The Call of Duty franchise has been releasing new games almost every year since 2003. Campaigns and multiplayer modes have kept the series running, with new eras and themes being introduced with every release. Warzone has burst onto the scene in recent years, but for the longest time, the main attraction of Call of Duty games was its Zombies mode.

Call of Duty's Zombies mode originated from the franchise's fifth game, World at War, and immediately gained traction. Zombies mode comes in all shapes and sizes, with some having the simple premise of killing zombies, while others have complex storylines to complete. Some maps have the perfect mixture for that ultimate zombie-slaying experience.

Updated October 31st by Isaac Williams: Call of Duty's Zombies mode has gone from an easter egg side activity to a franchise unto itself. Many games have introduced beloved Call of Duty Zombies maps, but some stand head and shoulders above the others. This list has been updated to fit CBR's current formatting and to include even more information about the best CoD Zombies maps of all time.

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20 Revelations Is A Trip Through A Beloved Franchise

Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, Salvation DLC

Revelations served as the finale for Black Ops III's Zombies mode, following on from the likes of Der Eisendrache and Gorod Krovi. While Revelations struggled to live up to the lofty expectations of those before it, it does still bring a unique sense of nostalgia. Revelations is fragments of previous maps mushed together, from the iconic Call of Duty: Nazi Zombies Nacht der Untoten to Origins and many more.

This burst of Call of Duty Zombies nostalgia suffers from a key issue. Once the novelty of revisiting these old maps in a new conglomeration is over, there isn't too much charm or substance left. However, despite this, Revelations deserves recognition for trying something different, even if its heavily recycled content keeps it near the bottom of this list.

19 Buried Closes Out An Uneven Experience

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Call Of Duty: Black Ops II, Vengeance DLC

Black Ops 2 presents a unique milestone in the Call of Duty franchise. It's remembered for some of the best and worst CoD Zombies maps of all time. Mob of the Dead and Origins are seen as some of the best Zombies action in Call of Duty, while TranZit and Die Rise go in the opposite direction. While Buried is sometimes lumped in with the latter, it does stand out as a more memorable experience.

Buried is technically a part of the Victis storyline, alongside those underwhelming maps of Die Rise and TranZit, but it has more of an identity than the others. Buried brings a unique map with an interesting "Wild West" atmosphere and vibe. While Buried is more grounded than some of the more off-the-rails Call of Duty Zombies maps, the introduction of Witches is an interesting addition, earning Buried a low spot on a list of the best CoD Zombies maps ever.

18 Die Maschine Starts Things Off On A High Note

Call Of Duty Black Ops: Cold War

Both Mauer der Toten and Die Maschine prop up the Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies maps, with Firebase Z and Forsaken falling well short of expectations. Die Maschine in particular, is fondly remembered as Cold War's first Zombies map, taking place at a Nazi research facility in Poland, set in the early '80s.

Die Maschine introduces the Dark Aether Saga, with a Stranger Things-like twist and expansion on the original Zombies map, Nacht der Untoten. Die Maschine even sees the return of the Ray Gun, as well as a wonder weapon with extraordinary capabilities, namely utilizing four elements for extra damage and fun. Die Maschine is easily one of the better Call of Duty Zombies releases in recent years.

17 Dead Of The Night Rises Above Its Divisive Elements

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4

Famous Actors Who Became Great Voice ActorsDead of the Night is one of the most divisive Zombies maps of the entire Call of Duty franchise. On the one hand, this Black Ops 4 map features a handful of beloved actors, but their characters feel like impostors since they're nothing more than cameo appearances.

Call of Duty: Dead of the Night Guest Stars

Regardless of opinions on the characters, however, the English mansion setting of Dead of the Night delivers fun interactions and zombie-killing shenanigans. Sadly, many players forget about Dead of the Night as a Call of Duty Zombies map altogether. When played without expectation or drawing comparisons to the bigger maps, however, it is still a fun Zombies experience.

