Map Prefix Full Glossary and Guide

A standing glossary of the 15 common map prefixes used in CSGO with the latest renditions of the official gametypes. This guide tells what the prefixes stand for and what kinds of maps they represent.

Official Map Prefixes

Arms Race

Example: ar_shoots
Arms race mode is the developer version of the gun game mods. Every kill delivers a new gun and level for the player.

Counter-Strike

Example: cs_italy
Counter-strike maps are hostage maps. Usually with 2 hostages and 1 or 2 rescue zones.

Defuse

Example: de_train
Bomb defuse maps have the bomb and 2 bombsites, classic CS. Demolition mode maps also use de_ as their prefix.

Unofficial and Mod Map Prefixes

Aim

Example: aim_citystreet
Aim maps usually have the map layout in such a way to that headshots or upper-body shots are the key, or have little to no miscellaneous objects so the focus is just on the other players.

Awp

Example: awp_india
Awp maps are awp and knife only maps, the layout is usually to favor quick picks and sniping slits.

Bunny Hop

Example: bhop_lakechallenge
Bunny hop maps are fun maps for players to practice, perfect, or just have fun bunny hopping. Usually the layouts are in ways that only with bunny hopping can you complete the map because you need the momentum buildup rather than just jumping.

CPL Defuse

Example: de_cpl_mill
The Cyberathletic Professional League used a few purpose-built mod maps for competitive play in its leagues, which carried to other competitive leagues such as CAL, CEVO, and ESEA. These maps used a specific prefix to identify then as being league-focused.

Deathmatch

Example: dm_laguna
Deathmatch maps have no bombsites or hostages, the focus is just on the combat. Valve has made deathmatch an official game mode now, but rather than create a new map set the official DM game mode uses the regular map set with objectives disabled.

Fight Yard

Example: fy_iceworld
Fight yard maps have no buy zones or objectives and are usually pretty small. The spawn areas are covered with guns so players pickup their guns from the spawn area and play the round.

Gun Game

Example: gg_legotower
Gun game maps were made for the gun game mods. There are no objectives, you progress in levels by killing other players, and then new levels give you different guns automatically. (Note: Valve has made an official game mode for this called Arms Race.)

HE Grenade

Example: he_tennis
HE Grenade maps (sometimes called "tennis" maps) pit teams against each other armed only with frag grenades. The maps have features like glass floors or a tall object between the teams like a tennis net.

Hunger Games

Example: hg_forest
Hunger Games maps are usually large areas with weapons scattered around the arena. The last man standing wins the round in this free-for-all survival format.

Knife

Example: knife_hallway, kn_hallway, or kf_hallway
Knife maps have no buy zones and free pistols is set to be off, knife on knife all the way. Various prefixes are used for this kind of map.

Mini-game

Example: mg_relayrace
Mini-game maps are fun game maps like races, time trials, obstacle courses, etc.

Scouts-Knives

Example: scoutzknivez_hotel
Scouts and knives, that’s it. These maps also usually have the gravity settings set very low so players can fly up and down the multi-leveled areas.

Surf

Example: surf_volcano
Surf maps have angled surfaces all over the place and the right server settings so players can glide along these surfaces and do all kind of crazy things with them like transfers, jumps, etc while still fighting at the same time.

Zombie Escape

Example: ze_metro or zm_metro
Zombie maps are usually bot-hoard maps where all the bots are on one team and the players on another. The bots run at the players with knifes or pistols and then respawn within the game round after being killed so they keep coming at the players.

[SEXO - Cheirao]

Nice

[2015 legend]

Rated !

[FormulaTツ]

@Snab: Ha, sounds fun. Added, thanks!

@MrNiicolai: Very sorry I missed your message last year! :( I've added your update as well. Thanks!

[snab]

hg - Hunger Games. Usually big maps with weapons scattered around the arena. Last man standing wins the round.

[Le Croisé]

I've already heard about a "he" prefix for "tennis grenade" map which consists in having infinite he grenade and thowing them over the net to the other side.
Well, as you can see : http://csgo.gamebanana.com/maps/cats/7239
there are not only map which look like to a tennis court.

[FormulaTツ]

Thanks for the info :) Updates made.

[shah bibi]

edit: cs_ IS counter-strike, because hostage maps came before de_ maps.

[shah bibi]

Some errors you made: Zombie mode is usually ze_ because it's zombie escape. bunnyhop maps are literally ALWAYS bhop_. Scoutzknivez (which is the correct name) is usually scoutzknives_, not sk_. Also, I would check to make sure cs_ stands for counter-strike.