hold positions in their vicinity.
4. Baggage
Map Type: Arms Race
Set in an airport baggage sorting area, this map features a lot of verticality, making it necessary to stay on the lookout for enemy drops and ambushes. There is a clear line of sight between spawn points, and conveyor belts can be controlled to mix things up.
Map Type: Active Duty
This is a classic, iconic map that has consistently been among the most popular for players since its appearance in CS back in 2001, and has retained its layout even when it was released for CS2.
It is a bomb-defusal map known for its excellent balance and complex strategic elements, making it popular for casual play and tournament competition with beginners and veterans alike.
Map Type: Reserve
One of two community maps was recently added to official game modes in one October 2025 patch. Set in the Pacific, this map has multiple lanes and verticality, along with prime areas for peek gameplay.
Map Type: Active Duty / Wingman
Another classic map from 1999, made famous by the banana lane, a choke point that holds significant strategic importance, which is often the key to winning the game. Controlling this area guarantees victory, so most strategies revolve around securing or breaching it.
Map Type: Reserve
A hostage rescue map set in a rustic town dating back to 2000. Its long alleys snake about, lending a labyrinthine quality that makes it more challenging to rescue hostages.
Map Type: Active Duty
Currently, the longest tenured Active Duty Map in the CS2 pool, making it very well-documented. The fact that it has been around for so long means that a vast number of players know it very well, making it a highly competitive area to play. You’d do well to learn the map inside and out before competing at a higher level.
Map Type: Active Duty / Wingman
Another classic map made by Valve, dating back to 1999. It is a map with bomb sites stacked on top of one another. Its unique layout demands a high level of teamwork and communication to win, regardless of which team it is on.
Map Type: Reserve
One of the main gameplay maps from the OG CS game, this remains popular despite not being part of the Active Duty pool. It is a hostage-rescue map with many angled spaces, making it an excellent map for shotgun play.
Map Type: Active Duty / Wingman
Set in a city area characterized by a mixture of tunnels and long sight lines, as well as the titular train overpass. This map is complicated by the combination of its varied areas and large scale. It is currently the most extensive map by area size.
Map Type: Reserve
One of two community maps was added to CS2 game modes in October 2025. Like Golden, it is a bomb-defusal map featuring multiple levels, spacious areas, and dynamic routes.
Map Type: Arms Race
A remake of an older map, it is characterized by the lack of long sightlines, forcing players to engage at close range. Considering the unique gameplay rules of Arms Race, this map pretty much guarantees free-for-all mayhem.
Map Type: Wingman
One of the two new community maps has been added to Wingman game modes. It is set on the rooftop gardens of what looks to be a corporate building. Despite Wingman’s focus on 2v2 gameplay, it has a lot of vertical areas while still being compact enough to promote high-intensity engagements.
Map Type: Arms Race
Heavily resembles the Ancient map but features several buildings in the middle area through which players must pass to reach key regions to clinch victory. As the biggest Arms Race map, there are also many places to hide in, making it an excellent space for some hide and seek.
Map Type: Active Duty
A classic map that was reworked upon release for CS2. It emphasizes team play due to its narrow lanes and various obstacles, such as boxes and train cars littering the map, making teamwork essential for scoring wins.
Map Type: Wingman
The other community map recently added to CS2 for the Wingman game mode is set on a street in Vietnam with a central track where a train passes by twice per round. While the map itself is compact, encouraging close-quarters combat, the train creates significant disorientation, mixing things up.
Map Type: Reserve / Wingman
A highly vertical map that is set at a high floor and is the only map where players can drop to their doom. It is a classic map, but has undergone numerous changes over the years, primarily due to its heavily mixed reception among CS players.
Once you spend more time playing the game, you’ll notice that map lineups are constantly changing. The current Active Duty maps will change in the future, with some becoming Reserve maps, others becoming Active Duty maps, or even being removed entirely.
Following the October 2, 2025, game patch, the following maps were removed from all game modes. However, it’s also possible for any of these to make a comeback in the future, possibly with specific changes or revisions.
Now you have a bit more familiarity with CS2’s available maps, along with their map type and the various game modes where they are playable. Since this is a constantly changing list, we may need to revisit this from time to time. What’s important, though, is that you familiarize yourself with the current active map pool to improve your odds of victory.
After trying out the game’s active maps, tell us which one is your favorite so far and compare your choice with those of others. It’ll surely make for an interesting discussion, considering the age of many of these maps and how they are still popular after so long.
