Top 11 Rocket League Arenas

Rocket League is a game known for its amazing core concept, its brilliant gameplay aspects and it’s highly populated online community. Though, another area that the game excels in that is often overlooked for the more prominent aspects, are its style and presentation. Rocket League is a beautiful game with wonderfully well-rendered cars, items and other details.One of these aesthetic masterclasses that Rocket League achieves with ease, is the game’s ability to transport players to beautiful vistas and worlds. The game does this through the various arenas that the player can play matches in. These arenas vary in theme and design in a multitude of different ways.

Are all Rocket League maps the same size?

Since season 6, all Arenas are standardized and have the same size and layout. Before this season Starbase ARC and Wasteland had different sizes but they were redesigned and have now the same dimension.In terms of design, the arenas vary through their shape firstly. There are a number of arenas that will be completely flat, allowing for the most conventional and traditional experience akin to that of a real-life soccer match. Though not all arenas will retain the same level of decorum.There are a number of maps that offer a more rounded, dome-like quality. Allowing for different play styles like wall rides and shots falling from the roof of the arena. Then there are also arenas that offer slopes, raised platforms and other details that make for additional considerations when playing these arenas. These differences from conventional arenas are not for everyone but offer a variety to the gameplay that is often appreciated by many within the community.Then, of course, the arenas are also themed differently. Meaning that the surrounding area will have an instantly recognizable and beautifully designed outer perimeter. This may be a roaring crowd, a farmstead, or a  Tokyo-esque cityscape for example. Plus, not only do these thematic landscapes that encompass the field of play look outstanding. They also often have a day and night mode. Allowing for more variation in maps for players.It’s also worth noting that although these are officially called arenas. The Rocket League community often refers to these as stadiums or more commonly maps. There is no difference or variation between these terms. They simply are different ways of describing the same in-game areas.

The best Rocket League Stadiums

Though, with so many maps on offer for players to understand and know how to play effectively in. It can be a daunting thing to get your head around. Well, fear not, we have done our due diligence and put together a list of the eleven best maps available to play within Rocket League.We will let you know how the map looks, what unique features to be on the lookout for, plus any other details that might prove useful to you.So here is our list of the top eleven Rocket League arenas:

DFH Stadium

First up is the stadium that takes its name after the creator of Rocket League and CEO of Psyonix, David.F.Hagewood. This arena is built amongst a city as you can see a variety of skyscrapers peering into view. They peer over a massive floating grandstand in which a roaring crowd watches you battle it out with other players for supremacy.The arena is about as conventional as a game involving rocket-propelled vehicles playing soccer gets. The layout is the standard six full boosts in each corner and sides of the pitch. Then you have twenty-eight 12% boost pickups scattered throughout the field.This map comes in three different variants. The first being the standard daytime mode. Then there is a stormy variant that offers a gloomy weather effect. Then finally there is the snowy variant that is only available when playing the snow day game mode. This mode is, of course, the mode which resembles hockey, with players chasing a puck instead of a soccer ball.Also, here’s a fun fact for anyone that might be interested. The grandstand at DFH stadium has an approximate capacity of 25,000 seats. Meaning that quite a crowd can gather to watch you float around, scoring goals. All in all, this stadium is one that relies on no tricks or gimmicks.What you see is what you get. So only raw skill and talent will carry you in this map.

Mansfield

Then we have Mansfield, a stadium that perhaps takes its name from Liverpool FC’s home ground, Anfield. This map plays very similarly to the DFH stadium in that it is conventional by nature. The boosts are laid out in the standard formation of six large and twenty-eight smaller boost pickups.Though where this arena varies from DFH stadium is through its aesthetic. Players are treated to a full stadium rather than a grandstand. The crowd completely surrounds the player, urging them toward victory from all angles.The stadium design is much more reminiscent of a sports ground, complete with arching roofs and traditional pitch markings.The landscape that can be seen outside the stadium is a picturesque one. Snowy mountaintops can be made out, even from the pitch. All culminating to give a traditional map with enough fine details to offer fantastic surroundings. This is again, a map that will offer no shocks or gimmicks.You’ll have to have sharp skills and raw talent to string some wins together on this map.

