List of all Splitgate 2 game modes and maps with player counts — *Image Credits: 1047 Games, Splitgate 2*

New to the game or just checking what’s meta? We’ve got every mode laid out below, with map info, player sizes, and when each one shines.

Splitgate 2 throws a lot at you with TEN whole different modes… Classic deathmatch, tactical eliminations, chaotic large-scale battles, and even a full map builder (the lab).

Each mode plays differently, with its own rules, pacing, and style.

Here’s a full breakdown of every confirmed game mode in Splitgate 2 and what makes each one stand out. We’ll put a table first and then go into more depth below.

Read More: Splitgate 2 Factions Guide

Mode	What It Is
Arena	Classic team deathmatch on tight, fast maps
Team Deathmatch	Round-based kill race to 25 per round
Takedown	Elimination with longer respawns each death
Onslaught	Large-scale portal warfare across big maps
Firecracker	Bomb-planting mode with respawns
Splitball	Oddball-style mode where you hold a ball to score
Domination	Zone control with three points to capture
Hotzone	Best-of-three fights over a rotating zone
Lockdown	Score only when holding every zone at once
The Lab	Build, test, and play custom maps with friends

Arena Mode

Standard 4v4 team matches

This is Splitgate 2's main competitive mode. Classic team deathmatch-style rules on close-quarter maps with tight sightlines and constant portal flanks.

Player count: 8 total (4v4)
Maps: Bypass, Eden, Frontier, Ozone, Zenith, Stadium, Core

Arena is built for fast fights and clean portal plays. If you’re sweating for ranked or want the purest version of the game, this is where it happens.

Team Deathmatch (TDM)

Classic kills-first gameplay

TDM in Splitgate 2 isn’t just a big brawl, it’s now round-based. Teams race to 25 kills per round, and the first to win two rounds takes the match.

Player count: 4v4
Objective: Reach the kill target before the other team

It’s still the most familiar mode, but the round system adds structure and gives teams more comeback potential.

Takedown Mode

Round-based tactical elimination

Takedown is slower-paced and more punishing than Arena. Each time you die, your respawn delay increases. A team wins the round by wiping out the enemy squad entirely.

Player count: 6–8 total (likely 3v3 or 4v4)
Maps: Simulation map set (4 total)

This is the most strategy-heavy mode in the game. If your squad's timing and positioning are off, it’s game over fast. Every life matters.

Onslaught Mode

Full-scale 24-player warfare

This is Splitgate 2’s large-scale chaos mode. It used to be called Multi-Team Portal Warfare, but now it’s officially Onslaught. The maps are massive and the fights are nonstop.

Player count: Up to 24
Maps: Glacier, Drought, Fracture

You’ll see launch pads, portals stacked over portals, and full team wipes in under 30 seconds. Perfect for anyone who wants more mayhem than structure.

Firecracker Mode

Search-and-destroy with respawns

Firecracker is Splitgate 2’s bomb-planting mode. It’s similar to Search and Destroy, but it allows respawns during rounds, which makes for a faster-paced experience.

Player count: 4v4
Objective: Plant or defuse the Firecracker device

It’s a nice mix of tactical planning and brawling mid-fight. If you want a mode that rewards both smart plays and gunfights, this is it.

Splitball Mode

Oddball meets Capture the Flag

Splitball is a fast-paced mode where teams fight for control of a single ball. Holding the ball scores points over time, but you can’t shoot while carrying it.

Player count: 4v4
Objective: Hold the ball to gain points

It gets hectic fast. The best way to win is usually by using portals defensively to keep ball carriers away from trouble.

Domination Mode

Zone control with power plays

Domination has you capturing and holding multiple zones to earn points over time. The more zones you control, the faster your score climbs.

Player count: 4v4
Objective: Hold two or more zones to win

Ideal for teams who coordinate pushes and flanks. Portals can flip control of zones quickly, so no lead is ever safe.

Hotzone Mode

Best-of-three objective brawls

In Hotzone, both teams fight for control of a central area that rotates throughout the match. Each round ends when one team controls the zone long enough.

Player count: 4v4
Objective: Capture and hold zones to win rounds

It’s short, sweet, and rewards map control. This is one of the more structured, round-based objective modes in the game.

Lockdown Mode

Hold all zones or get nothing

Lockdown raises the stakes by requiring your team to control every zone on the map at once before points start counting. No slow trickle here—you either take full control or stay at zero.

Player count: 4v4
Objective: Capture and lock down all three zones to score

This mode forces constant coordination and tight map awareness. It’s brutal, but clean plays win rounds fast.

The Lab

Creative map building with friends

The Lab is Splitgate 2’s Forge-style builder. You can create and test custom maps with friends in real time using props, geometry, and all the portal tools you’d expect.

Player count: Up to 16
Mode type: Co-op map creation

It’s simple to learn and surprisingly deep. You can even playtest while building, which makes iteration fast. Great for casual fun or trying to recreate fan-favorite maps from other games.

Which Splitgate 2 Mode Is Best for You?

Not sure where to start? Here's a quick cheat sheet:

Arena or TDM: You like shooting more than thinking
Onslaught: You want total chaos and don’t mind dying a lot
Takedown or Firecracker: You like slower, more tactical plays
Domination/Hotzone/Lockdown: You enjoy objective-based control fights
The Lab: You just want to build dumb stuff with your friends and break physics

Future Modes and Changes Coming Post-Alpha

1047 Games has hinted that more modes could arrive later. Based on how Splitgate 1 evolved, we might see:

Ranked-specific modes
Limited-time brawl variants
Objective mashups (like Domination with random zone spawns)

Final Blurb

Splitgate 2’s modes give you everything from sweaty 4v4s to complete portal chaos with 24 players bouncing off every surface.

Regardless of whether you’re grinding Arena or building a death box in The Lab, there’s a mode that fits how you want to play (if enough players are in queue…).

And with more features likely (aka certainly) coming post-beta, this is just the start.

With that all said, if you're looking for calm, this probably isn't your game.