Call of Duty Zombies has had its ups and downs over the years, with fans divided over the latest iteration in Modern Warfare 3. Ultimately, various parts of the Call of Duty community seem to want something different from the mode, whether it be a focus on storytelling, prioritizing Easter egg content, innovating like with MWZ, or going back to simple survival gameplay. This likely has to do with how much Zombies has evolved over the years, as most of its maps and modes tend to be unique in some way. While this variety ensures that rankings will often come down to personal preference, it is possible to at least sort the maps into wider categories via a Tier List.

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S Tier - Call of Duty Zombies' Best Survival Maps

• Origins
• Mob of the Dead
• Der Eisendrache
• Shadows of Evil
• Gorod Krovi
• Ancient Evil

Origins: A true classic in every sense of the word, Origins was the perfect end point for Black Ops 2 and had everything Zombies fans could ask for. Its elemental staves ensure that all four players can have a Wonder Weapon with unique abilities, while it has a highly replayable main quest and several side quests to engage with. The map served as the introduction of Primis, which were younger and more complex versions of the original four characters, and everything from giant robots to a stunning skybox made the map visually memorable. With a genuinely challenging mini-boss in the form of the Panzer Soldat, too, Origins was a perfectly balanced experience and the peak of Zombies.

Mob of the Dead: When Call of Duty Zombies fans debate over the best map in the mode’s long history, it is usually Origins or this map that takes the top spot, and for good reason. Essentially, it comes down to personal preference, as Mob of the Dead shines just as brightly as Origins. Though it was eventually tied into the main Aether storyline, Mob of the Dead has the advantage of being enjoyable completely standalone, as Treyarch does a great job writing the four mobsters trapped in purgatory and the celebrity cast succeeds at bringing them to life. The hellish version of Alcatraz is brilliantly realized, with excellent side Easter egg weapons like the Hell’s Retriever Tomahawk and Golden Spork. With a unique PvP ending to its main quest, this map has everything going for it.

Der Eisendrache: Viewed as the Black Ops 3 equivalent to Origins due to its top-tier elemental bows, which are essentially stand-ins for Origins' staves, Der Eisendrache fires on all cylinders and is an unforgettable map. Its castle setting is breathtaking from a visual standpoint, while its bow quests being simpler means that it is easier to pick up and play than Origins, as players will be able to memorize the steps and make their bows with ease. Its Easter egg shines due to its impactful final cutscene and the mode’s first proper boss battle, and though the overpowered Storm Bow and Death Ray trap may make it a bit too easy, the lore and accessibility of the map ensure it is one of the very best.

Shadows of Evil: Perhaps Treyarch’s most impressive effort in terms of immersion, Shadows of Evil is often used as an example of how far Zombies has fallen in terms of originality in its maps. While not every member of Shadows of Evil’s cast of characters shines, all other parts of the map are brilliant, with even rooms outside the playable area having interesting secrets to uncover. Great side Easter eggs like the Apothican Sword give every player something to do even if only one person can wield the Apothican Servant, with the Shadow Man's many apperances and Richtofen’s surprise cameo in the final cutscene doing a great job of setting the stage for the DLC maps. Whether it is the tram system or the unique architecture, the fictional 1940s setting of Morg City is unlike anything else in the CoD franchise.

Gorod Krovi: Gorod Krovi is essentially every 10-year-old’s action figure storyline come to life, as watching dragons battle giant robots in a war-torn Stalingrad is as awesome as it is ridiculous. Riding and commanding dragons never gets old, nor do lockdown rounds or the double final boss fight against one of the dragons and a mech-wielding Nikolai. Perhaps the best-balanced map in Black Ops 3, as the GKZ-45 Mk3 gets weak near Round 50, meaning that even Gobblegums can only help so much, Gorod Krovi is a legitimate challenge for those seeking out high rounds. While some of its trophy-related Easter egg steps can get a little tedious, everything from the Dragon Shield to the Gauntlet of Siegfried makes the map a joy to play.

