Counter-Strike is an all-time great game that immerses you for hundreds of hours, and you still don’t get tired of it. And what makes it so good? All its maps! As their skilful balance and vivid design delight players, making them want to come back. In this article, CS.MONEY Blog will showcase all CS2 maps and also discuss whether to expect new maps to appear in the future.
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CS2 Competitive Map Pool Maps
Currently, CS2 has ten maps available, seven of which are part of the competitive map pool where all tournaments, including majors, are held. Some of these maps are relatively new, while others are time-tested legends.
Current Competitive Mappool: list of all CS2 Maps
- Mirage
- Overpass
- Vertigo
- Ancient
- Inferno
- Nuke
- Anubis
Mirage
Let’s start with one of the most popular maps in the CS2 community. Mirage is loved for its balance, where various types of weapons can be played equally. Shootouts can occur both at close range and from a far. Initially created for CPL competitions, Mirage’s competitive background is well felt during the game. It’s worth noting that Mirage is the only map that has been in the map pool for all CS:GO majors. In CS2, the map falls into the Touchstone category, meaning it has been slightly polished but not drastically improved or redesigned.
Overpass
This map first appeared in CS:GO and has gained popularity over time. It’s the site of the infamous Olofboost, but despite that, professional players love this map for its variability, providing everything needed for the implementation of diverse tactics. In Counter-Strike 2, the map has been completely reworked from scratch, and now it looks stunning!
Vertigo
A map that elicits strong reactions. Many love its vertical gameplay, while others hate it, but it has found its place in the competitive map pool. The history of this map goes back a long way – it will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year! Vertigo was not popular for a long time until Valve decided to add it to the competitive map pool five years ago. It still generates a lot of debate and emotions. In Counter-Strike 2, it has undergone minimal changes.
Ancient
One of the newer maps in Counter-Strike. Ancient appeared in the game a little over three years ago, with its structure somewhat resembling Mirage and Dust 2, while its visual style pays homage to the iconic Aztec – a highly popular map in CS 1.6 with critical design flaws that hindered fair competition. In Counter-Strike 2, the map looks much richer thanks to altered lighting and the appearance of textures in Source 2.
Inferno
A classic map from the ancient versions of Counter-Strike (first appearing in Counter-Strike 1.1), which has aged splendidly from a gameplay perspective. Almost everyone loves it, and it remains interesting to play. In Counter-Strike 2, Inferno underwent a massive rework, and now newcomers might need help understanding why the wine cellar is called the library, but the map looks absolutely fantastic!
Nuke
It’s another classic map. For a long time, it couldn’t be balanced in terms of gameplay: Nuke was considered exclusively a defensive map, and every round taken for the attack was a significant step towards success. Over time, the map was modified, and now the balance is quite reasonable. The same can be said for the visual aspect. Developers have done an excellent job with lighting and textures, making Nuke play exceptionally well now!
Anubis
The newest map in the CS2 competitive map pool. It appeared a little over a year ago, in November 2022. Originally created by the community members (specifically Roald, jd40, and jakuza), Valve soon acquired the rights to the map and now oversees all changes. The map looks very beautiful, and thanks to the graphic engine changes, Anubis has arguably gained more than others, with the water looking simply stunning!
CS2 Casual Maps
In CS2, maps are needed not only for major competitions but also for enjoyment in casual modes. Currently, in addition to the seven maps from the competitive map pool, where casual play or deathmatches are also possible, the game has three maps that have been community favourites for a very long time.
All CS2 Casual Maps Listed:
- Dust 2
- Office
- Italy
Dust 2
If you ask any gamer which map they associate with Counter-Strike, in most cases, the answer will be Dust 2. A legendary map that many players still don’t mind playing: the waiting time for a match on Dust 2 is one of the lowest in the game, second only to Mirage. Over the game’s existence, it seems like all possible tactics have already been invented, thought out, and reworked. This means you can simply focus on shooting and enjoy the game. Perhaps in the future, Dust 2 awaits a tactical renaissance due to changes in smoke grenades, but the competition in the competitive map pool is currently too high.
Office
A favorite map among casual players. Office provides lively shootouts at short distances, and the snowy winter setting adds variety. The map first appeared in beta version 7.0 and has been reworked several times since then. Office also serves as a good demonstration of the Source 2 engine’s physics since there are many small objects on the map that you can shoot.
Italy
Another community-favorite map. Italy first appeared in the game in the summer of 2000, and since then, many people have continued to spend their free time on it. What do people like about it? The setting (pleasant music, a beautifully designed small Italian town) and gameplay diversity (there’s a place to have a duel with sniper rifles as well as shotguns). It’s especially good to play Deathmatch on this map: there’s enough space for everyone, and there are a few particularly hot spots where you have to put in a lot of effort to survive. Therefore, Italy will live on for a very long time!
All CS2 Wingman Maps
Currently, there are four maps for the Wingman mode. These are truncated versions of large competitive maps:
- Overpass
- Vertigo
- Nuke
- Inferno
All of them are adapted for this mode, with only one bombsite, and some passages are blocked.
Should We Expect New Maps in CS2?
Yes, definitely. After the release of Counter-Strike 2, the community has been waiting for new content. We still haven’t received Baggage, even though it was shown in a Valve video, and data miners pointed to the possible appearance of Shoots, Canals, and Lake. It’s also worth not potentially forgetting about Tuscan and Cache.
The year 2024 should be rich in terms of new content, and maps should not be an exception. While we await new maps and skins, you can update your inventory with CS.MONEY—fortunately, there is much more variety in skins!
