Apex Legends' maps are a defining aspect of its gameplay culture, each sporting some of modern gaming's most iconic locales. Though not every map can be a smashing success, Apex Legends has more hits than misses in this area.
Battle Royale is at the heart of Apex, but it's not the only trick up the game's sleeve. This list will include all maps made for Battle Royale, as well as any original map used in Mixtape mode. This list won't include maps that are recycled sections of Battle Royale maps, nor will it include retired Arenas maps (meaning no Encore or Drop-Off). This list will account for both the ranked and unranked Apex Legends experience, considering rotations, POIs, overall cohesion, aesthetics, and impacts on movement. Most of these factors will impact Battle Royale maps, with the value of Mixtape maps based more on how they accommodate quickfire fun.
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S-Tier Maps in Apex Legends
• E-District
• Thunderdome
Both maps in S-Tier are the best in their respective categories, but E-District is certainly Apex Legends' best offering overall. This brand-new map takes everything players love about POIs like Fragment and Cascade Falls (easy access to fights, multi-team battles, cross-building combats, compact chaos, verticality, etc.) And dials it up to 11. There's barely a dull moment on E-District, with its urban design doing away with the empty stretches of Broken Moon and Storm Point. Despite this, its POIs still stand out; shipyards, hologram-blasting skyscrapers, street markets, and a Titanfall 2-esque arena are just some of the highlights. That's without mentioning the sublime mix of blue overtones and neon signage, a theme that combines with strewn posters and rage-fueled graffiti to create a definitive cyberpunk city.
Thunderdome is the most recent original Mixtape map, and it manages to excite players no matter the gamemode. Its range of set pieces are condensed for fast-paced games of Team Deathmatch and Gun Run, but it actually makes for Apex Legends' best Control map by doing away with empty space — creating more dynamic and more involved experiences.
A-Tier Maps in Apex Legends
• Olympus
• Storm Point
• Habitat 4
Olympus is a real treat to look at, with a consistent futuristic aesthetic throughout. No point on the map feels abandoned, and every POI flows naturally into the next. Its urban design, small size, and smooth plains also make it conducive to quick fights and fun movement. In fact, the smoothness of both its roads and grassland makes for enhanced visibility, putting even empty areas above the competition.
Storm Point has seen renewed popularity among Apex fans after season 19 trimmed it down and added some new POIs. Though still a tad big in some areas, it has some fantastic POIs — including classics like Cascade Falls, Command Center, and Storm Catcher. Though Habitat 4 doesn't offer monuments to tactical combat like this, it shares an inviting, wild aesthetic alongside its own balanced verticality.
B-Tier Maps in Apex Legends
• King's Canyon
• Broken Moon
• Overflow
Overflow hasn't been seen in a while, but it holds many fond memories for Arenas fans thanks to its strong aesthetic and compact gameplay. Compactness is shared by King's Canyon, an Apex map rich in history that nonetheless remains densely packed. Broken Moon has seen a similar glow-up to Storm Point, with a strong color palette and fun sci-fi POIs. However, its zip rails are a double-edged sword; compensating for the map's large size but making third-party combatants all too prevalent.
C-Tier Maps in Apex Legends
• World's Edge
• Party Crasher
• Phase Runner
World's Edge is Apex's most dated map, despite not being its oldest. From Rampart's ship to Bloodhound's trials to its overloaded color palette, the map lacks the constraints of later additions — creating a busy experience that lacks direction. It's no bad map, however, and the same can be said for Party Crasher and Phase Runner. Those two maps are fun, but their major elements are too spaced out and are awkwardly placed.
Apex Legends
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 81 /100 Critics Rec: 74%
- Released
- February 4, 2019
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Source on console/PC, Unreal Engine 4 on mobile
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
- Cross-Platform Play
- PC, PS4, Switch & Xbox One
WHERE TO PLAY
- Cross Save
- Cross Progression lets you share your game progress across PC, PlayStation®, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, iOS, Android, Switch
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale, First-Person Shooter
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
