This guide includes campaign names and light structural spoilers, but does not reveal story scenes or mission endings.
Fast answer
The answer before the background
The useful way to read these maps is by structure, not by memorizing one tower build. Identify every entrance, follow each route to the core storage, find the shared kill zone, and reserve a final line near the exit or cores. The original named missions run from Prologue through Backlash, and Aftermath adds Tall Order, Out of Turn, Taking Charge, Poor Visibility, and Damage Control. For extra content, use Steam Workshop for verified community levels or DG2 Free Maps for free community maps. Treat each map as a route-planning puzzle: build where paths overlap, use elevated or long-range positions to cover multiple lanes, and buy Command Shuttle sections only when the added firing angles justify the resource cost.
Campaign map list
Named areas and mission order
The campaign map is organized by chapters and named battlefields. The names are the quickest way to identify a mission when comparing guides, achievements, or replay goals.
- Prologue: the opening story mission.
- Chapter 1: Threshold, Supply and Demand, and Suspension.
- Chapter 2: Overlook, Barrage, Rapid Collapse, and Split Decision.
- Chapter 3: Boiling Point, Precipice, Breach, and Sandstorm.
- Chapter 4: Incursion, Deep End, Surface Tension, and Refuge.
- Chapter 5: Double Take, Scarce Resources, Checks and Balances, Out of Control, and Backlash.
- Aftermath: Tall Order, Out of Turn, Taking Charge, Poor Visibility, and Damage Control.
| Map group | Named areas | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Original campaign | Prologue through Backlash | Twenty story missions across five chapters, with increasingly complex routes and build spaces. |
| Aftermath | Tall Order through Damage Control | Five additional missions that continue the campaign after Chapter 5. |
| Community content | Workshop and free-map collections | User-created levels with their own layouts, objectives, and balance choices. |
The current Steam listing says 21 dynamic maps, but the named mission index and the official Aftermath announcement describe 20 original missions plus five expansion missions. The safest approach is to use the mission names shown in your game rather than relying on a single advertised total.
Route planning
Read the structure before spending resources
Start every unfamiliar level by tracing the complete route from each entrance to the core storage and then from the core area toward the exit. A map may show several approaches that merge into one central lane, or separate entrance and return paths that need different defenses.
The strongest early build location is usually a shared lane: a bend, crossing, narrow platform, or central strip that several waves must traverse. This lets area damage and support towers influence more than one approach. Do not assume that a central platform covers every route; rotate the camera and check the actual firing arcs from both directions.
- Mark the first reliable damage zone near the entrance, but avoid filling every early platform before you know which lanes merge.
- Build the main kill zone where enemies spend the most time, especially around bends or forced zigzags.
- Protect the core storage separately from the entrance. Fast enemies, carriers, landing units, or enemies using a short return route can bypass an otherwise impressive front line.
- Keep a reserve position near the final exit. A cheap backup is often more valuable than one extra high-level tower far from the cores.
- When a map has separated incoming and outgoing paths, check both directions before committing to a single tower cluster.
| Map feature | Best planning response |
|---|---|
| Multiple entrances | Find the first shared lane and concentrate damage there, while keeping a small response group for routes that never merge. |
| One entrance and one exit | Use the long approach for damage and place a dependable final line near the core storage or exit. |
| Branching paths | Use tower placement to encourage a longer route, but verify that blocking one branch does not open a short route to the cores. |
| High platforms or outer ledges | Use them for long-range towers or support that can cover several lanes without consuming central build space. |
| Separated entrance and exit | Treat the return route as its own defense problem, especially when enemies can carry or drop cores. |
These are planning recommendations based on the documented layouts and route behavior. Exact tower choices depend on difficulty, available upgrades, enemy waves, and the mode you select.
Dynamic layouts
Command Shuttle sections and movable areas
Some missions include a Command Shuttle. Selecting it displays mission information and, where supported, offers extra or movable map sections in exchange for resources. These sections can add platforms, change firing angles, or extend the usable route, but they are not automatically profitable: spending on the layout can delay the towers needed for the next wave.
Rapid Collapse is the clearest example. Its Command Shuttle offers six map sections, identified in reference material as Sentry 01, Sentry 02, and Watchtower 01 through Watchtower 04. Buying all six is associated with the Master Builder achievement, but for a normal high-score attempt you should first decide whether the new platforms improve coverage enough to repay their cost.
