Call of Duty Zombies

Call of Duty Zombies, also simply known as Zombies, is a recurring game mode in the Call of Duty series of first-person shooter video games published by Activision. Players in the mode are put up against an endless horde of zombies, and are forced to survive for as long as possible. Killing zombies grants the players points, which can be used to obtain more powerful weapons and unlock new areas of the map. The waves of zombies progressively increase in difficulty, becoming faster and having increased health. Additional features available to the player in most versions of the mode include "Perk-a-Colas", which can upgrade players abilities, and a "Pack-a-Punch" machine that allows players to upgrade their weapons. Many maps feature easter eggs and quests, which players can interact with and complete. These range from quests that trigger secret songs to those that progress the overarching storyline of the Zombies mode.

The mode was originally introduced with Call of Duty: World at War (2008), which was developed by Treyarch. The concept for the Zombies mode was created by Treyarch designer Jesse Snyder, who based the concept off of a scrapped mode for the game where players would defend against Allied soldiers during the Normandy landings. Although the mode was almost cancelled by studio head Mark Lamia, due to its creation while the game was behind schedule and the risk behind the mode, it was later included in the final game under the clause that the mode only be a bonus feature unlocked after completing the game's campaign. The mode was later unlocked to all players and received several new maps in the form of downloadable content (DLC). Several future games in the Call of Duty series—mainly titles part of the Black Ops sub-series—would go on to feature their own iteration of the Zombies mode, introducing new mechanics to the mode as well as progressing the overarching story of the series. The mode has been featured in thirteen Call of Duty games, with its most recent appearance being in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025).

Zombies is one of the most popular modes in the Call of Duty series, with the Zombies mode being a main reason for many players to purchase the game. Dedicated communities exist for the mode related to its easter eggs, while games such as Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015) remained popular five years after release due to the mode, despite later iterations. Two standalone versions of the Zombies mode have been released for mobile devices: Call of Duty: World at War – Zombies (2009) and Call of Duty: Black Ops – Zombies (2011). A standalone Zombies game was being developed by Raven Software from 2011 to 2012 before being cancelled. A comic book series based on the mode, written by Justin Jordan and published by Dark Horse Comics, was released starting in February 2016. Two soundtrack albums containing music from the mode's history have been released, specifically in 2011 and 2013.

Overview

Gameplay

A gameplay screenshot of the Zombies mode as it is in Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015). The player is shooting at a zombie with their Ray Gun Mark II.

Zombies is a co-operative game mode in the Call of Duty series of first-person shooter video games, usually titles part of the Black Ops sub-series. The mode puts players up against an endless horde of zombies, and requires them to survive for as long as possible. Killing zombies grants players points, which can be used to unlock additional areas in the map and acquire more powerful weapons. Each wave of zombies progressively increases in difficulty, with zombies becoming faster and being able to take more damage before dying. Maps also typically feature a "mystery box", which allows the player to obtain a randomly-selected weapon, as well as "wall-buys", which are chalk outlines of weapons found on walls around the map, allowing the player to choose a specific weapon to buy.The box also allows players to acquire more unique weapons specifically to the Zombies mode, such as a "wonder weapons". Wonder weapons are unique, fictional weapons that are generally powerful, with the ray gun being the first wonder weapon introduced in World at War. Several wonder weapons are exclusive to their own single map, with some being attained through completion of quests or building instead of through the mystery box. Specific maps sometimes include additional gadgets or traps that can be used to fend off zombies.

Players are able to drink "Perk-a-Colas" (generally referred to as simply "perks"), which are scattered around the map and upgrade their stats or offer unique abilities. Examples of perks include "Juggernog", which increases the players health, or "Stamin-Up", which increases their walk and sprint speed. Players can also upgrade their weapons with the maps "Pack-a-Punch" machine. Many Zombies maps include easter eggs, which allow the players to interact with specific map objects. These range from quests that trigger secret songs to those that progress the overarching storyline of the Zombies mode. Later iterations of the mode would add major easter eggs, known as a "main quest", to each map.

Setting

Settings for Zombies maps span across the world during several points in history, such as World War I, World War II, and the Prohibition era. Settings for maps across iterations of the Zombies modes include a fantastical interpretation of Stalingrad with fire-breathing dragons ("Gorod Krovi"), the Pentagon ("Five"), and the Moon. The earliest Zombies maps were oriented around Nazi zombies. In addition, the Zombies modes feature a storyline that spans across the modes iterations across several games, including Call of Duty: World at War (2008), Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012), and Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015). Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018) continued the story in the form of the "Aether" storyline while also introducing the "Chaos" story, which runs independently from the Aether storyline. Black Ops 4 also served as the conclusion of the Aether storyline.

With Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020), Treyarch soft-rebooted the Zombies story with an alternate dimension known as the Dark Aether. The dimension was created during the ending of the Zombies mode in Black Ops 4, when several alternate timelines and dimensions from the Zombies universe were sealed into one. The Dark Aether storyline was later continued with Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023), and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024). Other games with Zombies feature their own, independent themes from other games, such as Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016), which has a futuristic theme and maps inspired by horror movies from the 1980s.

History

Creation and World at War

The concept for the Zombies mode was created by Treyarch designer Jesse Snyder during the development of Call of Duty: World at War. The idea came after several developers of the game wanted to include a bonus stage in the game, similar to what the preceding game in the series, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) had. Their original idea was to create a minigame where players took on the role of German soldiers fighting off waves of Allied attackers at the Normandy landings, though this was scrapped. Later in the game's development, another developer at Treyarch stated that the in-game animations for Japanese soldiers after getting hit by rockets "looked like zombies". Hearing this, Snyder took inspiration from a zombie defense Flash game, The Last Stand, and combined it with the concept of "being over run [sic] and not really being able to win", deviating from the series tradition of "[feeling] invincible, that when things go wrong you'll be okay, and that everyone lives to see the next day". A small team began working on the Zombies mode, with developers from other parts of Treyarch beginning to chip in.

When Treyarch studio head Mark Lamia heard about the modes existence, he initially tried to shut it down, due to the state of development at the time and how they were behind schedule. However, when he played the mode for himself, he decided that the mode had to be finished and put into the final game. He believed Activision would likely not accept the mode, fearing that it would be "doing something so off with such a successful brand", and would likely be too ridiculous to market. He decided to let the popularity of the mode spread throughout the development team rather than pitch the mode formally. An agreement was reached where the mode would not be marketed as part of the game, and would only be unlockable after players completed the game's campaign as a bonus mode. The mode was later unlocked for everyone after the mode proved to be popular amongst players. Originally, the mode only had one map: "Nacht der Untoten", and was known as "Nazi Zombies". Downloadable content (DLC) was later released for the game that added new Zombies maps. The first map to be added via DLC was "Verrückt", which expanded upon the gameplay mechanics of "Nacht der Untoten" by adding Perk-a-Colas, traps, and a power switch. It was later followed by "Shi no Numa" and "Der Riese". During this period, a recurring cast of playable protagonists was introduced: Edward Richtofen, Tank Dempsey, Takeo Masaki, and Nikolai Belinski, who would go on to feature across multiple later titles in the series. A fourth DLC was being worked on for World at War, with three Zombies maps being planned for it, although development of it was halted so that developers could focus on Call of Duty: Black Ops. All three maps were repurposed for Black Ops and its DLC. A standalone mobile version of the Zombies mode in World at War, Call of Duty: World at War – Zombies, was released in 2009.

Later iterations

Black Ops launched with two Zombies maps: "Kino der Toten", set within an abandoned Nazi theatre, and "Five", set within The Pentagon. In "Five" players can play as real-life politicians John F. Kennedy, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon, and Robert McNamara. Also included in the game was a new Zombies-based mode called Dead Ops Arcade. Like World at War, the game received DLC that introduced new Zombies maps to the game, starting with "Ascension". It was followed by "Call of the Dead", "Shangri-La", and "Moon", the last of which was released alongside remastered versions of all four Zombies maps from World at War. The playable crew in "Call of the Dead" were all voiced by celebrity actors, which would be occasionally repeated in later iterations. Like with World at War, a standalone version of the Zombies mode from Black Ops for mobile devices was released in 2011.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II launched with a re-imagining of the Zombies mode, with a focus on making each Zombies map feel more like a campaign rather than a mini-game. This started with "TranZit", an open world mode that encouraged player exploration of a large, post-apocalyptic map. Call of Duty: Black Ops II also introduced a new group of playable survivors in "TranZit": Samuel J. Stuhlinger, Abigail "Misty" Briarton, Marlton Johnson, and Russman. Players are able to traverse "TranZit" with assistance from a bus that travels across the map. Those who pre-ordered the game also gained access to a Zombies rendition of the multiplayer map "Nuketown", with the map becoming available for everyone later on. DLC for the game would go on to add "Die Rise", "Mob of the Dead", and "Buried". Each new map continued to expand upon the mechanics of the Zombies mode.

Originally, Zombies maps were mostly separate from each other in terms of narrative and setting. When development of one map was done, the developers would immediately move on to the next. Prior to the creation of the final Black Ops II DLC map, "Origins", the developers of the mode started working on an overarching story for the Zombies mode, connecting all of the maps and planning out the future ones to line up with the story. The story and setting for every Zombies map in Black Ops III was planned out before "Origins" was released for Black Ops II. Black Ops III released in 2015 with the "Shadows of Evil" map. A remake of "Der Riese", known as "The Giant", was made available as a bonus map for the Collector's Edition. Four other new maps were later released for the game: "Der Eisendrache", "Zetsubou no Shima", "Gorod Krovi", and "Revelations". In 2017, Treyarch released the "Zombie Chronicles" DLC for Black Ops III, featuring remakes of eight maps from previous Call of Duty games. Starting with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare in 2014, other Call of Duty games outside of the Black Ops sub-series began to feature their own iterations of the Zombies mode. The iteration of the mode in Advanced Warfare is known as "Exo-Zombies". Zombies was later featured in Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and Call of Duty: WWII (2017).

