This guide will show you both the basic and advanced callouts for each map currently available in casual and competitive modes. Additionally, I have included some background information on each map to explain how it has evolved.

Keep in mind that this guide will be updated as new updates modify the layout of existing maps or introduce new official maps.

All images, including the background, layout, and avatar, were obtained from the game's internal files. All edits were created by me.

• Creator: Lari "CryptR" Muuriaisniemi
  
• Location: United States
  
• Introduction: June 27, 1999
  
• Game mode: Hostage rescue

[cs_assault_s2_picture_missing_error]

Counter-Strike's oldest map traces its origins back to Beta 1.0 as a reimagining of the "cs_wpndepot" map. Assault was introduced in Beta 1.1 and became extremely popular, winning the affection of many despite being a rather awkward map due to its angles and verticality. In later updates, the map remained practically unchanged, with only minor gameplay tweaks. However, it continued to heavily favor the T side.

While successful in casual play, the map struggled in competitive settings and was ultimately discarded due to these balance issues. Additionally, hostage mode, as it was originally designed, never performed as well as defuse mode. Even with the improvements made to hostage mode in CS:GO, all hostage maps, including Assault, were largely forgotten.

There is little evidence to suggest this map might return to the game. The only hint is an easter egg in Train labeled "warehouse." If Assault does return, it would likely undergo radical changes to make it viable for competitive play.

• Creator: Jo "MEEEEDIC" Bieg
  
• Location: United States
  
• Introduction: November 5, 1999
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Set in a nuclear power plant, Nuke was introduced in Beta 4.0, making it the oldest map still available in the franchise. Over time, it underwent several reworks, including a challenging period in 2016–2017 due to its controversial redesign at the time. After numerous adjustments, the map evolved into the version we know today.

Despite these improvements, Nuke remains a map with a notable disadvantage for the T side. Even so, it has endured as one of the most entertaining maps to both watch and play.

• Creator: Christopher "Cancerboy" Mair
  
• Location: Russia
  
• Introduction: December 30, 1999
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Created in 1999, the map's development team, known as "Barking Dog Studios" at the time, aimed to create a train-themed map inspired by a train station located just a few meters from their offices. Train's development progressed quickly and it was introduced in Beta 5.0, rapidly becoming a community favorite. The map saw minimal changes to its layout until the release of CS:GO, when the CS team began adapting it for competitive play. In 2014, the map underwent more significant changes.

Train remained a prominent map in the game, but the CS team removed it from the active map pool to make room for Ancient and address balance issues. In 2024, Train returned in CS2 with new updates, achieving greater balance.

• Creator: Glen "glenC" Cooper & Jaison "DigiChaos" Green
  
• Location: Italy
  
• Introduction: June 8, 2000
  
• Game mode: Hostage rescue

Introduced in Beta 6.5, Italy is a map inspired by its namesake country. Since 1999, its layout remained unchanged until it received minor updates for CS:GO, followed by further balancing in CS2.

Due to the limitations of hostage mode, this map was initially excluded from competitive play. However, after these adjustments, it finally secured a spot in the competitive map pool in 2024.

• Creator: David "DaveJ" Johnston
  
• Location: France
  
• Introduction: June 8, 2000
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

[de_cbble_s2_picture_missing_error]

In 2000, DaveJ created de_cbble after a failed attempt to design a castle-themed map according to his vision. Despite this, Cobble was introduced to the franchise in beta 6.5 and eventually became one of the most popular maps, even surpassing de_dust.

Cobble reappeared for CS:GO with some changes compared to the original. However, despite its success in casual mode, the map was not in optimal condition for professional tournaments. As a result, it underwent several remodels in an attempt to become competitively viable. In 2018, the map suffered radical changes that significantly affected its gameplay, leading to a loss of popularity. By 2019, it was removed from the competitive map pool.

Between 2022 and 2023, several leaks from dataminers hinted that Cobblestone might return for CS2 in the future. It is estimated that the map could make a comeback by 2025.

• Creator: Alexander "Hobbit" Manilov
  
• Location: United States
  
• Introduction: August 27, 2000
  
• Game mode: Hostage rescue

One of the most classic maps in the franchise, Office was introduced in beta 7.0 as a hostage map set in a snow-covered office. It holds many memories and is a lot of fun to play casually. However, despite these positives, the map and its gameplay suffer from serious balance issues.

The map hasn't changed much since its release, retaining large areas that serve no purpose in gameplay. Additionally, due to the smoke grenade mechanic, the T side can barricade themselves in their base with all the hostages, allowing the clock to run in their favor. Competitively, it never managed to stand out—not only because of the problems mentioned above but also due to the inherent limitations of hostage mode.

Today, it could be said that Office is one of the least favored maps in the game, largely due to the CS team's lack of interest in treating one of the franchise's most iconic maps with the respect it deserves.

• Creator: David "DaveJ" Johnston
  
• Location: Morocco
  
• Introduction: March 13, 2001
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

In 1999, the CS team introduced de_dust in beta 4.0. At the time, the map was so popular that its creators decided to design a more balanced and ambitious successor. In March 2001, Dust II was introduced to the franchise set in a Morocco urban area, quickly surpassing its predecessor and remaining the most popular map in Counter-Strike.

Dust 2 has maintained its presence to this day, appearing in numerous tournaments, and despite the years, the map remains virtually unchanged from its origins.

