Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked

Key Takeaways

  • Black Ops 3’s Zombies Chronicles DLC offers the best Zombies experience with eight remastered maps.
  • Black Ops 4’s diverse map selection and challenging gameplay make it appealing to hardcore players.
  • Black Ops Cold War provides a more accessible Zombies experience with excellent maps and Wonder Weapons.

As a seasoned Call of Duty Zombies enthusiast who’s spent countless hours fending off hordes of the undead since the early days of World at War, I must say that my personal favorite among these iconic titles is Black Ops 3. This game truly encapsulates the essence of zombie-slaying fun and serves as a celebration of Zombies history in the most epic way possible.


Call of Duty Zombies has come a long way from its humble beginnings in World at War.

Currently, Zombies plays a significant role in the series and has been developed so extensively that one can effectively focus solely on it, disregarding Multiplayer and Warzone. Yet, there’s still a wealth of activities to engage with.

Some titles have done it better than others so let’s see how they shape up.

I didn’t add “Black Ops 6” to the list because it was recently released when I wrote this, and it currently features just two maps at the moment.

8 Modern Warfare 3 Remastered (MWZ)

The Odd One Out

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperSledgehammer Games
Release Year2023

I might take a bit of flak for this one, but hear me out. MW3 marks a dramatic departure for Zombies, swapping wave-based gameplay for an open-world extraction shooter called MWZ.

It’s divisive, to be sure, but certainly not without merit. The most impressive part for me is the Easter Egg hunts and huge bosses, like the Worm, which require a ton of setup and top-tier weapons.

Open World Zombies wasn’t destined for failure from the outset; instead, the tiers were designed to divide the map into zones with varying threat intensities. The gameplay was quite basic at its launch, but it continuously evolved and enhanced every season if you stayed current. Familiar elements like Wonder Weapons persist, though they’ve been tailored to suit this specific game mode.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d take wave-based Zombies over this any day, but MWZ offers an admirable crack at something a little different.

If only it had more support…

7 World at War

One Hell Of A DebutBest Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked

Key InformationDetails
DeveloperTreyarch
Release Year2008

The game World at War sparked the zombie trend by introducing Nacht der Untoten, and to this very day, its last map, Der Riese, continues to be a renowned setting.

Playing the Zombies mode in WaW feels simpler compared to modern versions, but it’s important to remember that every series has to begin somewhere. It’s quite enjoyable to experience the mode in its early stages of development.

As a dedicated fan, I’d say that Nacht der Untoten is a compact, intricately designed map, boasting just a handful of rooms and the enigmatic Mystery Box. The narrow entryways make for treacherous chokepoints, even seasoned players find it challenging to endure for extended periods.

The giant unveiled the popular ‘Pack-a-Punch’ device, and players could seek cover in a building on a platform or group zombies around the arena. Although World at War may not have all the contemporary features, its impact remains significant, and it continues to be enjoyable, despite its constraints.

World of War also introduced Perks, and it’s interesting to see how those evolved in Black Ops 6.

6 Black Ops Cold War

A Shift Toward Accessibility

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperTreyarch
Release Year2020

In contrast to its predecessor, Black Ops 4, the Zombies mode in Black Ops Cold War is significantly more accessible for beginners. This makes it an excellent starting point for newcomers to the series.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War boasts an outstanding collection of maps, and it’s hard to pick the best ones, but Die Maschine and Mauer Der Toten certainly stand out. What makes this game unique is that there isn’t a single map in the entire game that can be considered bad. Additionally, most weapons in Black Ops Cold War are quite powerful, and the game offers an engaging perk system to experiment with.

Upgrades for perks can be enhanced using Aetherium Crystals to amplify their impact, and there are some overpowered advantages associated with the higher tiers. No individual feature or map makes BOCW exceptional; instead, it offers an overall top-notch experience with a consistently high standard of quality.

5 Infinite Warfare

The Best Non-Treyarch Zombies Mode

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperInfinity Ward
Release Year2016

Treyarch is widely recognized as the uncontested expert in Call of Duty (CoD) Zombies. However, it’s important to acknowledge that Infinity Ward made a commendable attempt at it with Infinite Warfare, and it was indeed successful.

IW has so much going for it, but I have to talk about Zombies in Spaceland. The map is an amusement park with excellent theming and wonder weapons, and there’s even an “Astrocade” with mini-games.