Black Ops 4 launched in 2018 with three maps: "IX", "Voyage of Despair", and "Blood of the Dead". Black Ops 4 introduced a loadout system for Zombies, allowing users to spawn in with a customized loadout, rather than starting a map with nothing and having to find weapons and upgrades. Later updates to the game added five more maps: "Classified", "Ancient Evil", "Dead of the Night", "Alpha Omega", and "Tag der Toten". Black Ops Cold War launched with one map, "Die Maschine", and reworked several core Zombies mechanics. For example, weapon upgrading and perks became tier-based, and a battle pass was added that could be advanced through playing Zombies. Other maps added to the game later on included "Firebase Z", "Mauer der Toten", and "Forsaken". Black Ops Cold War also introduced a new mode called Outbreak, which is an open world mode that integrates several mechanics and features from other Call of Duty modes, as well as Call of Duty: Warzone. A similar mode to Outbreak was later featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) named "Operation Deadbolt" (or simply Modern Warfare Zombies, shortened to MWZ).

A Zombies mode was included in Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021). In comparison to previous iterations of the mode, this iteration removed the round-based gameplay of previous iterations in favor of objective-based progression, and lacked easter eggs and story quests at launch. The first two maps released for the mode, "Der Anfang" and "Terra Maledicta", followed the objective-based gameplay. A round-based map was later released in the form of a remade version of World at War's "Shi no Numa", and later "The Archon", which was the final map released for Vanguard. Black Ops 6 launched with two Zombies maps: "Terminus" and "Liberty Falls". These maps were followed by "Citadelle des Morts", "The Tomb", "Shattered Veil", and "The Reckoning".

Zombies returned in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025), which featured one map at launch being "Ashes of the Damned". Black Ops 7 reintroduced "Survival" maps, which are smaller playable areas adapted from the game's primary maps. At launch, the mode featured one map, "Vandorm Farm". Additional maps released post-launch included "Astra Malorum", "Paradox Junction", "Totenreich", " Kowakujō", and "Rex Infernus". Other Survival maps added through post-release content included "Exit 115", "Zarya Cosmodrome", "Mars", "Ashwood", " Nuked",and "Eidskallen Lighthouse".

Music

Zombies maps typically feature a secret song, which require players to search for easter eggs or complete a quest. Upon completion, that maps secret song will play. These songs are usually composed by Kevin Sherwood, with vocals from another artist. The most common singer was Elena Siegman, who sang the secret songs for zombie modes up until Black Ops 4, when guest singers started being used for most secret songs. Songs not made by Sherwood have also been used for Zombies, such as "Not Ready to Die" and "Nightmare" by Avenged Sevenfold, which are featured on "Call of the Dead" and "Moon", respectively.

On January 5, 2011, Activision released the soundtrack for the modes iteration in Black Ops, featuring 17 tracks composed for the mode. It was released digitally through Fontana Distribution. One song from the album, "115", was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2025. The soundtrack for "Mob of the Dead" was released in April 2013. It features 24 tracks, most of which were made specifically for "Mob of the Dead", alongside previously unreleased tracks made for "Tranzit" and "Die Rise".

Associated media

Comic books

Starting in 2016, a series of comic books based on Zombies was released. The storyline of the comics, while not a direct adaptation of the Zombies storyline, is loosely based on the events of Black Ops II Zombies. The comics were published by Dark Horse Comics, and written by Justin Jordan.

Cancelled standalone game by Raven Software

From 2011 to 2012, a standalone game based on the Zombies mode was being developed by Raven Software. It was going to be a live service game, with Michael Gummelt serving as the project's lead designer. Gummelt described his vision of the game as starting off players in a gladiator arena inspired by the Mad Max franchise, where players were being used as entertainment during a zombie apocalypse. Eventually, players would be able to escape from the arena, where they could then explore an open world while fighting zombies and collecting rewards. The game was being developed during a transitional period between leadership of Treyarch, where the studio gave control of Zombies to Raven, before Treyarch requested control over Zombies back.

Reception

Critical reception of the Zombies mode has varied significantly across installments, ranging from widespread acclaim to more divided responses, with retrospective opinion on older titles also sometimes differing from their original release.