Ancient Evil: Ancient Evil shows just how tragic it was that the Chaos story ended prematurely, as the map does everything right. Aside from ending on a cliffhanger that will likely never be followed up on, the map is spectacular across the board, as players can toss spears while wielding a circular shield, battle six-armed Gegenees, fly on Pegasus, and use four elemental god hand Wonder Weapons that all feel drastically different. A well-thought out challenge system with great rewards helps with casual play, while Mount Olympus makes for a grand final boss arena. Had this map been a part of the beloved Aether story, it would surely be seen by many as one of the greats, which is the reception that it deserves.

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A Tier - Great Call of Duty Zombies Maps With Minor Flaws

• IX
• Buried
• Call of the Dead
• Der Riese
• Zetsubou No Shima
• Mauer Der Toten
• Dead of the Night
• Revelations
• Ascension
• Kino Der Toten

IX: The other high point of the Chaos story, IX is a great casual offering. While many were worried about the map after its initial trailer and were more hyped for Voyage of Despair, upon release, the two maps swapped positions in terms of fan appreciation. Not only did IX let players wield guns, doing away with the fear that it would be melee-only, but Treyarch took full advantage of the coliseum setting to let players battle tigers, gladiators, and even war elephants. An obvious train spot in the center of the map makes IX fairly simple, but given the complexity of Black Ops 4’s other maps, having an easier option was beneficial. IX requires little effort to learn, but those willing to master all the side Easter eggs will be able to get more out of the map, and the crowd cheering the player as they slay the undead is truly special. Only held back by its lackluster Wonder Weapon, IX is the perfect middle ground between setup-heavy maps and casual Zombies.

Buried: One of the more distinct map concepts in Call of Duty Zombies history, Buried takes players to a Wild West town deep underground that just so happens to be filled with ghosts. The map features plenty of useful features that show Treyarch recognizing the typical pitfalls of Zombies; for example, players who respawn in high rounds would not normally have enough money to get set back up, but another player can trigger the time bomb to go back to the point before this ever happened. Similarly, Arthur can hold a Zombie so that players can pause a multiplayer game despite no official pause button being in place. Players can hit the bank and access the fridge to get points and strong guns, set up a huge variety of traps, and use an infinite ammo weapon called the Paralyzer. However, players having all of these tools at their disposal makes Buried one of the easiest maps ever made, as they can just sit in the Juggernog corner and fly through rounds. With a good Easter egg and an underused Perk in Vulture Aid, though, this easiness is a small slight on a great map.

Call of the Dead: A visually stunning map that desperately deserves an official remake, Call of the Dead has so much going for it. The late George Romero serves as one of the most interesting bosses in CoD Zombies history, as though he has an absurd amount of health and can be annoying to deal with if accidentally shot, he adds constant tension to the experience and rewards players handsomely when he is killed. The snowy Siberian setting is visually distinct, with the lighthouse and its moving Pack-a-Punch adding another enjoyable challenge to the mix. The Easter egg offers some hugely entertaining dialogue, with Ultimis trapped in a room and needing help from the celebrity cast, and the Scavenger is a Wonder Weapon that always feels satisfying to use. Unfortunately, Call of the Dead is held back from greatness due to the inability to reach high rounds, but it remains excellent despite that.

Der Riese: The ultimate casual Zombies map, Der Riese is arguably the point where CoD Zombies clicked and became deep enough to become a phenomenon instead of just a small bonus mode. Pack-a-Punch was one of the most important innovations ever, while Zombies finally established a story here, and a good one at that. Players learned that they were controlling a villain with Richtofen, discovered that Sam was in control of the undead, and got an explanation for Hellhounds all in one map. While many matches do end with players sitting in the corner at the top of the stairs by the main teleporter, just like they would on Nacht Der Untoten, the story significance and presence of features like Pack-a-Punch make Der Riese timeless.

Zetsubou No Shima: While complaints about Zetsubou No Shima like a lengthy setup process and a short main quest Easter egg are valid, it is still an excellent map. It may not be as good as Shadow of Evil, Der Eisendrache, or Gorod Krovi, but it is still full of upsides. The boss fight against the Spider is a spectacular bit of optional content, while the Skull of Nan-Sapwe is a tremendous special weapon. Turning into a spider, the lurking sea monster, and the complex jumpscare all make for great side Easter eggs, while the final cutscene is heartbreaking and gives Takeo massive character development. The plant system is underrated, too, as rebirth pods were worth the effort and some of the other plant-based rewards could be very useful.

