The Call of Duty series has amassed a huge fanbase over the years, and one part of the franchise’s dedicated following comes from the love for its Zombies mode. The Zombies mode has its origins in 2008’s Call of Duty: World At War, which introduced the horde mode that saw players make a final stand against ever-growing waves of undead Nazis. This small side mode would become a focal point in later Call of Duty installments, and, for years, the Zombies mode would keep many players hooked on the series.
Call of Duty: Vanguard is the most recent game to feature a Zombies mode, although many fans found its maps to be lackluster. Warzone also hearkened to the classic Zombies mode in a limited-time Rebirth of the Dead mode where Operators who died during a match resurrected as Zombies. A proper mode is likely to return in the next title from Black Ops developer Treyarch, and hopefully it can deliver something that fans will love when this game arrives. For the time being, celebrating the best Call of Duty Zombies maps that the series has had to date is a great way to honor the mode’s legacy.
Ascension – Call of Duty: Black Ops
The first Black Ops DLC map unravels in an abandoned Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union and introduces two of the most beloved perks in Stamin-Up and PhD Flopper, both costing 2,000 points.
CoD players remember Ascension as the first map where a free Perk Bottle drop could be acquired, which was possible during the Space Monkey round as the monkeys attempt to destroy the Perk-a-Cola machines. If all the monkeys could be killed without the player touching a perk machine, they will be awarded a Perk Bottle and Max Ammo.
Forsaken – Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The final piece of post-launch content released for Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War‘s Zombies mode, Forsaken, was an epic sendoff that saw the strike team battling undead legions in Zakarpatska Oblast, a massive military training facility once held by the Soviets.
An innovative map made up of large segments strung together by teleporters and zip lines, Forsaken made big Zombies changes, resulting in a unique gameplay flow that makes it stand out among other modern Call of Duty Zombies maps. It also has an excellent Easter egg that, while relatively easy complete, culminates in an epic boss fight that players of all skill levels are bound to enjoy.
Shi No Numa – Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Added as part of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3‘s Zombies Chronicles DLC, Shi No Numa originally appeared in Call of Duty: World at War and was the first Zombies map to feature randomized perk locations. Originally a Japanese outpost dedicated to the research of Element 115, it came to live up to its “swamp of death” moniker after a zombie outbreak.
While it’s far from Call of Duty’s most fully-featured zombies map, the Zombies Chronicles rendition added new possibilities by way of Gobblegums, and the map’s notoriety is now such that it’s appeared in a total of four separate games from World At War to Vanguard.
The Final Reich – Call of Duty: WWII
Though fans initially clamored for a return to form when the Call of Duty series was taking a detour through the far future in outings like Advanced Warfare and Infinite Warfare, reactions to Call of Duty: WWII – the franchise’s return to the second World War setting following a decade-long hiatus – were somewhat mixed.
That said, while it’s not heralded as a triumph of the Call of Duty series, The Final Reich deserves some recognition for attempting to return the Zombies mode to its horror roots. The mode featured several changes that most believed to have hampered its playability, but surviving the Call of Duty: WWII Zombies on the launch map had an atmosphere that could scarcely be rivaled.
Nacht Der Untoten – Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Originally introduced as the first-ever Call of Duty: World At War zombies map, Nacht Der Untoten was a fright-filled, claustrophobic map that saw teams of up to four players struggle to survive against the inevitable.
Though certainly iconic, modern zombies players are more likely to gravitate toward the Black Ops 3 incarnation of the map that was included as part of 2017’s Zombies Chronicles DLC. Featuring greatly improved eighth-gen visuals and most of the modern zombies amenities to which players have become accustomed, there’s no denying the impact of Nacht Der Untoten.
Zombies In Spaceland – Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
When it first debuted in late 2016, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare wasn’t exactly lauded by fans. Over-saturated and in-your-face, the tone of the Zombies mode was totally at odds with what had come before. Initially, most fans found the installment to be overblown and unnecessary.