In a retrospective review of the mode's original iteration in World at War, David Meikleham of GamesRadar+ labeled the Zombies mode as the "greatest minigames [sic] ever conceived". Reviewing the same iteration, Seth Parmer of TheGamer wrote: "[T]he Zombies mode ... birthed an entire storyline and fanbase due to how downright fun and replayable it was." Retrospective reviewers often praise the simplicity of the iteration and credited its importance for introducing the Zombies mode. Black Ops was also well received, with reviewers overall praising the return of the mode. Retrospective reviewers share similar praise, claiming the mode was a strong expansion from the previous iteration.

Upon launch, Black Ops II Zombies mostly received praise by reviewers with highlights focusing on the open-world nature of the map "TranZit" and the new features that the iteration introduced. Lorenzo Veloria of GamesRadar+ stated that "TranZit expands Zombies from a traditional horde mode to a full apocalyptic adventure." However, some reviewers commented on how the mode was too challenging and criticized the repetitive gameplay, with Chris Watters of Gamespot describing the mode as "stagnant". Retrospective opinion on Black Ops II has been heavily divided, with some maps such as "Mob of the Dead" being strongly praised, and others, such as "TranZit" being heavily criticized.

Black Ops III Zombies, like the previous installment, was well received by critics on release. Upon the iteration's debut, the map "Shadows of Evil" received praise for its story-rich characters, new features, and the realistic 1940s setting, with Mike Mahardy of Gamespot saying "...this new take on Zombies is bizarre. It’s also fantastic." The later release of the "Zombies Chronicles" DLC was also well received as a positive, content-rich addition to the game, with reviewers' main criticism being its price. In a 2025 retrospective review of Black Ops III, Dominic Allen of ScreenRant described the iteration as "arguably the best Zombies mode ever created for Call of Duty and remains a general fan-favorite of the series."

Black Ops 4 Zombies generally received positive reviews with critics praising its depth of gameplay. Nick Plessas of Electronic Gaming Monthly specifically noted the large changes to the mode compared to previous entries and described the edition as "a new version of Zombies".

The non-Treyarch iterations of Zombies included in Advanced Warfare, Infinite Warfare, and WWII, have received mixed critical reception when compared to that of the Treyarch produced games. Both Infinite Warfare and WWII were praised by critics upon release, while Advanced Warfare was criticized by reviewers at GamesRadar+ and at Gamespot. Miranda Sanchez of IGN stated that WWII Zombies "...strikes a rewarding balance for the diehard zombies fans and those that just want to have a good time."

Recent iterations of Zombies have received more mixed reviews. David Jagneux of IGN had a mixed view on the Zombies mode on Black Ops Cold War at launch, saying that "[This] Zombies mode has some of the best moment-to-moment gameplay in the series but its single map and lack of split-screen multiplayer sap its endurance". Vanguard Zombies was less well received than previous entries, with many reviewers criticising the lack of content on launch, as well as the initial removal of the "round-based" format. Phil Hornshaw of Gamespot criticized the lack of an "easter-egg" to solve, saying that until further content is added, "Zombies feels a bit lacking compared to past games". Modern Warfare III (2023) was the first and only title in the Modern Warfare series to receive a Zombies mode, with critics finding the mode similar to the "DMZ" mode found in iterations of Warzone.

Black Ops 6 received stronger reviews than that of Vanguard and Modern Warfare III, with Will Borger of IGN describing the mode as "absurd and campy fun" whilst specifically praising the two launch maps. A review by Phil Hornshaw of Gamespot also reviewed the game positively, with highlights focusing on the challenging gameplay and new additions, including "omni-movement". Both reviewers also praised the return of the "round-based" format which had been initially removed in Vanguard Zombies. Critical reception to Black Ops 7 Zombies was mixed. Borger reviewed this iteration with less praise, saying it "isn't bad, but it feels like a remnant of something greater, a shambling corpse that reminds us of the person it used to be", while S.E Doster at Gamespot was less critical and praised the mode, saying "Black Ops 7 provides enjoyable ways to slay the undead."

Community

Zombies is one of Call of Duty's most popular game modes, with large amounts of players purchasing games in the series solely to play the mode. Several communities have been created by players dedicated towards discovering and solving easter eggs within the mode, particularly on Black Ops 4. Black Ops III has also garnered a dedicated community regarding its iteration of Zombies, with Steam Workshop allowing users to create custom maps and player models. The popularity of the game's iteration was noted by Aron Garst of GameSpot as lasting well into 2020, five years after release, despite the release of later games in the series that also featured Zombies. Zombies has also held a strong presence on YouTube, with several youtubers becoming influential within the community, such as NoahJ456 and MrRoflWaffles.

