So many Zombies, so little time...
Yes, although the Zombies mode in Vanguard was also developed by Treyarch, who actually know what it's about. Unfortunately, this is one trash game mode and its couple of insanely minimum updates have done little to fix it Season-to-Season. Those who play the Zombies mode in Call of Duty want turn-based maps with cool Easter Eggs, wall-buys, and areas that have to be unlocked one after another. That's exactly what we don't get in Vanguard. Instead, we get hub maps with portals that teleport us to little challenges... It's truly awful. | © Activision
The most divisive, yes. Some people loved the two storylines in Black Ops IV's Zombies Mode, but we didn't. It honestly felt like a split mess. They streamlined features, and the whole thing felt polished – but stiff, with no personality whatsoever. Do we like stiff? Not particularly. Do we like personality? Hell yes! The best thing you can really say about BOIV's Zombies is that "it's not Call of Duty: Vanguard". | © Activision
We have to give Infinity Ward credit before we tear them a new one, this was their first attempt at a Zombies mode. Now, the cringily-named ‘Zombies in Spaceland’ mode consisted of a large sci-fi-themed amusement park, with the usual tropes. It was fun – but all Zombies modes are fun (except for Vanguard's) – and was certainly trying to do something different. The problem is: it just wasn't very good. | © Activision
The second attempt that Sledgehammer Games made at a Zombies mode was the very definition of boring. Whilst we had our problems with Advanced Warfare (keep reading!), at least it was inventive. As usual, World War 2's Zombies was polished, tactile, and fun. You can describe every Zombies mode like that, though, and this one had exactly the same issue that Call of Duty: World War 2 had: nothing new to offer. It really does seem that Sledgehammer's titles are deteriorating in quality each and every release... | © Activision
We might cop some bollocks for putting this above World War 2, but let's be real, they are both pretty bad modes. The reason we put it above World War 2 is simply because it tried to do something new. Advanced Warfare introduced a lot of verticality to the entire Call of Duty experience, and this definitely added a lot to the experience, but not enough to make up for the terrible map design... | © Activision
From this point in the list, everything is at least good. Black Ops III might not have had the most fantastic... anything. In typical Black Ops III style, though, its Zombies mode was kind-of okay. Now, we're probably going to have our jugulars ripped from our throats for being so wishy-washy on this particular entry, but we don't really give a pair of sweaty, sweaty bollocks about Black Ops III – it was okay, and only okay. | © Activision
When Black Ops II dropped in 2012, there was a lot to love. There was also a lot to hate. TranZit and Die Rise were pretty bad, let's be real – but Mob of the Dead and Origins are two of the best maps in CoD Zombies history. The experience was deep, had tons of fantastic content, and was the perfect adaptation of the still-evolving formula. | © Activision
The original Zombies mode was a revolution in game design. The mode not only began the CoD Zombies tradition, but also inspired tons of other modes and games in its own right – think Horde in Gears of War or Firefight in Halo! The maps are still super fun to this day, regularly remade for other games, and whilst not as sophisticated as modern Zombies modes, it's still a masterclass in game design! | © Activision
The first Black Ops had the best Zombies mode in the franchise for basically a decade. Even if that's for no other reason than Kino Der Toten being an absolutely incredible map. This bad-boy is a classic, and a very personal choice for us. It is one of, if not the, most nostalgic entries in the series. We will never forget sitting down and playing split-screen on our Xbox 360... guzzling Coke... eating KFC... We salute you, old friend. | © Activision
It's a surprise to put anything from Black Ops Cold War at the top of a list... but its Zombies Mode does deserve it. There's no denying it: the game has some of the best maps in CoD history, with Die Maschine and Firebase Z absolutely stealing the show... Then Season 2 happened, bringing Outbreak into the fold, and turning the game from maybe sitting around number 5 on this list, to number 1. Treyarch then iterated upon it time and time again, adding more and more in subsequent seasons, and turning it into one of the best evolutions to the formula since the mode was introduced – fantastically designed, fun, and full of love. Black Ops Cold War is worth it just for its Zombies mode... which is good, because the rest of the game kind of sucks... | © Activision
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War brought on the very best Zombies modes to date, but Vanguard very much did not. That got us wondering, what were the best Zombies Modes in Call of Duty history? From its humble-beginnings in World at War, to the increasingly comic shenanigans of the later games, it's time to check out the best Zombies modes in Call of Duty.
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