Call of Duty: 20 Hardest Zombies Maps (2024)

Call Of Duty's Zombies mode has maintained its popularity for several years, starting from its inception in World At War. Given its enduring success, the Zombies game mode has become a staple in every subsequent Treyarch Call Of Duty title, starting from World At War itself.

Among these maps, some stand out as particularly challenging, posing a big task for players attempting to reach high rounds. This could be for a number of reasons, whether that be tight environments, a lack of resources, or some particularly tough enemies. For players looking for a real challenge, they should try out these hardest Call of Duty Zombies maps.

Updated on August 25, 2024, by Jake Fillery: As players await the hype of Black Ops 6 Zombies, it's a good time to look back across all Call of Duty games to find the defining Zombies maps, and which of them offer the most challenge. Over the years, it's not just been Treyarch leading the zombie hordes, other Call of Duty developers have given it a go, providing players with plenty of challenges spanning almost 2 decades.

20 Shadows of Evil

Intense Types of Monsters and Many Mechanics

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

The first zombies map for Black Ops 3 was certainly a doozy, and it featured a celebrated cast from an eternalized noir and jazz city. Outside of its interesting aesthetic, Shadows of Evil was pretty difficult, especially when one considers the new mechanics introduced, like the fire meatballs, creepy bug rounds, and of course, the deadly Mawgwa who are able to almost one-shot players with their violent slams.

Shadows of Evil also felt rather huge, and players would have a hard time navigating and learning how to unlock Pack-A-Punch and other Perk machines with their Beast mechanic, but it was still incredibly fun. Shadows of Evil has a lot to unpack, and that's what makes it memorable, but also difficult.

19 Shi No Numa

A Dense Japanese Swamp With Random Perks And Plenty Of Traps

Featured In

• Call of Duty: World at War
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
• Call of Duty: Vanguard

A classic that shows no signs of being forgotten, Shi No Numa took the zombies series to Japan, where players would be placed into a violent and mysterious swamp, encapsulated by an engulfing jungle that has four huts and a few deadly traps. Players feel trapped within this swamp, and the slowing movements of the mud really put fear into players who are trying to evade and train around zombie hordes.

The introduction of hellhounds was also intimidating, and the fact that each of the 4 huts could have a random perk meant that some players would go the entire game without seeing Juggernog, which is perhaps the most essential on the market. It was a unique area, with much mystery and intrigue, but also intense carnage.

18 Infection (Burger Town)

A Map That Punishes Players Periodically With Endless Challenge

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

There's nothing completely wrong with Infection as a map, and it blends the mechanics of Advanced Warfare and Exo Zombies rather nicely, but that's in the early rounds. Once players start to fight challenging hordes with better weapons in more intensive settings, the map begins to punish players by forcing missions and survival objectives onto them, and if they aren't completed, everyone's in trouble.

Players can easily be punished for not following objectives, which will sometimes leave important areas of the map completely locked off in higher rounds. This makes players fight on top of each other, and really ruins the round-based experience since they have to constantly do tasks they do not want to.

17 Groesten Haus

A Claustrophobic House Where There Is No Escape And Plenty Of Undead

Featured In

• Call of Duty: WW2

German for "biggest house", Groesten Haus was the first map that players are forced into in Call of Duty: WW2. This map features a co-op variant of the prologue mission for zombies, and players are definitely going to have a rough time at it. It's a farmhouse that is rather unforgiving, and too small to try and survive in for long, so getting to high rounds is not going to be easy.

Despite having the mystery box, players are going to struggle to stay alive for long in Groesten Haus, as there are just not many areas to go. As soon as players encounter deadlier zombies, it might be game over, but it's still fun to try.

16 Mauer Der Toten

A Claustrophobic & Splintered Germany

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops - Cold War

A relatively new map, and a rather large one at that, Mauer Der Toten concludes the Dark Aether storyline for Black Ops Cold War, and the finale certainly brings the challenge. This map is rather difficult to master due to the layout that splits the map between the Berlin Wall, providing challenges within the claustrophobic areas and necessary vertical rooms.

Unlike other maps, Mauer Der Toten also features cramped environments and mini-boss fights that will improve the strength of the normal cannon fodder zombies, as well as provide a fierce challenge to players who don't exactly have the best weapons that they can muster from this intimidating map.

15 Gorod Krovi

A War-Torn Stalingrad Overrun With Robots & Dragons

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

Welcome to Stalingrad, which has been invaded by undead forces technological horrors, and... dragons? Gorod Krovi has many new elements for the franchise, including some returning ones. One of the best new elements comes in the form of dragons, which players need to activate in order to traverse the map for Pack-a-Punch. However, they are also quite the burden thanks to the fact that they block off areas by breathing fire, and create evil napalm zombies from the flames.