Beckwith Park

Carrying on with the no shocks design approach is Beckwith Park. This map is named after Psyonix’s technical artist, Ben Beckwith and is the map in which all training modes take place within.The aesthetic of this map is as if a pitch has been forged within a dense forest. The whole stadium is surrounded by tall birch trees and looking over the tall trees, you can see mountaintops and a cityscape in the distance. It gives the feel of a quiet park, abundant with nature and foliage. Only there is a massive stadium with rocket cars, of course.This map, much like the last two entries, has a standard boost setup with six full boost pickups and twenty-eight smaller boost pickups. Plus comes in variations of daytime, midnight and stormy. Each adding their own weather-based aesthetic changes to the already stunning Park like vista.This map is another example of a straightforward, skill-based Rocket league arena.

Utopia Coliseum

Next up we have utopia Coliseum. This map is one that players of Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket Propelled battle cars will find familiar. Although not completely identical to the utopia map from that title, it does bear some striking similarities.The aesthetic is one of the most bright and vibrant that Rocket League has to offer. With its team color themed buildings and archways, hedges and other foliage that are beautifully trimmed.Plus stone fountains and statues that are scattered around the stadium. It all comes together to give a vibe of an Italian city. Perhaps this one is loosely based on Rome and it’s Coliseum.The pitch is also beautifully crafted with stone walkways running through the checked pattern grass pitch. It is such a gorgeous mesh of ideas. The only small flaw was the initial boost placements, though since it’s the initial release of the map, these have been changed to more natural places on the pitch.Boost for this map is laid out in the standard 6×28 pattern and the map comes in a number of different variations. Those being daytime, dusk and snowy.Although the design ramps up in quality for this epic stadium, the gameplay remains very much traditional with little shocks set to occur in this one.

Farmstead

Next on our list is the beautiful autumn classic, farmstead. This map was released in September 2017 as part of a seasonal update. The aesthetic takes its inspiration from the classic rural countryside. In this map, you’ll see golden leaves swaying in the breeze on a great oak tree. You’ll see a battered tire swing hanging from its branches. You’ll see rusted car wreckage, you'll see masses of overgrown fields stretching out to the horizon and this will also be presented in a gorgeous warm filter.The goalmouths are reminiscent of farmhouses or barns. There are farmhouses in the distance. Then behind the blue goal, there is a set of bleachers for each team. The boosts for this map follow the standard 6×28 formula and this map comes in two variants, one being dusk and the other being night.Also, coinciding with the release of popular Sci-fi series, Stranger Things. There was a version of Farmstead called the upside-down. This was a version of the map flipped completely upside down. Though this was only available during the Haunted Hallows event of 2019. Overall, the playstyle for this one will not differ too much from the last few entries, style and shape remain standard, so players can focus on their usual approach with little need for variation.

Aqua Dome

Have you been playing the more conventional maps on this list? The ones that make you feel like you're playing in real-life, realistic stadiums and locations. Do you want a little bit of fantasy with your football? Well, Aqua Dome provides an underwater Atlantis for you to inhabit while you boost around the field.This map is a standard map type with standard 6×28 boost pick-ups around the map. Though unlike the rest and most likely due to the nature of the location. The map has only one variation which is daytime.The aesthetic is like no other on this list. The match takes place in a dome under the sea. Akin to Rapture or Atlantis. This airtight structure plays host to matches where you can take in the wildlife in the lulls of the game. With coral reefs, sharks, jellyfish and pufferfish to be seen throughout this map design.Although this map is again, another standard shape and style. You can see why is it loved by many. The attention to detail is exquisite and the setting adds that sense of fantasy and escapism that all gamers crave.

Forbidden Temple

Now we have the most recently added map that appears on our list. Released in January 2020 as part of the Lucky Lanterns event, Forbidden Temple follows the theme of that event. Showcasing a style and design that is rich with oriental influences and cherry blossoms as far as the eye can see.Behind each goal, the mouth is a grandstand for each respective set of fans to cheer on their players. Whilst in the middle of the pitch is a beautiful waterfall feature. Then at the peak of this roaring waterfall is an oriental style temple that overlooks the action on the field. The goalmouths have beautiful bridge walkways behind them and then the whole map has a gorgeous pink hue. All culminating to give a vibrant and full realized oriental scene.The layout of this map follows the trend of the previous entries. The boost pattern is a standard 6×28 formula and the style and shape of the map are the same as any standard map on this list. Making this one a map that relies on skill and ability to win matches with no added considerations.As long as you are not distracted by this map's abundance of beautiful details, then you should have no issues.

