Summary
- Maps like Rust's procedural map keep gamers on their toes with unpredictable landscapes and endless interactivity.
- PUBG's Erangel is a strategic masterpiece where 100 players parachute in, loot up, and fight to survive the shrinking circle.
- Sea of Thieves turns the vast sea into a pirate's paradise, offering players a living, breathing world full of exploration and adventure.
These aren’t just maps — they’re living, breathing arenas where gamers carve out their legacies through strategy, teamwork, and a dash of unpredictability. From survival islands that shift with every reset, to fantasy realms packed with decades of lore, the best open-world maps deliver endless multiplayer thrills.
These maps are the best choice, whether rival squads clash over loot, crews want to sail into the unknown, or friends want to craft worlds together block by block. This list ranks the best maps that have hooked gamers with their scale, interactivity, and jaw-dropping aesthetics. Whether it’s the rush of outsmarting enemies or the joy of exploring with a squad, these maps prove that multiplayer greatness starts with a spectacular view.
8 Best Open-World Games With Drop-In, Drop-Out Multiplayer, Ranked
From survival sandboxes to chaotic co-op shooters, these games let you team up with ease, offering seamless co-op fun without interrupting the action.
10 Rust – Procedural Map
The Ever-Changing Battleground
Rust
- Released
- February 8, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Facepunch Studios
- Genre(s)
- Survival
Rust drops players into a world that’s never the same twice. Its procedurally generated maps reset with every server wipe, delivering fresh, unpredictable landscapes that keep gamers on their toes. The interactivity here is wild: players construct forts, trade loot, or unleash chaos with makeshift weapons.
Landmarks known as "Monuments" range from abandoned supermarkets and gas stations to heavily guarded facilities like the Launch Site or Oil Rigs. They serve as high-risk, high-reward focal points, drawing players into inevitable conflict and cooperation. Seeing players adapt their strategies to a completely new layout after each major update or server wipe is pure hype, and gives the maps endless replayability.
9 PUBG: Battlegrounds – Erangel
The Classic Battle Royale Arena
PUBG: Battlegrounds
- Released
- March 23, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- PUBG Corporation
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale
- Platform(s)
- PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, Stadia, Android, iOS
PUBG’ s OG map blends open fields, dense woods, and gritty towns like Pochinki into an all-out masterpiece for 100 players. Its varied terrain, from the iconic Sosnovka Military Base to the rolling hills surrounding Gatka, provides a wealth of strategic opportunities and challenges. It’s the kind of map where gamers parachute in, loot up, and pray their squad survives the shrinking circle.
Vehicles like the trusted UAZ turn the sprawling scale of Erangel into a high-speed chessboard, perfect for flanking or fleeing. Whether it's a close-quarters battle in the School or a long-range sniper duel across the Mylta Power plant, Erangel demands adaptability.
8 Sea Of Thieves – The Sea
A Pirate’s Paradise
Sea of Thieves
- Released
- March 20, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rare
- Publisher(s)
- Microsoft Game Studios
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
The Sea in Sea of Thieves isn’t just a map; it’s a pirate’s fever dream. This vast ocean stretches wide, dotted with islands begging for exploration. Players crew up, hoist sails, and chase treasure, all while dodging cannon fire from rival ships.
From the lush jungles of the Shores of Plenty to the volcanic fury of the Devil's Roar and the eerie mists of the Wilds, the exploration is as much a reward as the treasure itself. It’s a map that truly makes players feel like they are part of a living, breathing pirate world.
7 Call of Duty: Warzone – Verdansk
The Concrete Jungle of Chaos
Call of Duty: Warzone
- Released
- March 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Infinity Ward, Raven Software
- Publisher(s)
- Activision
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Battle Royale
Verdansk. The name alone evokes memories of intense firefights, helicopter escapes, and the ever-present threat of the gas circle for millions of Call of Duty: Warzone players. The map has a gritty, modern-war aesthetic that blends dense urban environments, industrial complexes, and rural outskirts into a cohesive and tactically rich battlefield.
From the towering Dam to the claustrophobic Superstore to the infamous Airport control tower, Verdansk is packed with memorable points of interest (POIs) that are always brimming with high-stakes combat. Verdansk’s legacy lives on as the map that redefined squad-based mayhem with a strategic twist.