Not only do players have to deal with ghastly dragons, but they are going to have to fight off Valkyrie Drones and Russian Mangler Soldiers, two new mechanical beasts that will hunt players throughout their survival adventure. With such a large map and so many new enemy types, this map can certainly filter out new players quickly.

14 Voyage Of Despair

New Characters & Mechanics On A Hard To Navigate Sea Vessel

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

It can be hard to accept change when it comes to fan-favorite characters, and saying goodbye to the original crew in favor of a new one didn't aid the new setting and mechanics of Black Ops 4. With the Chaos Team taking over, Voyage of Despair would bring them to the RMS Titanic, a ship left adrift in the middle of the Arctic, with zombie hordes commandeering the ship for the worse.

Black Ops 4 featured a few mechanics that players were not used to, which made the game harder thanks to new perks and health. Mechanics aside, the map itself was rather troublesome thanks to new enemies with the Catalyst, Stoker, and Blightfather, which added new challenges to a clustered and tightly packed map.

13 Moon

The Astronaut Hunts And Some Areas Have No Oxygen

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

The Moon's haunted by undead ghouls, and as players ascend from the teleporter in Area 51, they will be on a secret Moon base. Yet, it's time to holster those grenades and pray that a rogue bullet or blast doesn't hit the windows, as Moon features a new mechanic for the series with oxygen. Players have to stay in rooms with oxygen, or, wear an astronaut suit with their helmets on, which limits their audio.

Not only is oxygen a vital component of the Moon, but players have to look out for the astronaut enemy, which will randomly spawn and try and hop to the player. If grabbed, the player is teleported to a random area, with a perk or more stolen. Perhaps the hardest aspect of Moon comes from the excavators, which will randomly drill into parts of the map if players do not stop their progress with a hacking device. This makes juggling hard, as Moon isn't just about training a group of zombies endlessly to survive.

12 Revelations

Panzers & Margwas Join Forces In This Zombies Amalgamation

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

Revelations was the conclusion to the Black Ops 3 Zombies storyline, and the map did a great job of clashing the different maps from previous games. Revelations is a cluster of easter eggs and references, in which the past of COD Zombies assembles into one sprawling map. Yet, despite the benefit of size, Revelations can still be a problem for some, especially with the miniboss zombies that periodically run around.

With Panzersoldats, Spiders, Keepers, and Margwas joining the hordes of zombies, players were in for a tough time. Revelations may be regarded as one of the best Zombies maps in COD history, especially with its arsenal of easter eggs and exciting weapons, but that doesn't mean players are going to find smooth sailing, especially when multiple miniboss zombies are chasing players across the large map.

11 The Final Reich

A Variety Of Enemy Types And A New Perk System Adds New Layers Of Challenge

Featured In

• Call of Duty: WW2

Sledgehammer Games joined the thrilling Zombies saga with Call of Duty: WW2. In this return to past wars and boots-on-the-ground combat, the Zombies mode decides to hark back to the past, and named itself Nazi Zombies, with some truly gory and creepy maps, with the first of them being The Final Reich. This map was set in Nazi Germany and depicted countless zombie hordes as players were used to, albeit, with even more.

Some zombies were infested with bugs to overwhelm players and cause area-of-effect damage, other zombies like Brenners and Bombers would force players to run from their area in an effort to stay on top. To make matters even harder, the perk system had been altered from what players knew, meaning armor was vital to survival rather than the beloved Juggernog.

10 Mob Of The Dead

Maze Like Designs And Brutus Make For A Challenging Edition

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Regarded by many as the pinnacle of Call Of Duty Zombies maps, if not the very best. Mob Of The Dead introduced a unique cast of characters, an unforgettable setting, and an immensely satisfying conclusion to its Easter egg quest.

Despite its greatness, Mob Of The Dead stands as one of the most challenging Zombies maps. The tight confines leave little room for maneuvering, and a single wrong turn can prove fatal. The formidable presence of Brutus adds an extra layer of difficulty, and splitting up in multiplayer matches becomes an almost impossible strategy.

9 Call Of The Dead

George A. Romero Follows The Player Endlessly In This Ice Cold Map

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Call Of The Dead broke new ground by featuring guest characters voiced by celebrities, a tradition that continues in subsequent maps. The plot revolves around George A. Romero filming a zombie movie, only to face an actual zombie outbreak that turns him into one of the undead.

The challenging aspect of the map centers around the George A. Romero Boss Zombie, relentlessly pursuing players and constantly returning after being defeated. The underwhelming Wonder Weapons, coupled with the absence of useful traps, make progressing through high rounds an uphill battle.