Mauer Der Toten: Strong enough to overcome Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s lack of personality, Mauer Der Toten is the best Zombies map released in the modern era. Its main quest Easter egg allows players to get close with the lovable robot Klaus, while Valentina is a perfectly balanced boss that actually requires some effort to bring down. The CRBR-S and its three variants make for a stellar Wonder Weapon, with the talking guns feeling as if they came straight from the looter shooter Borderlands. While a slightly more unique setting and more side Easter eggs on par with the Aether Bunny night club would have helped elevate it even further, Mauer Der Toten is a terrific map that Treyarch should keep in mind when designing content for CoD 2024.

Dead of the Night: Yet another example of the Chaos Story being slept on, Dead of the Night is one of the deepest Zombies maps released by Treyarch. It features numerous enemy types through the Nosferatus and Werewolves, but it also gives players ways to combat them, such as the useful silver bullets, a special crossbow, and the Alistair’s Annihilator Wonder Weapon that can be upgraded multiple times. While it was let down by a lack of marketing before its release and a fairly unlikable cast of characters, there is so much to do in Dead of the Night outside its main quest, with new Easter egg discoveries from last year showing that this map was not played as thoroughly as it should have been.

Revelations: Revelations is the worst map in Black Ops 3’s main DLC run, but considering how great its competition was, that is not too much of a disappointment. It may not have a lot of new content beyond the Furies - even its final Easter egg boss is a reused Shadow Man fight from Shadows of Evil - but it is a perfect remix of everything that came before. Players looking for a map that is simply fun to play should try Revelations, as not only is it a big nostalgia tour, but Treyarch makes all the classic map segments flow together beautifully so that Revelations feels as great as it looks. While it is far too easy thanks to players being able to use both the Apothican Servant and the Thundergun, moments like entering the flying Apothican are memorable, and the hats system gives players useful buffs to work toward.

Ascension: While it has divisive elements like the perk-stealing space monkeys, and reuses the Thundergun from Kino Der Toten, Ascension is an ideal casual map. It offers several training spots so that every player can keep themselves alive, a straightforward Pack-a-Punch system where players have to launch the rocket, and a neat side Easter egg where said rocket can be shot down. Plus, though the Death Machine reward was lackluster, Ascension having the first proper main quest Easter egg was game-changing at the time, as Treyarch introduced a formula through this map that would go on to define CoD Zombies. While it may lack the variety of content seen in later maps, special touches like color returning to the map when power is turned on are memorable, and the Gersh Device remains a top-tier piece of equipment.

Kino Der Toten: One of the most recognizable Call of Duty Zombies maps of all time, for longtime players, Kino Der Toten simoltaneously suffers from overexposure and an outpouring of love due to a nostalgia factor, as it was an introduction to Zombies for a large portion of the community. Many have played the map so much that they have burnt out on it, though that could not have happened without the core gameplay being strong. Teleporting to the various rooms was interesting, as was tossing down grenades from the Pack-a-Punch room. However, it has even less depth than Ascension, as there is no main quest and no Easter eggs beyond the reels and radios. It also caters more to solo play than co-op, as one player can easily train on the stage while the rest are stuck fighting for their life in less ideal locations. Still, solo matches on Kino are always a blast, though hectic, co-op matches can be a good time.

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B Tier - Good Call of Duty Zombies Maps With Multiple Flaws

• Moon
• Shangri-La
• Tag Der Toten
• Blood of the Dead
• Classified
• Die Rise
• Die Maschine
• Forsaken
• Firebase Z
• Shi No Numa
• Town
• Verruckt
• Nacht Der Untoten

Moon: The ultimate love it or hate it map, Moon is in a tricky position. There are things that the original version does better than the BO3 remaster, such as its creepier aesthetic, while the remaster offers less frustrating movement and fairer astronauts than the original. Continuing this trend, Moon has the most memorable ending to a main quest Easter egg ever, yet some of the steps to reach it are tedious, like relying on good Mystery Box RNG. Needing all players to teleport in co-op play makes Pack-a-Punching and acquiring Juggernog tedious, which is problematic since Jug can be lost so easily. Excavators blocking sections of the map is also game-ruining, though this can be circumvented with Gobblegums in Black Ops 3. To be fair to Moon, it has lots of strengths, like the awesome Hacker device, QEDs, and an ambitious setting. Still, with so many barriers to fun, it cannot be higher than B tier.