Games

As a mode
As a standalone release

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Petitte, Omri (July 5, 2017). "Unraveling the bizarre plot of Call of Duty's Zombies mode". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Call of Duty: Black Ops – Cold War zombies – everything we know". PCGamesN. November 18, 2020. Archived from the original on December 10, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Meikleham, David (December 21, 2017). "Screwing over friends and fixing up windows in COD: World At War's Nazi Zombies, one of gamings best spin offs". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  4. ↑ Ouardighi, Mohamed El (February 3, 2025). "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies - Every Wall Buy Location In The Tomb". TheGamer. Archived from the original on June 26, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  5. ↑ Round, Nathan (June 25, 2026). "Find Every Kowakujo Wall Buy FAST in Black Ops 7 Zombies with this Guide". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 26, 2026. Retrieved June 26, 2026.
  6. ↑ Goslin, Austen (October 16, 2018). "Here's how the mystery box works in Call of Duty's Blackout mode". Polygon. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  7. ↑ Round, Nathan; Nicholson, Jon (October 25, 2024). "Black Ops 6 Zombies: How To The Get Ray Gun". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  8. ↑ Fillery, Jake (April 2, 2025). "Black Ops 6: How to Get the Wunderwaffe DG-2 in Shattered Veil". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ Fillery, Jake (August 31, 2023). "10 Best Call Of Duty Zombies Wonder Weapons". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  10. ↑ "All Black Ops 6 Wonder Weapons and how to get them". PCGamesN. January 29, 2025. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  11. ↑ Fillery, Jake (October 3, 2024). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies – How to Get the Elemental Staffs & All Upgrades". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 2, 2026. Retrieved June 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Co-Optimized: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2". Shacknews. April 22, 2015. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  13. 1 2 3 4 Gilliam, Ryan (October 19, 2018). "Black Ops 4 shows just how important Zombies is to Call of Duty". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 24, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  14. 1 2 Gould, Elie (October 31, 2024). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies players have found an easter egg that'll give you 2,000 free points, but you have to be good at trick shots". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on September 14, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  15. 1 2 3 Hall, Charlie (May 8, 2018). "Meet the studio behind Call of Duty: Black Ops and Zombies mode". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Past Call Of Duty Zombies Storylines Will Collide In Black Ops 6 DLC". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  17. ↑ Crowd, Dan (October 15, 2018). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  18. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (September 24, 2019). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's final operation is Dark Divide". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on March 17, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  19. ↑ Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (October 14, 2021). "Call of Duty: Vanguard's Zombies mode revealed in new trailer". VG247. Archived from the original on January 14, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  20. ↑ Sinha, Ravi. "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies is an Open-World, PvE Extraction Mode". GamingBolt. Archived from the original on May 20, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  21. ↑ Martin, Cole (October 22, 2024). "Will Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 have a Zombies mode?". Windows Central. Archived from the original on August 6, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  22. 1 2 Plagge, Kallie (September 8, 2016). "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Zombies Is Trying to Be as '80s as Possible". IGN. Archived from the original on August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  23. 1 2 3 Francisco, Eric (October 27, 2023). "How Zombies Became Call of Duty's Biggest Mode". IGN. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  24. 1 2 3 4 Crecente, Brian (February 4, 2015). "Why Call of Duty's zombie mode shouldn't have happened and almost didn't". Polygon. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 Hartup, Andy (April 20, 2016). "Call of Duty Zombies – the accidental creation of a glorious gaming monster". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on August 19, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Call of Duty DLC Video Shows Off Remaster Of First Ever Zombies Map". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 27, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Call of Duty: World at War DLC Hands-on – Zombie Verruckt". GameSpot. Archived from the original on February 24, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  28. ↑ "COD: World at War Map Pack 2 invades in June". GameSpot. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  29. ↑ Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (September 12, 2009). "CoD:WaW PC Patch 1.6 to be released next week". VG247. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  30. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (May 26, 2010). "New Map Pack for Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies". IGN. Archived from the original on October 16, 2016. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  31. ↑ Crowd, Dan (October 15, 2018). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 - Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  32. ↑ Corrigan, Hope (May 3, 2017). "New Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 DLC Seemingly Original Zombies Map Remasters". IGN. Archived from the original on August 21, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  33. ↑ Buchanan, Levi (November 16, 2009). "Call of Duty: World at War: Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  34. ↑ "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3's Zombies is not the innovative game mode we once loved". GAMINGbible. October 6, 2023. Archived from the original on January 21, 2026. Retrieved May 3, 2026.
