List of competitive Counter-Strike maps#Cache

Counter-Strike 2, and its predecessor Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, are first-person shooter games developed by Valve Corporation in the Counter-Strike series. The franchise has a very large competitive scene, which has received large media coverage. As a result, the games' multiplayer maps have longstanding legacies within the series, with some becoming significant to the first-person shooter genre as a whole.

Traditional gameplay of Counter-Strike features two teams, the Terrorists and Counter-Terrorists, fighting for control of a map while trying to fulfill their respective objectives. In Counter-Strike esports, the goal of the Terrorist team is to either kill all Counter-Terrorists or plant and detonate a bomb at a bomb site within the map, and the goal of the Counter-Terrorist team is to prevent the bomb plant, kill all Terrorists, or defuse the bomb.

This article serves as a list of maps featured in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Counter-Strike 2 that have established notability in the first-person shooter genre or in the games' competitive scenes.

Competitive maps

Different game modes have separate map pools, but Valve designates a group of seven as the "Active Duty" pool. Such maps are considered the most balanced and competitive by Valve and were used in nearly all competitive Counter-Strike esports tournaments, as well as the Premier matchmaking mode.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Scott |date=2022-11-20 |title=All current CS:GO maps: Which maps are Active Duty, competitive, and more |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/all-current-csgo-maps-active-duty-competitive-maps-and-more |access-date=2023-07-15 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The group of seven are chosen from a wider set of maps, with some community-created maps and some designed by Valve.

The list of Active Duty maps changes occasionally, generally by replacing one map at a time. Maps such as Dust II have been added, removed, and added back again.{{cite web |title=Huge new CS2 update adds Dust 2 into Active Duty map pool, removes Overpass |url=https://www.esports.net/news/counter-strike/new-cs2-update-dust-2-left-hand/ |website=esports.net |access-date=26 April 2024}}

As of January 2025, the seven Active Duty maps in Counter-Strike 2 are Ancient, Anubis, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke and Train.

= Ancient =

Ancient (de_ancient) was introduced to the game in a December 2020 update as part of "Operation Broken Fang".{{Cite web |date=2020-12-03 |title=CS:GO Operation Broken Fang is now live |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/counter-strike-global-offensive/csgo-operation-broken-fang |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} The map takes place in an archeological site, likely in Central America, and was created as a homage to a previous Counter-Strike map titled de_aztec.{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Scott |date=2021-05-03 |title=Valve adds Ancient, removes Train from CS:GO active duty map pool |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/valve-adds-ancient-removes-train-from-csgo-active-duty-map-pool |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The map has received consistent changes and upgrades since its introduction.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-28 |title=Chunky CS:GO patch brings Ancient, Grind, Mocha, Cache map changes |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/counter-strike-global-offensive/csgo-patch-ancient-cache-map-changes |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

The map has consistently appeared in competitive tournaments since its introduction and it is among the most played competitive maps alongside Mirage and Inferno.{{Cite web |last=Biazzi |first=Leonardo |date=2023-05-02 |title=Most popular CS:GO maps ahead of BLAST Paris Major |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/most-popular-csgo-maps-ahead-of-blast-paris-major |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The map is part of the Active Duty map pool.

= Anubis =

Anubis (de_anubis) is a community-created map introduced in a March 2020 update at the end of "Operation Shattered Web".{{Cite web |title=Clearing Out the Cobwebs |url=https://blog.counter-strike.net/index.php/2020/03/29314/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=blog.counter-strike.net}} The map is set in Egypt. The map was noted for being buggy upon release, but has been updated over time.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-09 |title=CS:GO update brings a batch of changes to Anubis and Mutiny maps |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/counter-strike-global-offensive/csgo-update-anubis-mutiny-changes |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}}