However, in recent years, opinions have changed significantly, and Zombies in Spaceland, the game’s on-disc zombies map, is now considered to be something of an underrated classic. With a suite of weird Wonder Weapons, playable arcade games, and a cameo from Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff, it certainly was a memorable installment.
Ancient Evil – Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
The map set in Delphi, Greece makes way for the finale to the Chaos storyline and was designed to be versatile. The map’s Sentinel Artifact is located in the Amphitheater and grants access to the lower parts of the city once activated.
Players can ride a Pegasus to commute to different parts of the map, but, in order to ride it, they must locate the Golden Bridle, which can be virtually anywhere. The sense of drama the map creates is quite unprecedented in CoD history, and the map was praised highly for its Easter eggs and for combining visuals of Greek mythical history with fast-paced zombie-induced action.
Die Maschine – Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
The only map present during the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Die Maschine made for a great start to the game’s Zombies mode. Treyarch went to great lengths to rework and redefine the zombies experiences, striking a balance between what appeals to dedicated zombies fans and what appeals to multiplayer-centric newcomers.
After Black Ops 4 received backlash for rehashing familiar maps and settings, a return to Nacht Der Untoten didn’t seem like a great idea. However, Die Maschine is a completely different experience when compared to the World At War original and brings its own strengths to the table.
IX – Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Many players agree that IX was a savior for Black Ops 4 because it was sectioned and designed in a way to make the gameplay easier. Set inside a gladiatorial arena of the 80s BCE, the map is comprehensive, and players can either buy the door to the Danu temple or Ra temple.
The setting was praised for its utterly unique setting and refreshing visuals. This map introduces new enemies in the Destroyers, Marauders, and, of course, the ever-threatening Blightfather. Plus, there’s a new weapon, the Death of Orion, which made for a one-of-a-kind Wonder Weapon.
Call of the Dead – Call of Duty: Black Ops
Players possibly remember this map because of the celebrity cast – something that would become a bit of a tradition for zombies – as it featured names like Sarah Michelle Gellar and Danny Trejo fighting off zombies, and George Romero himself was a zombie boss.
The map takes place in an abandoned Group 935 Siberian outpost, with a shipwrecked freighter, a lighthouse, and a rather empty coast, which made the design all the more intriguing. It also introduced two new Wonder Weapons, the V-R11, which reverts zombies back to their human form, and the Scavenger, a sniper rifle capable of shooting explosive rounds.
Moon – Call of Duty: Black Ops
The final DLC entry in the original Black Ops Zombies storyline, Moon wrapped up an increasingly convoluted narrative in epic fashion, seeing three protagonists betrayed by the fourth in a twisted scenario that ultimately ended with the destruction of the Earth.
As the name would imply, Moon takes place on a secret lunar outpost, and it was made memorable thanks to the low gravity, the unique Area 51 starting room, and the iconic Zap Gun Wonder Weapon. Though it was somewhat controversial when it originally debuted, Moon has without question gone down as one of the most beloved Zombies maps of all time.
Gorod Krovi – Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
The mythical design of this map won a lot of accolades from CoD loyalists. It saw the return of the Origins crew as they set up a quest to kill the original red soldier Nikolai Belinski and preserve his soul in the Summoning Key.
Besides some great new weapons, a specialist Wonder Weapon called the Gauntlet of Siegfried and a new kind of zombie shield called the Guard of Fafnir were added, much to the delight of the community. Interestingly, Gorod Krovi is the final map of the Call of Duty zombies Aether storyline that is entirely original and does not recycle areas from past maps.
Shangri La – Call of Duty: Black Ops
When it first debuted as part of the Call of Duty: Black Ops DLC lineup, Shangri La earned something of a mixed reception from fans. Tight, tough, and tumultuous, it shocked fans who had become accustomed to the sprawling Ascension and Call of the Dead maps.
However, as time went on, zombies fans warmed up to the one-of-a-kind map, and it’s now primarily praised for its visuals which defied the typical gray-and-brown color pallet of Call of Duty: Black Ops. The Wonder Weapon – essentially a shrink ray capable of miniaturizing zombies, which can then be stomped on – is also an all-time favorite.