8 TranZit

Getting Lost In The Fog Causes Denizen Attacks, And Players Are Haunted By The Avogadro

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

TranZit not only ranks among the most difficult Zombies maps but also suffers from various design flaws. Every aspect of TranZit seems intentionally inconvenient, with fog, fire, and Denizens making movement arduous without relying on the bus. While fast travel exists, it's so complicated and unpredictable that it's hardly useful.

If traveling around wasn't difficult enough, Pack-A-Punching during a solo game becomes a matter of chance, as the room's accessibility often remains uncertain. The map seemingly works against players at every turn, creating a daunting experience where accomplishing anything becomes a formidable task.

7 Die Rise

Navigating Upside Down Buildings And Ruins Almost Assures Death By Falling

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

As the first DLC map for Black Ops 2, Die Rise continued the trend of challenging maps in the series. The powerful Sliquifier Wonder Weapon sets it apart, with no damage cap like other Wonder Weapons.

However, the map's main difficulty arises from its lack of maneuverability. Players must rely on unpredictable elevators to move between areas, leaving them potentially stranded. The absence of a real timer on the elevators adds to the frustration and difficulty of navigating the map.

6 Zetsubou No Shima

Thrashers Can Kidnap Players And Add To The Chaotic Fighting

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

Zetsubou No Shima falls short compared to the other stellar maps in Black Ops 3's Zombies collection. The map's fast pace demands quick setup, making Zetsubou No Shima one of the most challenging Zombies experiences, particularly if players opt for basic Gobblegums.

Limited running space and numerous steps that isolate players in confined areas further add to the difficulty. The dense swamp terrain makes traversing the map an ordeal, and the exorbitant number of points required for setup becomes a real obstacle without Gobblegums.

5 Five

The Pentagon Thief Steals Weapons, And Tight Corners Makes For Hard Trains

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

As one of the launch maps for Black Ops 1, Five stands out as the most difficult among them. Perks are scattered around the map, and reaching the Pack-A-Punch room necessitates precise timing at the start or end of a round.

The Winter's Howl Wonder Weapon falls short in power, and the map offers limited safe spots. Not only that, but encountering Nova Crawlers and dealing with Pentagon Thief rounds present players with even more hurdles to overcome.

4 Nuketown Zombies

A Small Map That Uses Random Perks

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Nuketown, one of the most iconic maps in Treyarch's Call Of Duty games, inevitably found its way into the Zombies mode at the start of Black Ops 2. Nuketown Zombies proves exceedingly difficult due to its unpredictable nature. Players typically aim to acquire Juggernog early, but on Nuketown Zombies, perks drop randomly, potentially delaying access until much later rounds.

This also applies to Pack-A-Punch, making high rounds significantly more challenging when standard weapons lose their effectiveness. The utter randomness and unpredictability all contribute to it ranking as one of the hardest Call of Duty Zombies' maps.

3 Verruckt

A Tight Layout Makes Survival Hard In Higher Rounds

Featured In

• Call of Duty: World At War
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

As the first DLC map in Zombies and also one of the most challenging, Verruckt introduced the foundational concepts of Perks, Traps, and a movable Mystery Box that would become series staples. Unfortunately, the map's tight layout leaves no favorable open areas. This tightness contributes to Verruckt's place among the hardest Zombies maps.

In later rounds, relying solely on Traps becomes necessary for dealing damage, as guns quickly lose their effectiveness due to the lack of Pack-A-Punch. However, in the Black Ops 3 version, the Gobblegums do offer some relief.

2 Shangri-La

Monkeys Steal Power Ups, Traps And Special Zombie Enemies Can Add Extreme Challenges

Featured In

• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Shangri-La also ranks among the most difficult Zombies maps. It boasts the potent "Baby Gun" Wonder Weapon, but even that doesn't help to alleviate the overall challenge.

With limited open space, navigating the map during rounds becomes exceedingly dangerous. Monkeys can alter Power Up Drops, leading to both helpful and harmful outcomes. Players must take considerable risks to secure essential drops, adding to Shangri-La's reputation as one of the hardest DLC Zombies maps.

1 Nacht Der Untoten

No Perks Or Pack-A-Punch Makes This Map A Fight For Survival

Featured In

• Call of Duty: World At War
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

The original Zombies map, Nacht Der Untoten, holds iconic status as the first Zombies experience for many players after completing the World At War campaign. It has appeared in nearly all games except for Black Ops 4 and Vanguard.

Nacht Der Untoten embodies simplicity, featuring few perks (excluding the Black Ops 3 version), no Pack-A-Punch, and limited rooms, making it an exceptionally challenging map. Even with Gobblegums in Black Ops 3, reaching high rounds remains a tricky task, making it one of the few maps in that game with such a distinction. For players looking for the original, challenging Zombies experience, Nacht Der Untoten is their best bet.