Shangri-La: While Shangri-La can also be celebrated for having a bold setting to explore, it too shares a healthy mixture of pros and cons. Its difficulty can be seen as a plus, but that same difficulty combined with few viable training and camping spots means that co-op play on the map is a nightmare, as there is simply not enough room for a full lobby of players to survive. The spikes and mud traps blocking movement can be more tedious than anything else, too, and like Moon it is painful to play with randoms since all players have to co-ordinate to activate Pack-a-Punch. While it has a good Easter egg quest and a clever take on monkeys, enjoyment of Shangri-La will likely come down to whether someone is playing in solo or co-op, as unlike the maps in A-Tier and S-Tier, it is not equally enjoyable in solo and co-op.

Tag Der Toten: Tag Der Toten is a fine map that suffers greatly from being put in a bad position. Instead of players getting the Great War map that they were expecting to end the Aether storyline, the beloved 10-year-story of Zombies concluded with the divisive Victis crew and a reimagining of Shangri-La. Realistically, Tag Der Toten is a fine map when separating it from the notion of what it should have been - the Mars Easter egg is hilarious, the new areas shake up the gameplay loop, and the map has a quality-of-life Heat Pack mechanic to make the icy water less of a barrier. While it may not reach the heights of the original Call of the Dead, as it lacks unique mechanics like George Romero and features some disappointing variants of the Thundergun and Wunderwaffe, it is a solid map. Sadly, it will always be remembered for its rushed conclusion to a story fans were extremely invested in.

Blood of the Dead: Blood of the Dead is undeniably a step below Mob of the Dead, as it removes beloved aspects of the original map in an attempt to be its own thing, such as building and flying the plane. Its side Easter egg lineup is also lacking, and its main quest has its share of tedious steps. Still, the map has brilliant storytelling through its recordings and dialogue as well as a heartbreaking final cutscene, not to mention an exceptional Blundergat variant via the Magmagat. Like Tag Der Toten, it is a victim of high expectations, as though it is a perfectly fine map, it is too far from the greatness of Mob of the Dead to be appreciated by many fans. Still, moments like the catwalk run are always intense, and the extra areas give Blood its own identity, so it is worth playing here and there.

Classified: While it may not make Five into a top tier Zombies map, Classified does take the foundation of Black Ops 1’s Pentagon setting and makes some much-needed improvements. The map is slightly larger thanks to a few added rooms and a fresh Pack-a-Punch areas, while the Winter’s Howl is no longer a terrible Wonder Weapon - even if it is still far from great. Having the extra areas makes the map more enjoyable in co-op, while features like Elixirs, shields, and special weapons give players ways to survive beyond the one train spot in the central area and elevator camping. Having Ultimis is also great, as the Five cast’s irrelevance did not do the original map any favors. While the lack of major Easter eggs hurts Classified, as does the high round requirement for the end cutscene, it is still an improved take on Five.

Die Rise: While Die Rise is known as the most frustrating Zombies map, it can be enjoyable as well. The skyscraper setting is fairly interesting, especially due to the upside-down rooms, and the Sliquifier is a top-tier Wonder Weapon. Creating shortcuts with the trample steam is neat, and there are plenty of viable camping or training strategies, meaning that players can approach the map however they like. Managing the elevators may cause some painful deaths, but it makes for a nice change from static Pack-a-Punch and Perk locations. If the map had a better main quest Easter egg and actually included PhD Flopper instead of trolling players with the out-of-reach machine, Die Rise likely would have been received better than it was.

Forsaken: While Forsaken has a lot going for it, such as the Chrysalax Wonder Weapon, the charming arcade sections that allow players to access mini-game challenges, and a good Easter egg quest with a stellar ending, it suffers from being set in a campaign location. With the same Russian base being used for a multiplayer map, too, Forsaken sadly feels like recycled content, with players having seen the fake American complex in two other modes and feeling burnt out on it. Though Treyarch was likely doing the best it could with the time and resources it had available to it, Forsaken needs more original areas than it has in order to feel like a fresh map. Even with this massive con, it is an entertaining and replayable map with some good side Easter eggs like Ronald Raygun.