Urban Central

Now we have urban central, a map that comes from SARPBC and has retained large amounts of its charm and style when it was included in Rocket League’s predecessor. This map aesthetically initially aimed to replicate an abandoned warehouse. Though this has changed drastically since it’s first inclusion in Rocket League.The map now has an aesthetic inspired by a railway junction. The map is constantly oozing sounds to that effect, with a classic train whistleblowing when players score a goal on this map. The map also manages to retain its urban setting through its reliance on brickwork and asphalt replacing the grass on the pitch.The map is another example of a standard map and perhaps, is arguably the first-ever standard map that acts as a blueprint for any other maps of this nature. Boosts are in the standard 6×28 format and this one has a few variants including day, night and dawn. Another map that relies on skill and has been used in high-end tournaments before due to this, such as the RCS season one final for example.

Core 707

Here we have the first non-standard map on our list. Core 707 is a map that looks like something straight out of a vaporwave, eighties sci-fi movie. Think Tron and you aren’t far away. This map has an octagon kind of shape and is split directly down the middle with no goal mouths present on the field.The reason being that this is a drop shot arena. This is a game mode that resembles volleyball. Players must use their skills to fly in the air and keep the ball off their side of the field. This spacious map and lack of additional details serve this game mode perfectly. All you and your team can rely on is their skills and abilities.This was initially added to only casual play but is now available in competitive play as drop shot is now a competitive game mode.This map also features no boost pads. Players start with full boost and this recharges automatically. So if this sounds like the game mode for you, then you’ll become very familiar with core 707.

Neo Tokyo

Moving back to the standard map types, we have the wave of neon that is neo Tokyo. This phenomenally designed vista was first introduced to the Rocket League community as Tokyo underpass. This map had a series of parallel ranks along the length of the pitch and made it quite a difficult map to play and caused inconsistencies within the competitive scene.Thankfully though, Psyonix would take this map off the competitive roster and replace it with Neo Tokyo.This map keeps all the positive aspects of its predecessor and then changes it to a classic, standard format. The bustling and vibrant cityscape still dominates the surroundings of the stadium. This metropolis is truly a masterful design.Admittedly, besides the flashing lights and towering buildings dominating the stadium’s vista. The gameplay remains pretty consistent with the rest of the maps listed. If this were underpass it would be a story of slower-paced games with less anticipation due to awkward bounces.Though with the changes this is truly a wonderful map that stands amongst the rest of this list easily.

Wasteland

Then lastly we have the wasteland map. This map was redesigned and released in September 2017 and is another standard map type. It is an arena from the original Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket-Powered Battle-Cars. This map has the usual 6×28 boost pattern and only has one variant, which is daytime.We’ve all had it happen to us before, we are kicking ass over and over again in ranked play. Then the next arena loads and it is Wasteland! You calmly palm your controller like a grenade, and chuck it out the window! That is the only solution to playing Wasteland at the moment, The Wasteland arena truly is a Rocket League wasteland.Aesthetically, this map is something pulled straight out of the Mad Max universe. The pitch is enclosed by a cage-like structure and the pitch is made up of desert terrain instead of the standard grass pitch. Team colors in the sand are a subtle touch and archaic post-apocalyptic details such as burning barrels only compliment this steampunk arena.Before Season 6 Wasteland differed slightly from the rest in terms of gameplay. The ground was uneven and the walls were slanted. This offers a more hectic and inconsistent game, which can be undesirable for some, especially in a competitive game.We’ve all had it happen to us before, we were kicking ass over and over again in ranked play. Then the next arena loaded and it is Wasteland! You calmly palmed your controller like a grenade, and chuck it out the window! That was the only solution to playing Wasteland at the moment, The Wasteland arena truly is a Rocket League wasteland.However, in terms of a fun factor, this addition was a welcome one for us. So if you could look past the inconsistency and find the fun, this map presented addition to the game.

Make Home Advantage Count

Rocket League has a cavalcade of amazing maps to play throughout your experience. Each with their own style, aesthetics, and some with individual gimmicks that add to their overall playability. If you want to achieve the best results possible and string together some wins, it’s important to familiarise yourself with each map, learn it’s quirks, adapt the colors of your car for good contrast (between you and the map) and be ahead of the competition.Also, it’s important to make your preference choices count. It’s inevitable that you will find maps that you adore and maps that you loathe. We all have our favorites. So make sure you enter your map preferences to ensure you get the most matches in maps that you love. If you’re playing on a map that you love and know like the back of your hand, then it’s like playing with home advantage. To analyze the available maps, find your perfect stadium and make it a fortress.