10. Valhalla – Halo 3
Our first iconic Halo map is the big team dream, Valhalla. Set on the picturesque Ark, the map is both incredibly gorgeous and lore rich. However, most importantly, it is a reasonably big size for multiplayer shenanigans.
Valhalla is essentially where you go when you want to have huge, chaotic multiplayer games where you can fly around in a Banshee or wreak havoc in a Scorpion.
With towering bases on each end of the map, the large space between them becomes a dangerous battlefield especially since Spartan Lasers and Sniper Rifles are available for use.
9. Sidewinder – Halo: Combat Evolved
Located on the original Installation 04, Sidewinder is a spacious, snowy horseshoe-shaped map of death. While generally wide open, this map also has several paths players can take to get to their respective games’ objectives.
Teleporters are scattered throughout Sidewinder and controlling access to them becomes very important very fast. These teleporters can easily ruin your day if you’re on the wrong end of one.
Sidewinder was eventually remade in Halo 3 as Avalanche with just as much snow and a whole lot more vehicles.
8. Terminal – Halo 2
Also known as the map with the train, Terminal has given people fond memories of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. If you don’t time it right or if you’re too distracted, you might end up walking right into the path of a fierce and indestructible train.
This train is the true final boss of Halo 2. The train absolutely cannot be stopped by anything and you can get up to some fun shenanigans trying and failing to block its path.
Of course, besides the train part, Terminal is a pretty good map with wide spacious areas and plenty of places to fight. However, above all, the train has racked up an incredible kill count.
7. Guardian – Halo 3
You’d think describing a Halo map as “cozy” wouldn’t fit but Guardian from Halo 3 is actually rather cozy in a very weird Halo kind of way. It’s compact, narrow in a lot of places, and it features multiple levels.
Its very central design is one of its defining features especially since the hallways and corridors lead into a circular arena in the middle of the map.
Due to this circular and compact design, this is the map to go for a good old fashioned death match especially if you’re one of the more competitive Halo players.
6. Zanzibar – Halo 2
Another iconic Halo map, Zanzibar is partly known for the giant spinning pinwheel in the middle of the map that you can see from nearly anywhere.
Unlike many other maps, Zanzibar is actually rather interactive with several buttons scattered about that change aspects of the map’s environment.
Zanzibar is also very versatile in its gameplay with wide-open areas, vehicles, narrow corridors, and chances for mid-range combat.
Halo 2: Anniversary features a slightly different version of this map known as Stonetown but its iconic pinwheel is still a central part of its remastered version.
5. The Pit – Halo 3
Aptly named, The Pit in Halo 3 is where people go to do some serious fighting. The map is also rather huge with several different bases, rooms, corridors, and levels.
Both sides of the map are more or less symmetrical and identical so no one team has an advantage over the other with specific weapons or beneficial layouts.
The Pit is honestly a great place to simply have some good old fashioned fun. With Halo 3 now available in the Master Chief Collection, we can experience this classic all over again.
4. Hang ‘Em High – Halo: Combat Evolved
This iconic Halo map is the place to have 1v1 fights. Hang ‘Em High is where you settle scores, avenge personal vendettas, and show off your skills to your friends. Of course, this is a multiplayer map so team games are just as fun.
Hang ‘Em High is a very versatile map that can fit into a number of different gameplay scenarios. This is partly due to the fact that it’s a spacious and multi-level location so there’s a lot of diversity in encountering players.
One second you can be dodging sniper rounds from across the map and the next you’ll be right in front of the barrel of a shotgun.
3. Ivory Tower – Halo 2
Ivory Tower is a multi-level death trap where you can encounter enemies around every corner. While not a particularly spacious or big map, Ivory Tower makes up for this with multiple floors and elevators.
A lot of fights will break out in the hallways and going around any corner is a big risk. Though, that’s all a part of Ivory Tower’s charm.
Danger lurks everywhere and the middle of the map can easily become a jumble of grenades, rockets, needlers, and sniper shots at the drop of a hat.
2. Lockout – Halo 2
The number two spot on this list belongs to Lockout from Halo 2. Okay, you may have noticed that there are quite a lot of Halo 2 maps on this list but that’s simply because Halo 2 is an A+ game.
Other than the fact that you can very easily fall off of the edge of the map if you’re not careful, the most memorable feature of Lockout is the dangerous and sharp energy sword.
Whoever has the energy sword essentially rules the map mostly because Lockout has a lot of close quarters encounters.
Lockout was remade in Halo 3 as Blackout and it’s still just as unsafe and heart pumping as its predecessor.
1. Blood Gulch – Halo: Combat Evolved
To no one’s surprise at all, Blood Gulch lands in our top spot as the most iconic Halo map ever. It’s one of the most recognizable maps in the Halo series and it’s been remade so many times in other games because it’s a fan favorite.
This could be attributed to Red vs. Blue, a popular Machinima series that was originally mainly set in Blood Gulch, but on its own, the map is still nicely designed.
The map itself is actually pretty simple with not many outstanding features. However, this simplicity is what makes it so charming. It’s huge, spacious, perfect for vehicles, and it has plenty of weapons to mess around with.
It’s a classic map that doesn’t need anything too fancy to make it memorable. Hopefully we’ll see a version of it in Halo: Infinite when the game finally comes out.
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