16 Moon Takes Things To New Heights

Call Of Duty: Black Ops, Rezurrection DLC

Moon is another contentious map in Call of Duty Zombies canon. Moon was introduced as a part of Rezurrection, the final set of Zombies maps of the original Black Ops. Rezurrection came with re-mastered versions of four maps from World at War, as well as Moon, which saw the Ultimis characters including Richtofen and Nikolai returning once again.

Moon is still remembered as a standout Zombies map, thanks to its challenging settings of Area 51 and the Moon. The vast emptiness of space can be spooky at the best of times, but finding some sort of combination with zombies takes the horror to new levels. Despite the hate it gets, Moon is an important part of Call of Duty Zombies' progression, testing and stretching its boundaries and capabilities.

15 IX Ramps Up The Spectacle

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4

Hindsight is a peculiar thing. It would normally highlight mistakes and missed opportunities, but in the case of the Black Ops 4 Zombies maps, it actually reveals that IX was vastly underappreciated upon its release, and deserves more credit. IX thrusts players into the shoes of a gladiator in an Egyptian coliseum.

Like most CoD Zombies maps, IX gives players plenty to unlock and explore. Nonetheless, its initial colosseum room has an intense atmosphere that gets the ball rolling. The crowd even changes depending on how well the player is doing. New enemies are introduced in IX, including zombie tigers, destroyers, and marauders. IX should certainly be regarded as one of the best CoD Zombies maps of recent years, even if more spectacular maps later on this list outrank it.

14 Gorod Krovi Has Some New Tricks

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3, Descent DLC

The 10 Best-Selling First-Person Shooters Of All TimeGorod Krovi is one of the best Zombies maps in Call of Duty, but more for its unique twists rather than for providing the quintessential CoD Zombies experience. Gorod Krovi brings chaos to Stalingrad, but not in the conventional Zombies way. Instead, it introduces dragons and other menacing enemies.

Dragons even inspire new weapons on this map, from the Gauntlet of Siegfried to a zombie shield called the Guard of Fafnir. The fantastical elements that Gorod Krovi adds to the usual Call of Duty Zombies tropes deliver a whole new level of gravitas, especially with the ever-present threat of fire.

13 Nacht Der Untoten Kickstarts A Phenomenon

Call Of Duty: World At War & Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, Zombies Chronicles DLC

Debuting in Call of Duty: World at War, Nacht der Untoten is the franchise's original Zombies mode map, back when the aim was to survive for as long as possible with no convoluted story to explore. The map feels bare in comparison to modern-day Call of Duty Zombies map releases, but its small size can quickly become chaotic and packed with zombies.

At the very least, Nacht der Untoten introduced the core concepts of the Mystery Box, buying weapons from the walls and barricading windows to Call of Duty. Nacht der Untoten is very much rooted in nostalgia, and while it may not be flashy or interesting in this day and age, it is still one of the best Call of Duty Zombies maps. Later-ranked entries may be more spectacular, but Nacht der Untoten deserves a spot on this list for kickstarting the Nazi Zombies innovation.

12 Mauer Der Toten Is A Return To Form

Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Season Four

As Black Ops Cold War's finest, Mauer der Toten is easily one of the best CoD Zombies maps in recent years. It brings a new level of verticality not often seen in Zombies modes, from atop apartment buildings, to street level and further down into underground levels.

Mauer der Toten takes place at Checkpoint Charlie near the Berlin Wall and gives players plenty of room to maneuver through the chaotic hordes of zombies. Mauer der Toten suffers from Cold War not being the best CoD game in terms of gameplay and mechanics, but this shouldn't take away a Call of Duty Zombies map that earns a middling spot on this list.