• Creator: Christopher "Barney" Auty
  
• Location: Italy
  
• Introduction: March 13, 2001
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Set in an Italian neighborhood, Inferno was introduced to the franchise in version 1.1 with a layout noticeably different from its current form. In 2003, it underwent several changes to balance the map, becoming one of the most popular maps in the franchise. For CS:S, the map received additional adjustments to its layout, which were later reverted for CS:GO. In 2016, it received a visual update that corrected awkward angles and improved overall gameplay.

Since its introduction, Inferno has maintained a strong presence in the competitive scene, standing alongside Dust II and Mirage as one of the franchise's most iconic maps.

• Creator: Christopher "Barney" Auty
  
• Location: United States
  
• Introduction: March 13, 2001
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Probably the most infamous map in existence today, Vertigo was introduced in patch 1.1 as a map set in a skyscraper under construction. Despite being fun to play casually, it was very labyrinthine, wide, and had unfair structures, which caused it to miss the opportunity to be played in professional tournaments. The map was absent for a long time until its return for CS:GO, unfortunately bringing back several bugs from the past. Because of this, it was once again excluded from several important tournaments.

In November 2017, the CS team decided to remove the map from the game, promising that it would return one day. In March 2019, Vertigo made its return with a new rework, entering the competitive map pool despite not being fully ready. Over time, the map underwent constant adjustments while remaining in the active map pool to this day.

You could say that, due to its indecisive layout and awkward angles, it earned the hatred of many players. However, thanks to the dedication of the CS team, the map now stands as an excellent competitive map and living proof that even the most bizarre map can become great.

• Creator: Michael "BubkeZ" Hüll
  
• Location: Morocco
  
• Introduction: June 12, 2013
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Loved by many and hated by others, cpl_strike was a map created for the "Cyberathlete Professional League" (CPL) tournaments in 2003. After several changes and legal issues, its non-CPL version was released in 2004 under the name de_mirage.

In 2013, the map was acquired by the CS team and implemented into CS:GO, set in an urban area of Morocco. Since then, Mirage has continued to grow, appearing in practically all competitive tournaments. Today, it remains stronger than ever, being one of the most balanced competitive maps available.

• Creator: Salvatore "Volcano" Garozzo & Shawn "FMPONE" Snelling
  
• Location: Ukraine
  
• Introduction: September 19, 2013
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Set in Chernobyl, Cache was created in 2011 to participate in ESEA professional tournaments for CS:S. Its popularity was so significant that, in 2013, it was introduced to the franchise and added to the active map pool for CS:GO, despite not being officially acquired by the CS team. In 2019, the map was removed from the active map pool to make way for Vertigo, and shortly after, a rework was released featuring a more natural setting surrounded by vegetation. This, however, introduced a new problem: shortly after the rework, the CS team released new purchasable agents that were too camouflaged within the updated version of Cache, forcing FMPONE to adjust the map's color palette.

Despite the rework, the map could not return to the active map pool because the CS team, lacking control over the map, faced challenges in addressing issues beyond their jurisdiction. As a result, Cache did not make it into CS2, but FMPONE began working on a new version of the map that blends the original aesthetic with the 2019 rework, with its release estimated for 2025.

• Creator: Magnar "insta" Jenssen
  
• Location: Germany
  
• Introduction: December 18, 2013
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Introduced in late 2013 for CS:GO, Overpass is a completely original map created by the CS team, set in an urban area of Germany. Its initial versions featured noticeably different paths, with the final version favoring the CT side and including some ridiculous boosts that have since been corrected. The map was well received by both the community and professional tournaments, earning the affection of many.

In 2024, a little more than 10 years after its release, it was removed from the active map pool of CS2 despite being at its peak. However, it remains playable in competitive mode.

• Creator: "Roald", "jakuza" & "jd40".
  
• Location: Egypt
  
• Introduction: March 31, 2020
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Being a new and unknown map set in ruins in Egypt, Anubis managed to find its place in the game in 2020, alongside other community maps. In its short time, it showed quite a bit of promise, becoming the map of the moment to the point that the CS team decided to acquire it along with Tuscan.

Anubis returns for CS2, staying true to its version in CS:GO and making a good impact in competitive games.

• Creator: The CS team
  
• Location: Mexico
  
• Introduction: December 3, 2020
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

Introduced in beta 6.5, de_aztec remained a fun map for casual play for a long time. However, it was not competitively viable and was excluded from professional tournaments. After its return for CS:GO, its player base hit rock bottom, making it the least played map in the pool. As a result, the CS team decided to remove the map from the game in November 2017, promising it would return one day.

In December 2020, Aztec made a "clean slate" and was reintroduced under the name Ancient set in the same Aztec ruins as its predecessor. This radical change allowed it to participate in professional tournaments, where it remains today as an excellent competitive map.

• Creator: Colin "brute" Volrath
  
• Location: Italy
  
• Introduction: August 16, 2022
  
• Game mode: Bomb Defusal

[de_tuscan_s2_picture_missing_error]

Like cpl_strike, cpl_mill was a map created for the "Cyberathlete Professional League" (CPL) tournaments in 2000. After several changes and legal issues, its non-CPL version was released in 2005 under the name de_tuscan.

Despite being extremely popular in competitive play and having versions ready for official incorporation into the franchise, the CS team chose to ignore this map for unknown reasons. In 2014, Brute introduced a new version of the map for CS:GO, but due to personal issues, he was unable to optimize it properly for competitive viability. It wasn’t until 2019 that he collaborated with "CatFood" to create a version that met modern standards.

After demonstrating its potential, the CS team officially acquired the map. However, Tuscan did not return for CS2, leaving behind leaks that suggest it could return in the future.