Shadows Of Evil – Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
One of two zombies maps to launch alongside 2015’s Black Ops 3, Shadows of Evil brought the mode’s Lovecraftian trappings to the forefront, pitting four hapless citizens of the fictional Morgue City against an onslaught of undead controlled by the nefarious godlike being known as The Shadow Man.
Shadows of Evil is often celebrated for its impeccable art direction, and it remains one of the most visually stunning and best Zombies maps of all time. Plus, it introduced the fan-favorite Widow’s Wine Perk, which was so crucial to gameplay that some fans valued it over the series-staple Jugger-Nog.
Der Eisendrache – Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
In Der Eisendrache, the Pack-A-Punch Machine has been decimated and scattered to three different locations. Players must find the two locations and bring the pieces to the third location for reassembly.
The Wundersphere is the most efficient way of commuting in Der Eisendrache, and, for 500 points, players can instantly fly off from one landing pad to another. This map uses Black Ops 3’s gameplay systems, but that actually works in its favor, lending it a unique kind of simplicity. The Easter egg was epic by all standards, and the map has been deemed as one of the most perfectly designed maps in CoD history.
Mauer der Toten – Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Mauer der Toten is the standout among the post-launch additions to Black Ops Cold War maps, appearing in the mid-season Season 4 Reloaded update. This map led the announcement for the update, and with good reason, offering something that could truly compete with the standard set by Die Maschine.
Mauer der Toten’s excellent lighting choices make the map look great while contributing significantly to an effective eerie atmosphere. The Mauer der Toten Easter Egg quest is one of the most memorable, with a unique wonder weapon and a robot ally named Klaus help to cement this experience in the memory of players.
Der Riese – Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
The final DLC addition to Call of Duty: World At War, Der Riese took the zombies experience to another level, adding in teleporters, doubling down on the threatening hellhounds, and, of course, introducing the all-important Pack-A-Punch machine.
Appearing in World At War, Black Ops, and Black Ops 3, the strongest iteration may be in the BO3 Zombies Chronicles remaster, as it’s a much more approachable version of a map that was fairly broken when it initially debuted more than ten years ago. By all accounts, Der Riese is a true Call of Duty Zombies classic.
Origins – Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
The three big robots may be the focal points of this Black Ops 2 map, but besides Thor, Odin, and Freya, there are quite a few show-stopping spectacles in this one. Several patches around the map are marked as the robot’s stepping path, so, if a robot is close, players need to steer clear of these areas, or they may be downed.
The Panzer Soldat was the new enemy in this one – a zombie in a mechanized suit that uses a flamethrower, and it can require some serious focus to bring down. What makes this one of the best Zombies maps is definitely the Easter egg, but the oppressive World War I trench warfare styling was also widely appreciated by players.
Mob Of The Dead – Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Mob of the Dead introduced the Afterlife mode, which was quite effective but had a limited duration. It occurs within Alcatraz Island, where four players make a break from their cells and scavenge for scrap parts to build a plane. Players need to find as many useful items as possible while fighting zombies, and the design of this set-up was sprawling and undeniably immersive.
Besides three musical Easter eggs, there are buildables like the returning zombie shield and the new Acid Gat Kit, as well as a new Perk-a-Cola called Electric Cherry which creates a barrier around the player when they’re reloading.
Kino Der Toten – Call of Duty: Black Ops
Kino Der Toten translates to “Cinema of the Dead” and takes place at Group 935’s Kino Facility in an abandoned German theater. It brings in some new components like crawler zombies and the fire pit trap.
The best thing about this map is that it’s beginner-friendly, limitlessly replayable, and there was a really moody and cinematic feel to the entire map which enhanced the gameplay and actually made the players feel like they are in the middle of a zombie movie. It’s also arguably one of the most gratifying Call of DutyZombies maps, as nothing compares to gathering a horde of zombies and blowing them all away with the Thundergun.