11 Zombies In Spaceland Has Gone Long Overlooked

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Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Nowadays, for a Call of Duty Zombies map to stand out, they have to aim high and go in different directions, while still giving fans and players the quintessential Zombies experience. Infinite Warfare is often discussed as being one of the worst Call of Duty titles in recent memory, but its Zombies In Spaceland is remembered as one of the more unique and goofy Zombies maps.

Zombies mode in recent years has become inundated with cluttered and convoluted storylines, while most players just want to kill zombies and have fun. Doing just that, Zombies In Spaceland launches them into a theme park scenario, complete with fast-paced and fun gameplay. Zombies In Spaceland really is one of the best Call of Duty Zombies maps that not enough people talk about.

10 Ascension's Low Difficulty Doesn't Detract From Its Fun

Call Of Duty: Black Ops, First Strike DLC & Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, Zombies Chronicles DLC

Ascension was initially released for the original Call of Duty: Black Ops, becoming the eighth map in Call of Duty Zombies, and brought some substantial changes. Space monkeys were introduced as an alternative enemy to hellhounds in previous maps. Space monkeys were an active threat to players since they could steal perks and inflict damage.

Ascension is remembered for being one of the easiest Zombies maps of the entire Call of Duty franchise, due to how much space is available for players to run efficient loops and maintain control of the zombies' numbers. Yet still, it provides a unique experience perfect for those players who want to survive as long as possible while getting their fill of killing zombies.

9 The Final Reich Gives Plenty Of Variety

Call Of Duty: WWII

The Final Reich is the main Zombies map for Call of Duty: WWII, bringing a complicated and layered story to the frantic zombie-killing. There are better Zombies maps out there, but The Final Reich deserves credit for returning the series to its old ways.

Call of Duty: WWII players can unlock and explore The Final Reich's village surroundings, or they can get stuck in the underground levels. The latter provides plenty of claustrophobic nightmare fuel but must be explored to further the story. It is one of those game modes that may require a player to look online for a walkthrough to progress the story, but completing The Final Reich feels incredibly rewarding.

8 Origins Brings Back A Beloved Team

Call Of Duty: Black Ops II, Apocalypse DLC & Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, Zombies Chronicles DLC

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Call of Duty: Black Ops revamped and expanded the Zombies mode that World at War had started. Black Ops II continued in that vein. One of those Call of Duty: Black Ops II Zombies maps was Origins, released in the Apocalypse DLC. Origins is one of those Zombies maps that can take a long time and a hard grind to get through, and that alone may put some players off.

However, what Black Ops II's Origins map brings is an epic experience with elemental mayhem. The introduction of the Elemental Staffs allows players to harness the power of the elements, which adds to the frantic chaos. Its difficulty may hold it back for some fans, but Origins' narrative and gameplay thrills more than earn it a spot in the top ten CoD Zombies maps ever.

7 Ancient Evil Combines Beauty And Frantic Violence

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4

Set in the fictional city of Delphi, which shows clear nods and references to Greek mythology, Ancient Evil is easily the best Zombies map to come out of Call of Duty: Black Ops 4. It is one of the most visually stunning maps, but players aren't necessarily granted the time to take it all in.

Black Ops 4's Ancient Evil Zombies map encourages a frantic pace, but the chaos can be managed with enough experience and patience. Ancient Evil brings the Chaos story to a close and is chronologically the final CoD Zombies map with Shaw, Diego, Scarlett, and Bruno as the player characters.

6 Call Of The Dead's All-Star Cast Elevates Things

Call Of Duty: Black Ops, Escalation DLC

Call of Duty: Black Ops' Call of the Dead brings an all-star cast to Zombies mode. These are all powerful nods to fans of the horror genre, making for a special zombie-killing experience.

Call of Duty: Black Ops' Call of the Dead Guest Stars

The stacked roster certainly helps Black Ops' Call of the Dead stand out, but it is still an entertaining Zombies map in itself. It's set at a Siberian outpost, and the sheer cold, icy environment helps heighten its horrifying aesthetic. Call of the Dead is unique in its premise and execution, making it easily one of the best CoD Zombies maps.