In November 2022, Valve contacted the creators of the map, Roald van der Scheur, "Jakuza", and "jd_40", and offered to buy out the rights to it, an unusual occurrence.{{Cite web |last=Allana |first=Danish |date=January 12, 2023 |title=Anubis creator explains how CS:GO's newest active duty map was designed |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/35368/anubis-creator-explains-how-csgos-newest-active-duty-map-was-designed |access-date=November 21, 2023 |website=HLTV}} Upon their acceptance, it replaced Dust II in the competitive map pool in November 2022, becoming the final competitive change before the release of Counter-Strike 2.{{Cite web |last=Stubbs |first=Mike |title=Dust 2 Removed From 'CS:GO' Map Pool, Replaced By Anubis |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikestubbs/2022/11/18/dust-2-removed-from-csgo-map-pool-replaced-by-anubis/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Forbes |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Silverman |first=Leo |date=2022-11-18 |title=Anubis replaces one of Counter-Strike's most iconic maps in huge CS:GO update |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/anubis-replaces-one-of-counter-strikes-most-iconic-maps-in-huge-csgo-update |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The map went from the least popular competitive map to a popular choice during the 2023 Paris Major.{{Cite web |last=Biazzi |first=Leonardo |date=2023-05-16 |title=One CS:GO map is rising in popularity during Paris Major—and karrigan knows why |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/one-csgo-map-is-rising-in-popularity-during-paris-major-and-karrigan-knows-why |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The map is part of the Active Duty map pool.

= Cache =

Cache (de_cache) is a map first made for Counter-Strike: Source in 2004, and was introduced to the Global Offensive's main competitive map pool in "Operation Breakout" in 2014. It, along with Anubis, have been the only community-made maps to be featured in the Active Duty map pool. It was removed from the game in March 2019 and replaced by Vertigo, before being updated as a standalone map outside of competitive play later that year.{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Jamie |date=2019-10-18 |title=New CS:GO update adds revamped Cache, celebrates 20th anniversary |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/new-csgo-update-adds-revamped-cache-celebrates-20th-anniversary |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}

According to Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Cache has been compared to Inferno and Dust II, as one of the most well designed maps in the Counter-Strike series.{{Cite news |last1=Richardson |first1=Emily |date=2015-07-03 |title=How Do You Make A Professional Counter-Strike Map? |language=en |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/how-do-you-make-a-cs-go-map |access-date=2023-07-10}} The map was used in a study from Uppsala University for a full analysis on level design in competitive video games.{{cite thesis |type=BA |last=Edin Karakurt and Jeppe Willatzen |date=2020 |title=Competitive Level Design A study on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Level Design |publisher=Uppsala University |url=https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1453749/FULLTEXT01.pdf |language=en}} A remake of the original Cache is a very popular demand for Counter-Strike 2{{'s}} competitive map pool.{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Harrison |date=2023-07-07 |title=Move over Nuke, CS2 players are demanding another classic map make its return |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/move-over-nuke-cs2-players-are-demanding-another-classic-map-make-its-return |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}

= Dust II =

= Inferno =

= Mirage =

= Nuke =

= Overpass =

Overpass (de_overpass) was the first competitive map intentionally designed for Global Offensive, and was released in a December 2013 update alongside an updated version of Cobblestone.{{Cite web |date=2013-12-14 |title=Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to receive revamped de_cbble and a new map: Overpass |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/counterstrike/counter-strike-global-offensive-receive-revamped-decbble-and-new-map-overpass |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} The map features a roadway bridging over and open canal, adjacent to a public park. The map has an increased emphasis on long-ranged combat.{{Cite web |last=Biazzi |first=Leonardo |date=2022-03-28 |title=All Overpass callouts in CS:GO |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/all-overpass-callouts-in-csgo |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} Overpass was updated in April 2014.{{Cite news |author1=Emanuel Maiberg |date=2014-04-10 |title=How Counter-Strike: Global Offensive's Overpass map evolved |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-counter-strike-global-offensives-overpass-map-evolved/ |access-date=2023-07-10}}

The map was one of the most balanced in the game upon release, and has become a very important competitive map.{{Cite web |date=2014-01-27 |title=How data drives map design in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |url=https://www.pcgamesn.com/how-data-drives-map-design-counter-strike-global-offensive |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=PCGamesN |language=en-US}} Overpass was added into the Active Duty map pool in 2014 in Global Offensive, and this was carried over into the start of Counter-Strike 2. In April 2024, Overpass was removed from CS2's active duty pool in order to make room for Dust II's return, which led to mixed reactions from players and members of the pro scene.{{cite web |title=Community Reacts: Dust2 Replaces Overpass in Map Pool |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/38858/community-reacts-dust2-replaces-overpass-in-map-pool |website=HLTV |access-date=30 April 2024}}

