BO3 Zombies Maps: A Definitive Ranking & Guide to Survival

Introduction

Call of Duty: Black Ops III is often celebrated as a pinnacle of the Zombies experience, offering a compelling narrative, challenging gameplay, and a memorable collection of maps. From the dark and mysterious streets of Shadows of Evil to the reality-bending finale of Revelations, each map presents a unique set of challenges and rewards. This comprehensive guide will rank and analyze all the Black Ops III Zombies maps, providing insights, strategies, and opinions to help you survive the horde and conquer the undead. We’ll delve into what makes each map stand out, its strengths and weaknesses, and ultimately, how it contributes to the legacy of BO3 Zombies. The release of the Zombies Chronicles DLC further solidified the game’s place in Zombies history, bringing remastered classics to a new generation. Whether you’re a seasoned zombie slayer or a newcomer to the world of Black Ops III, this guide will help you navigate the undead onslaught. We’ll judge each map based on factors like difficulty, easter egg complexity, replayability, atmosphere, and the overall innovation it brought to the Zombies formula.

The Maps Ranked (From Challenging to Triumphant)

Revelations: The End of the Line

Revelations serves as the culmination of the Origins storyline, bringing together familiar characters and locations in a fractured, ethereal setting. This map combines elements from previous installments, offering players a taste of what they’ve come to love about the BO3 Zombies experience. However, this is where things don’t stack up.

While the ambition of Revelations is undeniable, its execution has been a subject of debate. The map’s disjointed layout and reliance on recycled assets can feel uninspired compared to the innovative designs of earlier BO3 maps. The Easter egg is complex, yet feels tedious.

The map isn’t completely without merit. The availability of all the Wonder Weapons from previous maps provides a sense of power and variety. Players have access to the Apothicon Servant, Thundergun, and other iconic weapons, allowing for diverse strategies. The map also features several training spots, making it accessible for players of all skill levels. It is the easiest of maps in this ranking.

Overall, Revelations is a mixed bag. While it offers a fitting conclusion to the Origins storyline, its uninspired design and gameplay detract from the overall experience.

• Key Strategies & Tips: Utilize the teleporters for quick traversal, prioritize the Apothicon Servant for crowd control, and learn the spawn locations of the Margwas.
• Unique Features: The combination of various map elements, access to all Wonder Weapons, and the final boss fight of the Origins storyline.

Zetsubou No Shima: Island of Despair

Zetsubou No Shima is set on a remote Pacific island, overrun with mutated plants and zombie spiders. The map’s atmosphere is thick with dread, thanks to its eerie sound design and decaying environment.

The map is infamous for its complex setup, requiring players to cultivate plants, manage water resources, and navigate a labyrinthine underground bunker. The Easter egg is particularly challenging, involving numerous steps and obscure objectives.

Zetsubou No Shima introduces several unique mechanics, such as the KT-4 Wonder Weapon, which can be upgraded into the powerful Masamune. Players must also contend with Thrasher zombies, formidable enemies that can quickly overwhelm unprepared players. This map ranks in the hardest due to the amount of steps needed to complete each objective.

Despite its challenges, Zetsubou No Shima has its fans. The map’s intricate design and rewarding gameplay provide a sense of accomplishment for players who persevere. The map is also visually stunning, with lush vegetation and detailed environments.

• Key Strategies & Tips: Master the KT-4 upgrade process, learn the layout of the underground bunker, and be wary of Thrasher zombies.
• Unique Features: Plant cultivation, the KT-4 Wonder Weapon, and the Thrasher zombies.

Shadows of Evil: The City of Sin

Shadows of Evil transports players to a 1940s noir-themed city, where they must unravel a dark mystery and confront ancient evils. The map is known for its intricate layout, challenging Easter egg, and memorable characters.

Shadows of Evil introduces the Apothicon Servant, a powerful Wonder Weapon that can decimate hordes of zombies. Players must also learn to transform into the Beast, a temporary form that grants special abilities and access to new areas. This map does not have the greatest flow, which makes it tricky to train zombies here.

The map’s Easter egg is notoriously difficult, requiring players to complete a series of complex tasks and solve obscure puzzles. However, the reward for completing the Easter egg is significant, unlocking a special cutscene and providing a sense of closure to the map’s storyline.

Shadows of Evil is a visually stunning map, with detailed environments and a captivating atmosphere. The map’s jazz soundtrack and film noir aesthetic further enhance the immersive experience.

• Key Strategies & Tips: Master the Beast transformation, learn the layout of the city, and prioritize the Apothicon Servant.
• Unique Features: The Apothicon Servant, the Beast transformation, and the film noir aesthetic.

The Giant: Reliving the Past

The Giant is a reimagining of the classic Der Riese map from World at War, bringing the iconic setting to a new generation of players. The map is known for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and memorable characters.

The Giant retains many of the elements that made Der Riese so popular, such as the Pack-a-Punch machine, the teleporters, and the Wunderwaffe DG-2. However, the map also introduces new features, such as the Gobblegums, which provide temporary power-ups.

The Giant is a relatively small map, making it ideal for solo players and those who prefer a more intimate Zombies experience. The map’s tight corridors and limited space can make survival challenging, but also rewarding.

The Giant is a visually impressive map, with updated graphics and detailed environments. The map’s classic design and familiar features provide a sense of nostalgia for veteran Zombies players.