6 Apex Legends – Olympus
The Floating Utopian Battleground
Apex Legends
- Released
- February 4, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Respawn Entertainment
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Genre(s)
- Battle Royale, First-Person Shooter
This sleek, cloud-high city in Apex Legends thrives on verticality, with ziplines and jump pads fueling fast, fluid combat. Players wield their Legends’ abilities to outmaneuver opponents across a moderately sized map that’s all about constant clashes.
POIs like the Bonsai Plaza with its layered restaurants, the agricultural Grow Towers, and the central Hammond Labs provide intricate close-quarters combat zones. Meanwhile, areas like the Elysium serve as high-tier loot spots that often become early-game hot drops.
5 Red Dead Online – The American Frontier
The Wild West of America
Red Dead Online
- Released
- May 14, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar Games
The American Frontier in Red Dead Online is a love letter to the Wild West. This massive map sprawls across deserts, forests, and peaks, packed with missions, hunts, and player-driven showdowns. The visuals are unreal — sunsets glow, storms roll in, and every detail screams authenticity.
What makes this map exceptional for multiplayer is how alive it feels. Players are part of a dynamic ecosystem filled with wildlife, changing weather patterns, and countless opportunities for emergent gameplay. Unlike tighter maps, this frontier’s breadth fuels endless cowboy adventures that keep the community hooked.
4 Fortnite – The Island
A Constantly Evolving Battleground
Fortnite
- Released
- September 26, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Epic Games
- Publisher(s)
- Epic Games
Fortnite’s Island is a shape-shifter. This battle royale keeps players guessing with seasonal overhauls — new zones, events, and secrets pop up like clockwork. Epic Games has mastered the art of keeping The Island fresh and engaging, ensuring that players always have something new to explore and adapt to.
The cartoonish vibe — bright, bold, and ever-changing — keeps it fresh and fun. The brilliance of The Island lies in its dynamic nature. Iconic locations like Tilted Towers, Retail Row, and Pleasant Park have come and gone, been destroyed and rebuilt, fundamentally altering the flow of gameplay with each change.
3 Grand Theft Auto Online – Los Santos
The Crime City Capital
Grand Theft Auto Online
- Released
- October 1, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Rockstar North
- Publisher(s)
- Rockstar Games
- Genre(s)
- Open-World, Action
Los Santos is a multiplayer utopia. This GTA Online gem mirrors LA with a sprawling city, rolling hills, and even diveable seas. This map has been the ultimate criminal playground for Grand Theft Auto Online players for over a decade.
The map is dotted with iconic landmarks, from the Maze Bank Tower to the Vinewood sign, providing countless backdrops for player-driven narratives. The genius of Los Santos in a multiplayer context is the sheer breadth of activities it supports. From elaborate heists to illicit business and high-octane street races, it’s a place where the crime drama is only limited to the player’s imagination.
2 World of Warcraft – Azeroth
A Realm of Epic Adventure and Endless Exploration
World of Warcraft
- Released
- November 23, 2004
WHERE TO PLAY
Azeroth is more than just a game map; it's a sprawling, ever-expanding universe that has captivated millions of players for nearly two decades. Players quest, raid, or clash in PvP, with guilds tying the community together. The scale is jaw-dropping, from lush valleys to bleak deserts, all drenched in Blizzard’s iconic art.
Unlike smaller maps, Azeroth’s vastness and lore make it a living world where epic team-ups shine. Each expansion has not only added new landmasses, but also new gameplay systems and narratives that reshape players' understanding and interaction with the world.
1 Minecraft – The Overworld
A Canvas of Infinite Creativity
Minecraft
- Released
- November 18, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
Minecraft’s Overworld is without a doubt the pinnacle of open-world multiplayer maps. This boundless, procedurally generated map lets players build, mine, and survive in a blocky paradise. In Multiplayer Mode, friends can band together in building magnificent castles or entire bustling cities.
The scale is infinite: keep walking, and it keeps generating. Its simple yet charming aesthetic fuels endless creativity. Whether players are delving into deep cave systems for precious resources or embarking on epic quests to defeat the Ender Dragon, the Overworld provides a versatile backdrop for every kind of adventure.
8 Open-World Games With Best Map Activities
These open-world games really stand out from the crowd for their points of interest and varied side activities on the map.