Every Game mode in Modern Warfare 3

There are currently seven 6v6 multiplayer game modes in Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, with another two game modes for Ground War, the return of the War Mode, and a new 3v3v3 game mode called Cutthroat. These modes utilize the 20 maps that are currently in the game, with more already on the way. Below is a breakdown of how to play each game mode in MW3 and which maps are in the playlist.

Need Hardpoint rotations, here you are!
Need Control capture point Locations?
Here are the locations of every SND bomb site!

Team Deathmatch: Team Deathmatch, also known as TDM, is the most popular mode in Call of Duty and one of the most straightforward modes in the game. 

In TDM, the lobby is split into two teams of six players. The main objective is to eliminate the opposing players as much as possible while limiting your own team’s deaths. The team to reach 75 kills first is crowned the winner of the match.

Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Time Limit: 10 Minutes
Score Limit: 100
Party Size: 1-6 Players

Free-For-All: This mode follows similar rules as Team Deathmatch but without the teams. Twelve players battle it out until one player crosses the score limit to become the lone victor
Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Time Limit: 10 Minutes
Score Limit: 30
Party Size: 1

Domination: Another staple in Call of Duty, Domination adds strategic and objective elements to Deathmatch gameplay. Like many modes in MW3, the lobby is split into two teams of six players. The two teams compete to score points by capturing and controlling designated points on the map.
There are three objective points on each map that teams are tasked to capture and hold. Every five seconds teams score points based on how many flags they control. To capture a point, a player must stand within a flag capture area until the capture bar is filled, changing the flag to their team’s color. This process takes a few seconds and can be contested by opposing players.
The team that scores 200 points wins or has a higher score than the opposing team after the time limit wins the match.

Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Time Limit: Unlimited
Score Limit: 200
Party Size: 1-6 Players

Hardpoint: - The main stay mode in Competitive Call of Duty, Hardpoint returns yet again in MW3. To start the lobby is divided into two teams of six, and they compete until one team reaches 250 points.

Similar to King of the Hill, Hardpoint has a rotating objective that teams are tasked to gain control of. Hardpoint hills spawn on the map and last 60 seconds before the hill changes locations. Team battle to control the hills and are rewarded with one point per second they are on the hill. The hill continues to rotate in a predetermined order across the map until one team crosses the 250-point threshold or has the higher score once the time runs out.

Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Time Limit: 5 Minutes
Score Limit: 250
Party Size: 1-6 Players
Rotations for each map

Search and Destroy: Another iconic mode of Call of Duty, this mode is known for its intense and strategic elements. Also known as SnD, it is a round-based game mode where each player has one life per round. There are two teams of six that alternate playing on the attacking and defending sides of the map, as they take turns trying to complete their objectives or eliminate the opposing team.
The attacking team’s objective is to plant the bomb at one of the two designated sites and have the explosive go off. The defending team has to prevent the bomb from being planted or defuse the bomb if it does get planted at one of the sites. The alternate win condition for both teams is to eliminate the opposing players before they are eliminated.
It is one of the greatest modes in the game that rewards creativity, stealth plays, and teamwork.

Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Round Time Limit: 2 Minutes
Round Score Limit: 6
Party Size: 1-6 Players
Bombsite locations

Control: A game mode that first arrived in Black Ops 4, Control has been the third competitive mode in every game that it has been a part of. It is a unique round-based mode with two teams alternating playing on the attacking and defending sides of the map. 

There are two control points on the maps that attacking teams are tasked with capturing, while the defending team tries to stop both points from being captured. The teams are given just 30 lives each, and a short time limit that is only increased if the attacking team captures one of the Control points. The winning team is the one that wins three rounds in total.

Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Round Time Limit: 1.5 Minutes
Round Score Limit: 3
Party Size: 1-6 Players
Capture point locations

Ground War: This mode is a game mode created to provide large-scale and open gameplay by creating massive maps, higher player counts on each team, and introducing vehicles to create combined arms gameplay. Ground War uses multiple other modes to add objective strategies including Domination, Kill Confirmed, Capture the Flag, and Team Deathmatch. 

Maps played in this mode: Popov Power, Levin Resort, Orlov Miltary Base
Time Limit: Varies
Score Limit: Varies 
Squad Size: 5

Invasion: This is a mode similar to Ground War that originated in Call of Duty 2 and returned in Modern Warfare 2. It is a larger-scale version of Team Deathmatch that utilizes 20v20 combat, AI soldiers, and vehicles. 

The match begins with 20 players at each end of the map with a front line in the middle. In the beginning, vehicles such as helicopters spawn with AI players dropping into the map. More AI players will spawn on the map once one team pushes far enough on the map to counter the advancing team. As the match proceeds Care Packages with killstreaks and heavy vehicles land on the map to provide more firepower.

The goal in Invasion is to net 1,500 points as a team. This is done by eliminating players, and AI players and destroying killstreaks and vehicles. Each AI player eliminated is worth 1 point and all other actions are worth 5 points.

Maps played in this mode: Popov Power, Levin Resort, Orlov Miltary Base
Time Limit: Varies
Score Limit: Varies 
Squad Size: 1-20 Players

War: War is another old-school game mode, originated in Call of Duty 3 and Call of Duty World at War. It uses standard 6v6 maps with five capture points on the map. 

There is one flag in the center of the maps that the two teams start off trying to capture first. Whichever team captures the first point, the capture point moves towards the enemy base and the two teams repeat trying to capture the point. The game continues until one team captures the last point deep in the opposition's base. When one point is captured, the opposition can capture the next point to revert the progress.

If no team is able to get to the end of the line by the end of the time limit, the game enters the final fight. One flag is spawned in the middle of the map and the team that is able to capture it wins. 

This mode requires great teamwork and cohesion to progress across the map and win the war!

Maps played in this mode: Operation Spearhead

Cutthroat: A brand new game mode coming in Modern Warfare 3, Cutthroat pits three teams of three players against each other. The mode will be played on a variety of maps and modes, giving fast-paced and chaotic action.

Maps played in this mode: All Core Maps
Round Time Limit: 1.5 Minutes
Round Score Limit: 3
Party Size: 1-3 Players