• Key Strategies & Tips: Utilize the teleporters for quick traversal, prioritize the Wunderwaffe DG-2, and be mindful of zombie spawns.
• Unique Features: Reimagining of Der Riese, the Pack-a-Punch machine, and the teleporters.

Der Eisendrache: Castle in the Sky

Der Eisendrache transports players to a medieval castle in the Austrian Alps, where they must uncover ancient secrets and confront powerful enemies. The map is known for its intricate design, challenging Easter egg, and dragon-themed elements.

Der Eisendrache introduces several unique mechanics, such as the Wrath of the Ancients, a bow-based Wonder Weapon that can be upgraded into four different variants. Players must also learn to ride dragons, which provide access to new areas and offer a unique perspective on the map.

The map’s Easter egg is complex, requiring players to complete a series of tasks and solve puzzles. However, the reward for completing the Easter egg is significant, unlocking a special cutscene and providing a sense of closure to the map’s storyline.

Der Eisendrache is a visually stunning map, with detailed environments and a captivating atmosphere. The map’s castle setting and dragon-themed elements further enhance the immersive experience. This map is well regarded as one of the best zombie maps.

• Key Strategies & Tips: Master the Wrath of the Ancients upgrade process, learn to ride dragons, and be mindful of Panzerwolf spawns.
• Unique Features: The Wrath of the Ancients, dragon riding, and the castle setting.

Gorod Krovi: City of Blood

Gorod Krovi takes players to a war-torn Stalingrad, where they must battle mechanized zombies and face off against Nikolai Belinski’s dragon. The map is known for its intense action, challenging difficulty, and memorable characters.

Gorod Krovi introduces several new weapons and features, such as the Gauntlet of Siegfried, a special melee weapon that can unleash powerful attacks. Players must also learn to control the Dragon Strike, an aerial attack that can decimate hordes of zombies.

The map’s Easter egg is complex, requiring players to complete a series of tasks and solve puzzles. However, the reward for completing the Easter egg is significant, unlocking a special cutscene and providing a sense of closure to the map’s storyline. This map is generally considered the hardest due to the number of steps required to finish the easter egg.

Gorod Krovi is a visually impressive map, with detailed environments and a gritty atmosphere. The map’s war-torn setting and mechanized zombies further enhance the intense gameplay.

• Key Strategies & Tips: Master the Gauntlet of Siegfried, learn to control the Dragon Strike, and be mindful of Valkyrie Drone spawns.
• Unique Features: The Gauntlet of Siegfried, the Dragon Strike, and the mechanized zombies.

Zombies Chronicles: Reliving the Classics

The Zombies Chronicles DLC brought eight remastered maps from previous Call of Duty games to Black Ops III. These maps include Nacht der Untoten, Verruckt, Shi No Numa, Kino der Toten, Ascension, Shangri-La, Moon, and Origins.

Each of these maps offers a unique Zombies experience, with distinct settings, characters, and gameplay mechanics. From the claustrophobic confines of Nacht der Untoten to the lunar landscape of Moon, the Zombies Chronicles maps provide a diverse and challenging collection of content.

The remastered maps feature updated graphics, improved gameplay mechanics, and new features, such as the Gobblegums. These enhancements make the classic maps feel fresh and exciting for both veteran and new players.

The Zombies Chronicles DLC is a must-have for any Black Ops III Zombies fan. The DLC provides hours of entertainment and a chance to relive some of the most iconic moments in Zombies history.

Analysis of Highly Regarded and More Challenging Maps

The Black Ops III Zombies maps offer a diverse range of experiences, from the intricate mysteries of Shadows of Evil to the fast-paced action of The Giant. Some maps, like Der Eisendrache and Gorod Krovi, are widely regarded as the best due to their innovative mechanics, challenging Easter eggs, and immersive atmospheres. These maps provide a rewarding experience for players who are willing to invest the time and effort to master them.

On the other hand, maps like Revelations are often criticized for their uninspired design and gameplay. While Revelations offers a fitting conclusion to the Origins storyline, its disjointed layout and reliance on recycled assets can feel underwhelming. This is the nature of Zombies maps though, some are going to be better regarded than others.

Despite the criticisms, each Black Ops III Zombies map has its own unique strengths and weaknesses. The variety of maps and gameplay mechanics is one of the key reasons why Black Ops III Zombies is so beloved by fans.

BO3 Zombies: Legacy and Impact

Black Ops III Zombies has had a significant impact on the overall Zombies franchise. The game introduced several new mechanics and features that have become staples of the series, such as the Gobblegums and the Easter egg quests. The game’s focus on storytelling and character development also helped to elevate the Zombies experience to new heights.

The Black Ops III Zombies community is still active today, with players continuing to explore the maps, complete Easter eggs, and share their strategies and experiences online. The game’s modding scene has also contributed to its longevity, with custom maps and gameplay modifications providing endless hours of entertainment.

Conclusion

The Black Ops III Zombies maps offer a diverse and challenging collection of content that has captivated players for years. From the intricate mysteries of Shadows of Evil to the fast-paced action of The Giant, each map provides a unique and memorable Zombies experience. Whether you’re a seasoned zombie slayer or a newcomer to the world of Black Ops III, there’s a map for everyone to enjoy. The game’s innovative mechanics, challenging Easter eggs, and immersive atmospheres have solidified its place as one of the best Zombies experiences of all time. What’s your favorite BO3 Zombies map and why?