  35. ↑ Bache, H.-J. and Aarseth, E. (2023). Ludic Zombies: An Examination of Zombieism in Games. [online] Available at: https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/79294327/paper_405-libre.pdf?1642796132=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DLudic_Zombies_An_Examination_of_Zombieis.pdf&Expires=1777804753&Signature=Hp4g6OALGifzhZBkaKmg3cZW8pDqOgg8zC~uEob5KuKZ8VV7Zw~Y0MekrUtKUQpizoaYCkvwyzzeDY0UYTNe0q2ymbyz32tM1qz7kUBEkwa9l6bDqQaSJ3GSRw6e4YyeO-AZBpMvEaSheKQa9rBerJNbtbKiTl5cZiaBIQ756Gfiw8jr1V~CY5A5hb9lZM-U7eh~8UPRYdzcKDjSXxN~frGP5H3dVgXXV6m7gKKWrhyETseE3qNlbCj3aZz~4jgAs0SMPUI7w1La7Yc7nXpE3s14VQ8hO75VRwggLz3UW36tOxo-5Bx--hdCUrBlhaXHfTN51PsnxW2xLyVbNFd~kQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA#page=1.00 [Accessed 3 May 2026]. ‌
  36. ↑ McNeilly, Joe (November 9, 2010). "New video of Call of Duty: Black Ops' Pentagon-themed "Five" Zombies mode in action". GamesRadar+. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  37. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops". GamesIndustry.biz. February 1, 2011. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  38. ↑ Eykemans, Peter (May 4, 2011). "Escalation Impressions from Call of Duty: Black Ops". IGN. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  39. ↑ Purchese, Robert (June 16, 2011). "New Black Ops zombie map is Shangri-La". Eurogamer.net. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  40. ↑ Russell, Joe (August 4, 2011). "Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection map pack will put zombies on the moon". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  41. ↑ MacReady, Melody (May 14, 2021). "Call Of Duty: Every Celebrity Guest Star In Cast Of Zombies". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on August 23, 2025. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  42. ↑ "All The Call Of Duty Celebrity Operators, Cameos, And Characters Over The Years". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
  43. ↑ "'Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies' Review – A Fun, if Premature, Reanimation – TouchArcade". toucharcade.com. Archived from the original on May 19, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  44. ↑ Mattone, James (September 30, 2019). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Zombies Spotlight: Tips for Taking On Tag der Toten". Activision Games Blog. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  45. ↑ Garcia, Johnny (February 12, 2021). "Call Of Duty Zombies: All Zombies Crews, Ranked". TheGamer. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  46. ↑ McWhertor, Michael (September 26, 2012). "'Call of Duty: Black Ops 2' Zombies grows with story-driven campaign, 8-player versus mode". Polygon.com. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Black Ops 2 Zombies mode is an undead road trip across a massive map". Shacknews. September 26, 2012. Archived from the original on September 11, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  48. ↑ Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (September 26, 2012). "Black Ops 2 – Zombies mode revealed after much teasing". VG247. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  49. ↑ Cook, Dave (December 12, 2012). "Black Ops 2: Nuketown zombies launching today, probation glitches addressed". VG247. Archived from the original on July 18, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  50. ↑ Nunneley-Jackson, Stephany (February 12, 2013). "Black Ops 2: Revolution DLC arrives on PC, PS3 at the end of February". VG247. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  51. ↑ Cook, Dave (April 17, 2013). "Black Ops 2 Uprising DLC: is it worth buying?". VG247. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  52. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 – Vengeance review". Eurogamer.net. July 3, 2013. Archived from the original on May 27, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  53. ↑ Saed, Sherif (October 12, 2015). "Watch the full prologue for Call of Duty: Black Ops 3's Zombies mode". VG247. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  54. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies bonus map awakens 'The Giant'". Shacknews. July 12, 2015. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  55. 1 2 3 4 "Every Call of Duty Zombies map in release order". Shacknews. June 18, 2025. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  56. ↑ Shea, Brian. "Call Of Duty: Black Ops III – Zombie Chronicles Remasters Eight Classic Zombies Maps". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  57. ↑ Albert, Brian (December 19, 2014). "Meet Activision's Celebrity Lineup for Advanced Warfare's Exo Zombies". IGN. Archived from the original on August 20, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  58. ↑ Cork, Jeff. "Exclusive Call Of Duty: WWII Zombies Gameplay Impressions". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  59. ↑ Sarkar, Samit (May 17, 2018). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4's Zombies mode takes you on a trip through time". Polygon. Archived from the original on August 24, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  60. ↑ Machkovech, Sam (May 18, 2018). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 world's first hands-on: Tight core, tons of questions". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on March 25, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  61. ↑ Crowd, Dan (October 15, 2018). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 – Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  62. ↑ "Ancient Evil comes to Black Ops 4 Zombies in new trailer". Shacknews. March 21, 2019. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  63. ↑ Tack, Daniel (November 13, 2020). "What Is Call Of Duty Zombies Outbreak And Why Is It A Big Deal?". Game Informer. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  64. ↑ "Call of Duty | Guides - Modern Warfare Zombies Overview and Lore". www.callofduty.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2025. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  65. ↑ Saed, Sherif (August 18, 2023). "Modern Warfare 3's "largest Zombies offering to date" has long-time fans questioning its existence". VG247. Archived from the original on January 30, 2026. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  66. ↑ Winkie, Luke (November 10, 2021). "Call of Duty: Vanguard – Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  67. ↑ "Call Of Duty Season 4 Revives Zombies With A Rich Enhancement Of Shi No Numa". GameSpot. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  68. ↑ "Call Of Duty: Vanguard Zombies Will Conclude In Season 5 With The Archon Map". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 20, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  69. 1 2 Borger, Will (October 31, 2024). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on August 31, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  70. ↑ "CoD: Black Ops 6 Zombies – How To Complete The Main Story Quest In Reckoning". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 17, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  71. ↑ "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 7 Will Blend The Campaign And Multiplayer Like Never Before – Report". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 15, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  72. ↑ "All Black Ops 7 Zombies maps". PCGamesN. November 14, 2025. Archived from the original on July 6, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  73. ↑ "Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Zombies". Call of Duty. Archived from the original on January 17, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026.
  74. ↑ Thielenhaus, Kevin (February 4, 2016). "Find the New Black Ops 3: Zombies Song Easter Egg in Der Eisendrache". The Escapist. Archived from the original on March 18, 2026. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  75. 1 2 Lucas, James (August 7, 2025). "115, Lullaby Of A Deadman, And Beauty Of Annihilation Singer Elena Siegman Returns To COD Zombies". TheGamer. Archived from the original on August 11, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  76. ↑ Geist, Brandon (May 3, 2011). "Avenged Sevenfold's M. Shadows Talks "Call Of Duty" And New Song "Not Ready To Die"". Revolver. Archived from the original on April 20, 2023. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  77. ↑ "Page 2 | Call of Duty: Black Ops Rezurrection review". Eurogamer.net. August 30, 2011. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  78. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies soundtrack released". GamesIndustry.biz. January 25, 2011. Archived from the original on September 2, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  79. ↑ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry of America. 2025. Archived from the original on February 20, 2019. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  80. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 'Mob of the Dead' soundtrack out now". Engadget. April 24, 2013. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  81. ↑ Schedeen, Jesse (October 26, 2016). "Call of Duty: Zombies #1 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 23, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  82. 1 2 "Raven Software once had live-service Call of Duty: Zombies project in development". www.gamedeveloper.com. Archived from the original on July 24, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  83. ↑ Thorn, Ed (January 15, 2024). "Raven Software's canned games include "an ambitious new Call of Duty: Zombies live service project"". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  84. ↑ Thorn, Ed (April 8, 2024). "Raven Software's cancelled Call of Duty zombies game featured a Mad Max-style gladiator arena". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on August 5, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  85. ↑ Parmer, Seth (December 28, 2023). "Ranking Every Call Of Duty Game From Worst to Best". TheGamer. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  86. 1 2 3 Singh, Samarveer (November 8, 2025). "Every Call of Duty Zombies mode, ranked". XDA. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  87. 1 2 Onder, Cade (November 16, 2025). "'Call of Duty: Black Ops' Games, Ranked From Worst to Best". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  88. 1 2 Staff, I. G. N. (November 17, 2023). "The 10 Best Call of Duty Games of All Time". IGN. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  89. ↑ Ahearn, Nate (November 9, 2010). "Call of Duty: Black Ops Review". IGN. Archived from the original on July 28, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  90. ↑ Team, esports gg Editorial (September 30, 2022). "This has remained one of the most beloved Call of Duty games of all time". Esports. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  91. ↑ Gallegos, Anthony (November 13, 2012). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on January 25, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  92. 1 2 Kain, Erik. "'Call Of Duty: Black Ops 2' Review - Part Three: The Zombie Bus Is Calling Us (Xbox 360)". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  93. 1 2 "Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 review". GamesRadar+. November 13, 2012. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  94. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops II Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 3, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  95. ↑ Freiberg, Chris (November 11, 2023). "Every Call of Duty Game Ranked Worst to Best". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on May 23, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  96. ↑ Tuscarny, Ollie (August 14, 2025). "Ranking Every Call Of Duty Zombies Mode". GameRant. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 18, 2026.
  97. ↑ Wenerowicz, Dan (November 6, 2024). "Every Main 'Call of Duty' Game, Ranked From Worst to Best". Complex. Archived from the original on December 8, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  98. ↑ Fillery, Jake (February 16, 2024). "Call of Duty Zombies Map Tier List". GameRant. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 5, 2026.
  99. ↑ Albert, Brian (November 6, 2015). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  100. ↑ Mohamed, Review Ahmed (December 15, 2015). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (PS4)". DarkZero. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  101. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops III Review - PlayStation 4". Cubed3. June 6, 2026. Archived from the original on August 12, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  102. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 review". Eurogamer.net. November 10, 2015. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  103. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  104. ↑ "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3 Zombies Chronicles Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  105. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Zombies Chronicles Review - PlayStation 4". Cubed3. October 23, 2025. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  106. ↑ Favro, Tory (May 24, 2017). "Call of Duty Black Ops III Zombie Chronicles Review - Impulse Gamer". Archived from the original on August 8, 2026. Retrieved July 10, 2026.
