Top 10 most hated maps in esports

Every major esports title has its share of iconic maps. From Rainbow Six to CS:GO and Overwatch, there’s something for everyone.

Unfortunately, not all maps are created equal, and some are pure disasters. What’s even worse is that the worst maps just aren’t removed. Today we show you the 10 most hated maps in gaming. Enjoy.

10. Dust2 (CS:GO)

Our list starts with CS:GO’s cult map par excellence, Dust 2. Some like it though, but most can’t stand the most famous “Rush B” map. Since Dust2 was released 21 years ago, the map’s design has almost never changed, and the infamous Double Doors in particular give both pros and traditional players a hard time. They make Dust2 an absolute coin flip, and even one kill can have far-reaching consequences on the map. Dust2 is probably one of the most important maps in the FPS genre, but it’s getting long in the tooth.

9. Piccadilly (CoD)

The Call of Duty franchise has released numerous games and with them hundreds of maps. The following is probably the worst of them all: Piccadilly. Based on the famous “Piccadilly Circus” intersection in London, this winding map is every Modern Warfare player’s nightmare. Crowded with stores, double-decker buses and twisting corners, you never really know where you’re going to get shot at. The map offers numerous spots for camping and spawn trapping and thus provides numerous opportunities for slow, CoD-untypical gameplay, which also caused great displeasure in the community. But that’s not all: the map feels gigantic and claustrophobic at the same time, making it one of the most hated maps in gaming.

8. Lylat cruise (Smash Brawl)

Lylat is one of the most hated maps in Smash history, and for several reasons. Many are bothered by the level’s design, as it’s a flying spaceship that sways back and forth and spins, making it extremely difficult for players to get back to the stage. On top of that, the edges on Lylat are poorly programmed and you regularly fly through them. So the map is a pure disaster not only from a design standpoint but also from a programming standpoint. No wonder both pro and casual players avoid the map if possible.

7. Fracture (VALORANT)

Fracture is one of the newer maps in Valorant and is very different from the other maps in the shooter. Perhaps that is why it is not particularly liked by so many players. The zipline that runs once across the entire map makes for confusing attacks from multiple sides, which makes it especially difficult for defenders on the map. There are many angles to watch out for and the bomb spots are hard to hold. On top of that, the round is effectively over as soon as the first defender dies, as rotating is almost impossible due to the many paths and you often run into a flank during the process. There are certainly good maps in Valorant, but Fracture is not one of them.

6. Vertigo (CS:GO)

Vertigo, probably the worst map in all of Counter-Strike, made it to number 6 on our list. You don’t really know where to start with this apltraum map. The map has a lot of sound problems and bugs, but the biggest problem is the vertical gameplay, which is untypical for CS:GO and therefore drives many players crazy. It is the only map in the active map pool where you can fall off the map to your death. In addition, Vertigo is a maze of ladders, stairs, and narrow passages that allow players to find boosts and angles that are not present on any other map in CS:GO. To cut a long story short, the map is a disaster, and that hasn’t changed with the rework in 2019.

5. Old Neo Tokyo (Rocket League)

You wouldn’t think you could go wrong designing a map in Rocket League. But Old Neo Tokyo provides the perfect proof to the contrary. Granted, the atmosphere of the Japanese metropolis offers a visually sophisticated flair. If it weren’t for those darn elevations. Neo Tokyo has two levels at different heights on which to play. This makes estimating the ball and its trajectory almost impossible. The map is therefore unpredictable and causes a lot of frustration. Shortly after release, Neo Tokyo was even included in the Ranked Mappool and caused a lot of chaos. After only one season, however, the map was reworked to normal standards.

4. New Hereford Base (R6)

Rainbow Six has a bunch of maps that deserve to end up on this list. Hereford Base is certainly one of them. Hereford Base has been in the game since the release of Rainbow Six Siege and this much can be said: the map is hell on earth for attackers. It is extremely dark in many corners, the corridors and floors are twisted and are more like mazes. Even if you have spent some time in Rainbow Six, you will regularly get lost on this map. Even the game developers didn’t know what to do with the map. The rework of Hereford Base into Operation Grim didn’t help the map’s reputation, and it remains one of the most hated maps in the game even after this rework.

3. Paris (Overwatch)

For our #3 spot, we take a trip to the city of love. Paris from Overwatch made it to the podium. The Assault Map, released in 2019, is considered the worst map in the game due to its insane choke points. The defending team can easily fight from elevations, and there’s not much room for the attacking team to reach the first checkpoint. Defenders effectively have a Free Win if they play a Bunker Comp in the chokepoints. Players hated Paris so much that it was removed from competitive play in April 2020. Many players were confused as to how Paris even made it there.

2. Pokemon Stadium (Smash)

Pokemon Stadium from Smash is probably the most buggy map on our list. There is an unexplained problem with the map’s code that causes players to fall through the map on some combos or simple moves when the stage transforms into the Fire Pokemon stage. But that’s not all. There are a bunch of other problems with certain characters or when changing the map to another theme. The problems became so big that the map was locked at tournaments or only the default stage was played without changing the theme.

1. Tower (R6)

As we all know, the best, or in this case the worst, comes at the end. The most hated map in gaming is Tower from Rainbow Six Siege. Released in 2017 with Operation White Noise, Tower is probably the worst-designed map. It covers a huge area over several floors and yet offers little room for setups. Attackers can be taken out very easily when rappelling down from the spawn, and it’s a huge act to even get out of the spawn and into the building. Should you still get inside the tower, the problems continue. Every nook and cranny must be searched for enemies, as the defenders have so much room to flank and roam that attackers can get dizzy. Pros and casual players alike hate the map, which is why it’s deservedly our #1 spot.