Call of Duty Black Ops has a unique and fun Zombie mode, but which Zombie maps are the best in the entire game series?

There’s a reason the Call of Duty Black Ops makes for such a terrific first-person game. The attention to detail and visual aesthetic are definitely two things that add to the impact of the entire experience. In the Zombies mode, there are more than thirty maps, each one more intricate than the last. Players look forward to every new rendition because of the upgrades, the new buildables, the clever Easter eggs, and weapons that add a terrific edge to the gameplay.

But, there are so many things to consider when it comes to ranking the best and most functional zombie map. Naturally, the concept of a "best map" in the mode is incredibly subjected, with many players enjoying different aspects for wildly varying reasons. Nevertheless, here’s our ranking of the best zombie maps in the Call of Duty Black Ops series from the 2010 original to 2020's Black Ops Cold War.

Update on April 21st, 2021 by Tanner Fox: Fan perception of the greatest zombies maps of all time is ever-changing, and, with the recent release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, expectations regarding the everpresent horde mode have changed radically. The concept of replayability has been redefined following the debut of the oft-lauded Outbreak mode, and it has changed the way many think of the older, less feature-complete zombies experiences. Of course, that's not to say that any of the older zombies maps are bad by any means, but it's time to reflect on how audience attitudes have changed recently and amended our ranking of the best-ever Black Ops zombies maps.

15 Ascension (Black Ops)

The first Black Ops DLC map unravels in an abandoned Soviet Cosmodrome in the Soviet Union and introduces two of the most beloved perks in Stamin-Up and PhD Flopper, both costing 2000 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 of the monkeys could be killed without the player touching a perk machine, they will be awarded a Perk Bottle and Max Ammo.

14 Classified (Black Ops 4)

This was the fourth map in Black Ops 4 and was a functional re-imagination of the pentagon-based Five, which was the sixth zombie map and the second available in the original Black Ops. Though somewhat of a controversial remake, it rounded out a lot of the flaws of the original map's design, and it also featured quite a few additional areas, and it added a shield and introduced two new buildables in the riot shield and the teleporter signal amplifier, the latter could be used to access the Pack-a-Punch Machine, which was located in Area 51.

Though the Pentagon Theif, arguably the defining feature of the original Five map, is nowhere to be seen, the map is just as chaotic as ever, though the introduction of the aforementioned buildables and special weapons make it far easier.

13 Nacht Der Untoten (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 III 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.

12 Ancient Evil (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.

11 Die Maschine (Black Ops Cold War)

The only map present during the release of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, it may be a bit too early to crown Die Maschine as one of the best zombies maps in Black Ops history. However, 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.

10 IX (Black Ops 4)

Players unanimously 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 BC, 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, Meruaders, 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.

9 Call of the Dead (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 in this one.

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.

8 Moon (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.

7 Gorod Krovi (Black Ops 3)

The mythical thematic 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 in the Aether storyline that is entirely original and does not recycle areas from past maps.

6 Shadows Of Evil (Black Ops 3)

One of two zombies maps to launch alongside 2015's Black Ops III, 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 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.

5 Der Eisendrache (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.

4 Der Riese (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 III, we've got to give the nod to the BOIII 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.

3 Origins (Black Ops 2)

The three big robots may the focal points of this Black Ops II 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, it was a zombie in a mechanized suit that uses a flamethrower, and it can require some serious focus to bring down. The best thing about the map is definitely the Easter egg, but the oppressive World War I trench warfare styling was also widely appreciated by players.

2 Mob Of The Dead (Black Ops 2)

This one 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.

1 Kino Der Toten

Kino Der Toten literally 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 zombie maps, as nothing compares to gathering up a horde of zombies and blowing them all away with the Thundergun.

NEXT: Every 7th Generation Call Of Duty Game, Ranked According To Metacritic

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