Die Maschine: The epitome of Black Ops Cold War’s map design, there is nothing inherently wrong with Die Maschine, but there is also nothing particularly special about it. Players battle the hordes in an old Nazi lab, a snowy forest, and yet another version of Nacht Der Untoten. The D.I.E. Wonder Weapon is a highlight due to its four variants, the Dark Aether dimension switch is stunning from a visual standpoint, and the Easter egg is fairly enjoyable if not spectacular, though the map is also ridiculously easy. While it plays well and is an innoffensive map, Die Maschine finds itself right in the middle of B-tier due to how simple it is.

Firebase Z: Firebase Z, like the other Black Ops Cold War maps, was solid-if-not-spectacular. The gimmick Assault rounds were a good addition, while the RAI K-84 Wonder Weapon is excellent and the Aether Bunny side quest is particularly good. However, its main quest ends with a whimper since it features yet another Orda as a final boss that can be melted almost instantly, with an annoying Mimic step making it more tedious than it should be. Like other Black Ops Cold War maps, it could have used more side Easter eggs, as it feels like something special is missing from it. Still, even if it is a bit bland, Firebase Z is a solid map for those looking for an easy match of CoD Zombies.

Shi No Numa: Responsible for introducing Hellhounds, the Wunderwaffe DG-2, and the Ultimis crew, Shi No Numa is a top-notch basic survival map because of its Flogger trap, viable train spots, and enjoyable camping locations. Though it is not particularly deep and suffers from a lack of Pack-a-Punch, players being able to upgrade guns with Gobblegum in BO3 helped. Additionally, the reimagining in Call of Duty: Vanguard was the high point of that mode and this map, as it added a proper PaP machine to make high rounds more enjoyable as well as some new areas and Easter eggs.

Verruckt: Verruckt may have introduced perks, traps, and CoD Zombies Easter egg songs, but it is its atmosphere that really stands out. Genuinely scary Zombies maps are a thing of the past, but World at War’s engine mixed with good audio design that added distant screams make Verruckt feel like an actual asylum. While the map is too cramped to get into high rounds and lacks a Wonder Weapon of his own, with both the Winter’s Howl and Wunderwaffe feeling out of place, it is nice to play here and there due to its extreme difficulty. The gimmick of separating players into two groups at the start of the match was also a good touch. Still, Verruckt is very basic and is unlikely to be many players’ favorite map.

Town: With TranZit being a massive disappointment in the eyes of many Call of Duty Zombies fans, Town became the defacto main map for a lot of players who just wanted to survive and have an old school Zombies experience. Unlike the other Green Run segments, this map had a Pack-a-Punch machine, meaning that players could get decently far and have a proper match. While it is small and has no special gimmicks to speak of whatsoever, players know what they are getting from each match of Town, and more casual maps like this could benefit newer Zombies modes.

Nacht Der Untoten: Given that Nacht Der Untoten is the map that started it all, it is hard to be overly critical of it. Yes, it has appeared a bit too often and yes, every Nacht match goes the same way. Players will get the gun of their choosing from the Mystery Box, then camp up in the corner on the top floor of the bunker, maybe buying grenades here and there to toss at the undead. Players sit here until the match ends, making sure not to buy the barrier on the stairs, as like the stage door on Kino it is an unwritten CoD Zombies rule to never clear this debris. While it lacks complexity starts too slow, and is hugely repetitive, a good game of Nacht here and there where players turn their brains off can be relaxing.

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C Tier - Call of Duty Zombies Maps With an Even Amount of Pros and Cons

• Five
• Voyage of Despair
• Alpha Omega
• Nuketown
• Farm
• Bus Depot
• TranZit

Five: While Five was a terrific surprise as a post credits Call of Duty: Black Ops reward, it feels like little more than the bonus map it was positioned as. Story-wise it can be ignored, while the characters are not nearly as likable as the main cast, even if shooting Zombies as JFK and Nixon is initially funny. Like Shangri-La, there aren’t enough training spots for four players, so multiple players will be stuck going up and down elevators in a full match. While the concept of killing the Pentagon Thief before he reaches a player to get a Bonfire Sale was interesting, the Thief himself annoyed most players. Realistically, every match of Five peaks when players activate “Won’t Back Down” by Eminem and wait for the Pack-a-Punch doors to open, as fighting off that big horde is iconic. Beyond that, though, it’s simply decent.