= Train =

Train (de_train) is a map which was first created for the original Counter-Strike in a 1999 update and was remade for Global Offensive in a December 2014 update. It is set in a trainyard and train station featuring many ladders, high platforms, long angles, and tight corridors. It was removed from the competitive map pool in May of 2021 and replaced by Ancient.{{Cite news |author1=Shaun Prescott |date=2014-12-11 |title=Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gets reimagined Train map |language=en |work=PC Gamer |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/counter-strike-global-offensive-gets-reimagined-train-map/ |access-date=2023-07-10}} Train was added back to the competitive map pool in January of 2025, replacing Vertigo.{{cite news |last1=Županič |first1=Žan |title=Train to replace Vertigo for Austin Major |url=https://www.hltv.org/news/40693/train-to-replace-vertigo-for-austin-major |access-date=8 January 2025 |work=HLTV.org |date=6 January 2025}}

= Vertigo =

Vertigo (de_vertigo) is a map added to the original Counter-Strike in 2001, added to Global Offensive in an October 2012 update and added to the competitive map pool in May 2019, replacing the popular map Cache.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-02 |title=Counter-Strike: Global Offensive patch has Vertigo |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/76015/counter-strike-global-offensive-patch-has-vertigo |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Shacknews |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Villanueva |first=Jamie |date=2019-03-29 |title=Vertigo replaces Cache in the CS:GO Active Duty map pool |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/vertigo-replaces-cache-in-the-csgo-active-duty-map-pool |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}} The map is situated on the top of a skyscraper in an unnamed city.{{Cite web |last=Miter |first=Mateusz |date=2023-06-27 |title=CS:GO players agree one map should be cut from pool ahead of CS2 |url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/csgo-players-agree-one-map-should-be-cut-from-pool-ahead-of-cs2 |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Dot Esports |language=en-US}}

Vertigo has become relatively unpopular due to its awkward design. While the map was part of the Active Duty map pool, it was a popular choice for removal from Counter-Strike 2. In January of 2025, Vertigo was removed from the Active Duty map pool (in preparation for the 2025 BLAST Austin Major) and replaced by Train.

Other maps

= Canals =

Canals (de_canals) was added to the game in a March 2017 update. The map takes place in a city inspired by Venice, Italy.{{Cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Alice |date=2017-03-16 |title=Counter-Strike: GO goes Venetian in new map Canals |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/counter-strike-global-offensive-new-map-canals |access-date=2023-07-10 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |language=en}} It was the first new official Counter-Strike map since the addition of Overpass in 2013.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-29 |title=CS:GO's new Canals map is changing the game |url=https://www.redbull.com/se-en/cs-go-new-map-canals-tips-and-tricks |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Red Bull |language=en}} Canals varies from traditional Counter-Strike level design, and gives the Terrorists a crescent-shaped starting area that is relatively cramped, but gives the Counter-Terrorists a large open area.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-17 |title=Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Gets a New Map, Better Looking Phoenix Terrorist |url=https://www.shacknews.com/article/99459/counter-strike-global-offensive-gets-a-new-map-better-looking-phoenix-terrorist |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Shacknews |language=en}} The map also features additional routes that allow players to go under parts of the map to stealthily arrive to the bomb sites.{{Cite web |last=Nunneley-Jackson |first=Stephany |date=2017-03-17 |title=CS:GO's new Canals map is set in a historic Italian city, community designed weapons skins added |url=https://www.vg247.com/csgos-new-canals-map-is-set-in-a-historic-italian-city-community-designed-weapons-skins-added |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=VG247 |language=en}}

Canals was added to the Reserve map pool, placing it outside of traditional competitive play and the map has not seen play in any of the Counter-Strike majors. The map has been criticized for having an unorthodox layout that has been considered heavily unbalanced in favor of the Terrorists.{{Cite web |date=2017-03-17 |title=Counter-Strike Players Are Sceptical Of The Game's New Map |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/03/counter-strike-players-are-skeptical-of-the-games-new-map/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819230627/https://www.kotaku.com.au/2017/03/counter-strike-players-are-skeptical-of-the-games-new-map/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Kotaku Australia |language=en-AU}}