In previous games, we’ve encountered alternative goals, but they add an exciting element to the gameplay in IW and offer significant perks if you manage to conquer them. Introducing weapon modifications is a great improvement as it encourages trying out firearms that might not have been your first choice otherwise.

It’s tricky to put into words, but when you play the Zombies mode in Infinite Warfare, it feels distinctly different from a Treyarch game – and that’s not always a negative observation. Instead, it showcases Infinity Ward’s ability to deliver an outstanding Zombies experience on its own merits.

4 Black Ops 2

Slow Off The Starting Line

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperTreyarch
Release Year2012

Initially, I strongly disliked the Zombies mode in Black Ops 2, primarily due to the TranZit map. At first, it seemed unstable, but soon enough, I began to appreciate it more and grow fond of it.

If we ignore TranZit for a moment, Black Ops 2 offers numerous advantages! The Mob of the Dead map is simply fantastic and is based on Alcatraz Island, with a gondola system as a means of transportation. Additionally, you can purchase traps to transform the prison into a lethal trap.

Origins is another fantastic location, and many regard it as the best Zombies map of all time.

Apart from the wide variety of maps, many of the special weapons stood out, such as the legendary Raygun MK2.

By the way, BO2 (Black Ops 2) also includes Die Rise in its map rotation. Personally, I’m not a big fan of this Zombies map – it ranks quite low on my list. If you haven’t had the chance to play it yet, I’d recommend keeping it that way.

3 Black Ops 4

A Hardcore Offering

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperTreyarch
Release Year2018

In the launch of Black Ops 4, an impressive quartet of Zombies maps was included, but this installment seems to have sparked a great deal of debate among fans, as I personally find most of them enjoyable yet divisive.

In the latest installment of BO4, some maps prove quite demanding, making it significantly tougher to achieve high rounds compared to previous versions. Maps such as Voyage Of Despair, with its Titanic theme, can sometimes feel unbalanced and confined.

To put it simply, each map offers a unique experience, and there’s no compulsion to adhere strictly to any specific gameplay style.

Some gamers opt for raising zombies as their training method, while others enjoy the strategy of camping, and generally, both approaches are viable in most gaming environments. As for the game, Ancient Evil is truly remarkable! If you’re not finding entertainment in annihilating zombies beneath an urban landscape, I’m at a loss for words.

There is quite a lot of negative sentiment towards this particular game on the internet because it is one of the tougher Zombie modes. However, the various difficulty levels make it more manageable, and there are several powerful weapons to discover along with intricate Easter Egg puzzles.

2 Black Ops

Rising To The Occasion

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperTreyarch
Release Year2010

Following the triumph of Zombies in World at War, anticipation for Black Ops soared, and boy, did Treyarch truly deliver a home run!

In my opinion, the game Black Ops kicked off spectacularly with one of my all-time favorite Zombies maps – “Kino der Toten”. This map is situated in an abandoned theater, which makes it ideal for zombie training due to its circular design.

Ascension is another banger, and it’s black and white until you switch on the power. Sure, it’s nothing special if you know about it, but seeing it for the first time was incredible.

I was never a big fan of Moon, but it’s a great map to end on.

The revamped version of BO seems reminiscent of WaW 2.0. Despite being less complex than more recent games, it still offers depth such that one can easily lose track of time while playing.

1 Black Ops 3

A Celebration Of Zombies History

Best Call of Duty Zombies Modes, Ranked
Key InformationDetails
DeveloperTreyarch
Release Year2015

Black Ops 3 is the quintessential Zombies experience and the ultimate way to slay the undead.

In the Zombies game formula, numerous changes have not resonated well with the community, but Black Ops 3 brought in Gobblegums, a feature that has been widely embraced since its introduction. The map selection is top-notch as well, and Der Eisendrache, set in a snowy castle, is particularly popular among fans, although I’ve personally preferred Shadows of Evil.

Motion has likely never been better, and mastering the art of sliding jumps can provide an abundance of possibilities.

The “Zombies Chronicles DLC” truly takes the cake, elevating “Black Ops 3” to the pinnacle of the ranking. As suggested by its title, it’s a whole collection focused on the Zombie mode, providing hundreds of additional hours to an already rich selection.

As a thrilled fan, I’m excited to share that Zombies Chronicles offers a breathtaking revamp of eight classic maps, such as the chilling Origins and the captivating Kino der Toten, from earlier installments in Black Ops 3!

If you want to get into Call of Duty Zombies and can only pick a single game, this is hands down, the way to go.

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2024-11-20 18:39