Voyage of Despair: While the Chaos story is full of great maps, its weak point was undoubtedly Voyage of Despair. Treyarch did a phenomenal job of recreating the real-life Titanic just as it had done with Alcatraz in Mob of the Dead, but it unfortunately did not play as well as the island prison. Most matches saw players struggling to navigate the busy floors in the center of the ship until they were in a position to train the undead on either the front or back deck. The side Easter egg for the upgraded shield was tedious, as were several steps from the main quest, and the map had a few too many special Zombies to deal with. The Kraken’s elemental upgrades did not feel too different, either, even if the base Wonder Weapon was an interesting concept. Ultimately, it is Voyage’s difficult but rewarding final boss and gorgeous visuals that keep it from ranking lower.

Alpha Omega: Alpha Omega’s best asset has nothing to do with its gameplay, as the map allows players to control a random mixture of Ultimis and Primis. There are hundreds of lines of dialogue and dozens of interactions to enjoy on the map, and for lore lovers, this is a big draw. The map also tied up several loose ends regarding Broken Arrow, the Avogadro, and Peter McCain, which was appreciated. Gameplay-wise, though, it does not flow very well, with the houses and underground bunker not feeling like a polished Zombies location. Though the Rushmore side Easter eggs are excellent, and the Ray Gun Mark 2 variants are cool, the map itself is not very fun to play due to its tedious gas mechanics and layout, as it lacks the flow of better maps.

Nuketown: Unfortunately for Nuketown, its main gimmick is also its biggest downside. While the idea of a random perk falling from the sky every few rounds is good on paper, unlucky players can be stuck waiting too long for Juggernog and Quick Revive to survive, essentially leading to a big waste of time since players die before things even really get going. While it has decent train spots and can be solid if things go players’ way, it is a bit too small for four players to have a good time. Still, the M27 is a terrific exclusive weapon and the Zombies’ eyes color changing at round 25 is a great touch that indicates the map is happening at the same time as Moon.

Farm: Another of TranZit’s spin-off survival maps, Farm is decent, and likely would have been received better with a Pack-a-Punch machine. However, because weapons get weak too quick, there is not much replay value in Farm. Thankfully, it does have a basic lineup of perks, so it is somewhat comparable to something like Verruckt in terms of depth.

Bus Depot: While there are some players who enjoy how barebones Bus Depot is, as it lacks perks and keeps things contained to a very small area with a Mystery Box, most will likely ignore this map for the same reason as Farm. There is just not much to do on Bus Depot, with players either heading to the back corner behind the depot or training in front of it every time.

TranZit: While players may have a few good memories of TranZit, like the bus route B memes or getting kicked off the bus, the map is deeply flawed and deserves its reputation as one of the worst Treyarch Zombies maps. An awful Easter egg quest with no reward, a tedious Wonder Weapon in the Jet Gun, lava that damages the player, fog that made it hard to move without the bus, and annoying Denizens all contribute to a bad reputation for the map. It does introduce buildables, has standout secrets like Nacht Der Untoten, and captures the apocalyptic vibe, but there were too many flaws to consider TranZit good. By now, most Zombies fans know the story of Treyarch being too ambitious and not having the technology to make this map work, so hopefully, they get an opportunity to remaster TranZit and release a better version one day.

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D Tier - The Worst Survival Map in Call of Duty Zombies History

The Archon: Considering that this map released at the very end of Call of Duty: Vanguard’s life cycle, many players may not even know it existed, as most had abandoned the mode by this point. While Treyarch listening to criticism about Vanguard’s objective focus and pivoting was a good gesture, it seemingly did not have the time or resources to save the mode. The Archon is just a reskin of Terra Maledicta with a different color palette and a lacking final boss battle, and because of that, it has no flow whatsoever. Terra Maledicta was not designed to be round-based, and The Archon made that clear, as it feels clunky while also being repetitive since players had seen the exact same setting months earlier. The low point of round-based maps, the Archon absolutely deserves its spot at the bottom of the list.

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