When id Software released Quake back in 1996, the landmark dark fantasy first-person shooter was considered the genre's gold standard and significantly influenced other FPS games during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now 25 years later, and the master studio of remasters - Nightdive Studios - took the original Quake and enhanced it to fit a contemporary gaming experience a little better than the original would.
And let's admit it, no modern FPS experience is complete without online multiplayer of some sort. The remastered version of Quake gave fans a dedicated server for online deathmatches, and the game also has local split-screen support for both deathmatches and co-op play. With its updated graphics and gameplay improvements, let's take a look at the best multiplayer maps Quake has to offer in the base game.
6 DM1: Place of Two Deaths
Some fans considered the Place of Two Deaths map to be the first-ever deathmatch map in FPS history. However, being the first doesn't mean it's good. The map has minimal options for weapons, with only the Double-Barreled Shotgun, two Nailguns, and one Grenade Launcher available to pick up.
The map is also one of the worst maps for multiple modes, with DM1 containing the fewest rooms compared to other maps. With that said, a Place of Two Deaths is great for two players - the map's name even implies that this is the place best suited for a 1-vs-1.
5 DM5: The Cistern
Named for a room that's nearly submerged underwater, The Cistern is a severely underrated deathmatch map. The map supplies players with all gun types except for the Double Barrel Shotgun, and it also includes a teleporter system that connects each end of the map.
The map's size and layout make it appealing to some players, but what makes this map unpopular is the misplaced Rocket Launcher that's hidden behind a button-activated door. The button to the door, located on the upper platform, can easily be controlled by another player camping by it, making it extremely difficult to obtain the only Rocket Launcher available in DM5.
4 DM2: Claustrophobolis
Tightly designed corridors and rooms, Claustrophobolis is one of the most popular duelist deathmatch maps in Quake. Hanging crucified bodies, lava floor-traps, and the iconic big room makes this map extremely memorable. While DM2 lacks the Lightning Gun, the map offers a ton of armor and health power-ups - there are no less than two Red Armors, two 100 Healths, and three Yellow Armors.
While the defensive power-ups create a better environment for a 1-vs-1, it also makes Claustrophobolis a slower pace map by nature - with players criticizing that DM2 is always prone to low-scoring matches despite its popularity.
3 DM6: The Dark Zone
Quake's Dark Zone was once the most popular deathmatch map due to its outstanding balance of power-ups, weapons, and ammo. DM6 contains many teleporters that connect most rooms on the map, with the second floor being an overlook of the first-floor main room.
But the map lost popularity over the years due to other player-made maps that are better for multiple modes, relegating DM6 to be an almost exclusively 1-vs-1 map. And because of its initial popularity, some players became so good that it discouraged new players from playing in The Dark Zone.
2 DM4: The Bad Place
Arguably the fastest pace deathmatch map in the game, The Bad Place is a great map for some chaotic 1-vs-1 and 2-vs-2. DM4 is a great map to test the game's best maneuverability mechanics like drop-shotting and rocket jumping to other floors.
DM4's popularity comes from its relatively small size in combination with the easy-access weapon spawns located on multiple floors, creating for some of the most fun and insanely fast matches. For those looking for non-stop actions and brutal combat, no other Quake deathmatch map is better - just make sure you're prepared for chaos.
1 DM3: The Abandoned Base
The birthplace of e-sports and simply the best deathmatch map in Quake, The Abandoned Base is one of the most iconic multiplayer maps in video game history. Balanced with weapons and power-ups, many fans in the Quake community considered DM3 to be the map for both Team Deathmatches and Clan Wars.
The classic design of the map has influenced many competitive games after Quake, like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress, and has become an iconic staple of the genre. It isn't a surprise that The Abandoned Base is the most played multiplayer Quake map of all time, and remains one of the most fun competitive shooter maps to this day. If you're playing the remaster of Quake, you'll want to familiarize yourself with this one.