  107. ↑ Allen, Dominic (July 12, 2025). "10 Years Later, This Call Of Duty Game Has Yet To Be Topped". ScreenRant. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  108. ↑ Crowd, Dan (October 15, 2018). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 - Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  109. ↑ "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 Review - Zombies, Blackout, Multiplayer". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 19, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  110. ↑ "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 review: a polished, pulsating battle royale". Eurogamer.net. October 16, 2018. Archived from the original on July 14, 2026. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  111. ↑ "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 Review - Treyarch's Gambit Yields Big Rewards". Game Informer. Archived from the original on October 18, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  112. 1 2 "Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 review". EGMNOW.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
  113. ↑ Houston, Trevor (November 3, 2016). "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Review - Haters Gonna Hate but it's Infinity Ward's Best to Date". COGconnected. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  114. ↑ Tack, Daniel (November 4, 2016). "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Review - The Heavy Gravity Of War". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  115. ↑ "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare review". Eurogamer.net. November 7, 2016. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  116. ↑ Gilroy, Joab (November 7, 2016). "Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare Review". IGN. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  117. 1 2 Sanchez, Miranda (November 8, 2017). "Call of Duty: WW2 Review". IGN. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  118. ↑ "Call of Duty: WW2 review". Eurogamer.net. November 7, 2017. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  119. ↑ Tack, Daniel (November 3, 2017). "Call of Duty: WWII Review - Rallying The Shooter On Multiple Fronts". Game Informer. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  120. ↑ Moyse, Chris. "Review: Call of Duty: WWII". Destructoid. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 19, 2026.
  121. ↑ "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare review". GamesRadar+. November 3, 2014. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  122. ↑ "Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  123. ↑ Winkie, Luke (November 10, 2021). "Call of Duty: Vanguard - Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  124. ↑ Kain, Erik (November 12, 2021). "Call Of Duty: Vanguard' Review: The Good, The Bad, And The Zombies". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 19, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  125. 1 2 "Call Of Duty: Vanguard Review — Personnel Problems". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 5, 2022. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  126. ↑ Fillery, Jake (August 2, 2022). "Call Of Duty: 12 Games With The Best Zombies Modes". GameRant. Archived from the original on June 22, 2026. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  127. ↑ Hornshaw, Phil (November 17, 2023). "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 21, 2023. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  128. ↑ "Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Zombie Review | Invision Game Community". December 4, 2023. Archived from the original on November 18, 2025. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  129. ↑ Burgar, Charles (November 2, 2024). "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Review - A Strong Return To Form". TheGamer. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  130. ↑ Kain, Erik. "'Black Ops 6' Review: The Best 'Call Of Duty' In Years For Multiplayer, Zombies And The Campaign". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 10, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  131. ↑ "Call Of Duty: Black Ops 6 Zombies Review". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 1, 2024. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  132. ↑ McHale, Joseph; James (December 6, 2021). "Why you might want to skip Call of Duty: Vanguard". TryRolling. Archived from the original on May 17, 2026. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  133. ↑ Lyons, Ben (November 18, 2025). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (Zombies) - Review". Gamereactor UK. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  134. 1 2 Borger, Will (November 26, 2025). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Zombies Review". IGN. Archived from the original on December 2, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  135. 1 2 "Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Review - A New But Familiar Way To Play". GameSpot. Archived from the original on November 16, 2025. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  136. ↑ Zwiezen, Zack (November 18, 2025). "Call Of Duty Black Ops 7 Review: Very Big, Very Weird, Very Bad". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
  137. ↑ Avard, Alex (May 9, 2016). "Top 10 Call of Duty Zombies Maps". IGN. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  138. ↑ "Five Years Later, Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3's Zombies Community Is Still Booming". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 2, 2026. Retrieved August 16, 2025.
  139. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (November 7, 2024). "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 YouTuber Accidentally Leaves 12 Hour, 147-Round Zombies Run Live on Stream Instead of Saving and Quitting". IGN. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  140. ↑ "COD Zombies icons MrRoflWaffles and NoahJ456 tell us their Black Ops 6 Zombies hopes, but can Treyarch give the mode the redemption arc it needs?". The Loadout. June 7, 2024. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  141. ↑ Yin-Poole, Wesley (March 20, 2024). "YouTuber Says the Pokémon Company Copyright Struck Their 7-Year-Old Video Featuring Pokémon Modded Into COD Zombies". IGN. Archived from the original on August 11, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.