Mission 19, Out of Control, is another map where the Command Shuttle can alter the available area. The expanded layout can create a longer route, but the no-Shuttle gold-medal achievement means you should not purchase it when pursuing that specific goal.
- Open the Shuttle before the first wave if you need to learn what sections are available.
- Buy a section when it creates a shared firing position, covers a blind spot, or gives you a meaningful way to lengthen the route.
- Avoid buying every option merely because it exists; map expansion competes directly with tower upgrades and emergency defenses.
- Use Practice mode when learning a layout or testing whether a movable section changes the route enough to matter.
| Situation | Recommended approach |
|---|---|
| Learning the map | Inspect the Shuttle and trace the before-and-after route before spending. |
| Chasing score | Prioritize towers and upgrades unless the section clearly improves efficiency. |
| Pursuing Master Builder | Use Rapid Collapse and purchase all six documented sections. |
| Pursuing the Mission 19 no-Shuttle goal | Leave the Command Shuttle unused for the medal attempt. |
The Command Shuttle is a built-in map feature, but its available actions differ by mission. Do not assume that every battlefield offers movable sections or that a section can be returned without loading an earlier save.
Custom content
Custom maps and free community levels
Defense Grid 2 includes Steam Workshop support and the DG Architect level-creation tools. The official Workshop page identifies accepted levels that may be available as in-game drops or purchases. Hidden Path also points players to DG2 Free Maps for free community-made content.
Community levels are separate from the named story campaign. Their balance, route logic, objectives, and presentation can vary considerably, so evaluate them like new scenarios rather than assuming they follow the campaign's pacing.
- For verified Workshop content, browse the game's Steam Workshop and check whether a level is accepted or available through the in-game store.
- For free community maps, use DG2 Free Maps and follow the installation instructions supplied by that community.
- If you want to create a level, use DG Architect and test every entrance, exit, build platform, and wave before sharing it.
- Keep a backup of custom-level files or use the community map manager if you want a more organized way to discover and install levels.
- Custom maps have historically been intended for the custom-level experience rather than ordinary campaign progression; check the current mode restrictions before expecting them to work in multiplayer.
| Source type | Best use |
|---|---|
| Steam Workshop | Verified or accepted community levels and creator uploads. |
| DG2 Free Maps | Free community-created maps and community sharing. |
| DG Architect | Creating, testing, and publishing your own levels. |
Availability, pricing, and installation behavior can differ by platform and by the current game build. The official announcement confirms the Workshop and free-map sources, but it does not guarantee that every community level is available on every platform.
FAQ
Common questions
How many campaign maps are in Defense Grid 2?
The original campaign has 20 named missions, from Prologue through Backlash. Aftermath adds five named missions: Tall Order, Out of Turn, Taking Charge, Poor Visibility, and Damage Control. The current Steam listing advertises 21 dynamic maps, so the advertised total does not match the named mission breakdown.
Which map is best for learning movable map sections?
Rapid Collapse is the clearest training example because its Command Shuttle offers six documented sections: two Sentry sections and four Watchtower sections. Use Practice mode if you want to test the layout without risking a serious score attempt.
Where can I find free community maps?
Hidden Path's current launcher and Steam announcement point players to DG2 Free Maps. Steam Workshop is the other official-facing route for community levels, including accepted content that may appear as in-game drops or purchases.
Should I buy every Command Shuttle upgrade?
No. Treat each section as an investment. Buy it when the new platform or route creates better shared coverage, a longer kill zone, or a solution to a blind spot. Otherwise, spend the resources on towers, upgrades, or emergency defenses.
Can custom maps be used in multiplayer?
Do not assume they can. Older official community guidance stated that custom maps were not available in multiplayer, and current official pages focus on custom levels, Workshop content, and free-map sharing rather than promising multiplayer support. Check the mode and platform in your current build.
Sources
What we checked
Official listings establish current availability and product facts. Community pages are used for mechanics and build history, then labeled separately.
- OfficialDefense Grid 2 Steam store page
- OfficialHidden Path official Defense Grid 2 announcements and updates
- OfficialHidden Path Defense Grid 2 launcher information
- OfficialDefense Grid 2 Steam Workshop
- CommunityDG2 Free Maps community collection
- ReferenceDefense Grid 2 chapter and mission reference