5 Der Eisendrache Combines Well-Liked Mechanics In One Map

Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3, Awakening DLC

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Der Eisendrache is one of Call of Duty: Black Ops III's most enjoyable Zombies maps, with the series learning and borrowing concepts from many of its predecessors. This map is set in a medieval castle in Austria, which serves as the perfect setting for a creepy zombie-killing experience.

However, the highlight of Black Ops III's Der Eisendrache is undoubtedly the four elemental bows that are perfect for a fun session with friends. Der Eisendrache can be one of the easier Zombies entries when players are fully equipped and accustomed to the map, but that does not make it any less enjoyable. Its story is also surprisingly compelling. Der Eisendrache is a selling point for Call of Duty: Black Ops III as a whole, earning it a high spot in this article.

4 Shadows Of Evil Excels In Its Spooky Vibes

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

Shadows of Evil was the first Zombies map of Call of Duty: Black Ops III. It immediately introduced four new characters; Floyd Campbell, Jessica Rose, Nero Blackstone, and Jack Vincent. Set in the fictional 1940s town of Morg City and inspired by the work of H. P. Lovecraft, Shadows of Evil has its own unique and scary flavor for Call of Duty's Zombies mode.

Black Ops 3's Shadows of Evil map leans into its otherworldly feeling rather than the normal Zombies experience, and it duly benefits from this. Der Eisendrache will often try to steal the spotlight with its pure Zombies chaos, but Shadows of Evil is just incomparable in that regard and is one of the best CoD Zombies maps.

3 Kino Der Toten Is An Accessible And Thematic Introduction

Call of Duty: Black Ops & Call Of Duty: Black Ops III, Zombies Chronicles DLC

Kino der Toten was the first Zombies map released for Call of Duty: Black Ops. For many players, it was the very first Call of Duty Zombies map they experienced. The World at War Zombies maps felt like feelers, determining how the mode would push forward in the future, and Kino der Toten showed that ambition.

Kino der Toten picked up where Der Riese left off with its eerie atmosphere, keeping the same characters, with Richtofen, Dempsey, Belinski, and Masaki returning. It also brought added accessibility in not being too difficult that the enjoyment levels suffered as a consequence. Black Ops' Kino der Toten is rooted in nostalgia, but more than earns its high spot by crafting the perfect white-knuckle CoD Zombies experience.

2 Der Riese Shows The Franchise's Potential

Call of Duty: World at War, Map Pack 3 DLC

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Der Riese was the fourth and final Zombies map to be released for Call of Duty: World at War, but it remains the game's best. It was revolutionary for the mode, as it introduced weapon upgrading with the Pack-a-Punch Machine. This alone made reaching higher levels more attainable, thus attracting more players to give it a go.

Der Riese's map design is also one of the best, which is ultimately why the map appeared in two more Call of Duty games. It was included in Prestige and Hardened editions of Black Ops, before getting a remaster and a name change to The Giant in Black Ops 3. Der Riese was revolutionary in the progression of Zombies mode and will forever be a fan favorite.

1 Mob Of The Dead Has Top-Tier Gameplay And Storytelling

Black Ops 2, Uprising DLC

Coming out of Black Ops 2, Mob of the Dead is the best CoD Zombies map and the closest to perfection that the entire Call of Duty franchise has been. Alcatraz Prison is turned into a hellscape for this map and serves as the perfect horror-filled setting for a zombie invasion.

The playable characters are mobster inmates at the prison, each with an exceptional voice actor behind them. Michael Madsen voices Finn, Ray Liotta is Billy, Joe Pantoliano is Weasel, and Chazz Palminteri is Sal. Even the ever-talented Nolan North is involved as zombie boss Brutus. Mob of the Dead earns the top spot on this list of the best Call of Duty Zombies maps through its seamless blend of high-quality narrative and gameplay.