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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThere are 16 qualifying Call of Duty Zombies releases through Black Ops 7. This release-order guide covers the main console and PC games, the two standalone mobile spin-offs, and Call of Duty: Mobile, while separating DLC collections, map packs, and temporary events from full games.
There are 16 Call of Duty releases that qualify as Zombies games under a broad, release-based definition: 12 console/PC Call of Duty titles with a dedicated Zombies mode, two standalone mobile spin-offs, Call of Duty: Mobile, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. The series began with Nacht der Untoten in World at War and has since grown from a hidden bonus mode into several connected and standalone storylines, round-based maps, objective modes, and open-world survival experiences.
This list is in release order, not fictional story order. It counts a game when it includes a dedicated Zombies mode or is an officially released standalone mobile spin-off built around Call of Duty Zombies. Individual map packs, remastered collections, temporary Warzone events, and other survival modes are not listed as separate games.
All Call of Duty Zombies games in release order
| # | Game | Release date | Developer | Zombies mode or content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of Duty: World at War | November 11, 2008 | Treyarch | Nazi Zombies; Nacht der Untoten |
| 2 | Call of Duty: World at War – Zombies | 2009 | Mobile spin-off | Standalone mobile Zombies adaptation |
| 3 | Call of Duty: Black Ops | November 9, 2010 | Treyarch | Kino der Toten, Five, Dead Ops Arcade, and DLC maps |
| 4 | Call of Duty: Black Ops – Zombies | 2011 | Mobile spin-off | Standalone mobile Zombies game |
| 5 | Call of Duty: Black Ops II | November 12, 2012 in North America | Treyarch | TranZit, Survival, Grief, Turned, and DLC maps |
| 6 | Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | November 4, 2014 | Sledgehammer Games | Exo Zombies, introduced through the Havoc expansion |
| 7 | Call of Duty: Black Ops III | November 6, 2015 | Treyarch | Shadows of Evil, The Giant, and DLC maps |
| 8 | Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare | November 4, 2016 | Infinity Ward | Zombies in Spaceland and DLC chapters |
| 9 | Call of Duty: WWII | November 3, 2017 | Sledgehammer Games | Nazi Zombies; The Final Reich |
| 10 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 | October 12, 2018 | Treyarch | IX, Voyage of Despair, Blood of the Dead, Chaos, and Aether maps |
| 11 | Call of Duty: Mobile | October 1, 2019 | TiMi Studio Group / Tencent Games | Mobile Zombies content introduced and rotated through the live service |
| 12 | Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | November 13, 2020 | Treyarch and Raven Software | Dark Aether Zombies, round-based maps, and Outbreak |
| 13 | Call of Duty: Vanguard | November 5, 2021 | Sledgehammer Games; Treyarch led Zombies | Der Anfang, Terra Maledicta, and The Archon |
| 14 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III | November 10, 2023 | Sledgehammer Games; Treyarch led Zombies | Modern Warfare Zombies / Operation Deadbolt |
| 15 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | October 25, 2024 | Treyarch and Raven Software | Liberty Falls, Terminus, and seasonal Zombies content |
| 16 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 | November 14, 2025 | Treyarch and Raven Software | Ashes of the Damned, Round-Based Zombies, and Dead Ops Arcade 4 |
1. Call of Duty: World at War — November 11, 2008
Call of Duty: World at War is the starting point for the modern Call of Duty Zombies mode. Developed by Treyarch, the 2008 World War II shooter hid Nazi Zombies behind the campaign. Completing the campaign—or using the appropriate access method—revealed Nacht der Untoten, a compact survival map in which players repaired barriers, bought weapons, opened rooms, and fought increasingly dangerous waves.
The mode was initially an extra rather than the headline feature, but its combination of simple round-based rules, cooperative play, replayability, and unexplained story details established the foundation for the franchise. Activision’s retrospective identifies World at War as the first Call of Duty game to introduce Zombies; its listed release date is November 11, 2008 (Activision’s Call of Duty anniversary retrospective).
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2. Call of Duty: World at War – Zombies — 2009
This iOS-focused release was a standalone mobile Zombies spin-off, not merely a mobile version of the full World at War campaign. It adapted Nacht der Untoten, added further maps, and included Dead-Ops-style content according to Activision’s archived announcement.
The exact international launch day is not consistently documented across regions and platforms, so 2009 is the safer date. It belongs in a comprehensive Zombies list because it was an officially released mobile game built specifically around the mode.
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops — November 9, 2010
Call of Duty: Black Ops turned Zombies from a memorable bonus into one of the series’ defining pillars. Its initial maps included Kino der Toten, set in an abandoned theater, and Five, which placed players in the Pentagon. It also introduced Dead Ops Arcade, a top-down arcade interpretation of Zombies.
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4. Call of Duty: Black Ops – Zombies — 2011
The second standalone mobile spin-off followed in 2011. It brought mobile versions of Kino der Toten, Ascension, Call of the Dead: Director’s Cut, and Dead Ops Arcade-style content to supported devices.
This game is historically important but less accessible today. Activision states that it was no longer available for download to new users as of December 13, 2021. Players who already had it installed could potentially continue using their local copy, subject to device and operating-system compatibility. As with the first mobile spin-off, platform and regional launch timing varied, so the list uses the year rather than a single day.
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops II — November 12, 2012 in North America
Black Ops II greatly broadened the Zombies formula. TranZit connected several locations through a larger, more exploratory map, while standalone Survival maps preserved the traditional wave-based structure. The game also added Grief, a competitive team mode, and Turned, which let one player take the role of a zombie.
The later DLC campaign culminated in Origins, one of the mode’s most important maps and a major bridge to later entries. Activision’s North American materials list November 12, 2012; some regional Activision pages show November 13. That is a regional release-date presentation difference, not a separate release of the game. The date in this guide is therefore labeled by region (Activision’s Black Ops II announcement).
6. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare — November 4, 2014
Advanced Warfare was the first major non-Treyarch mainline Call of Duty to receive a Zombies-style mode. Its Exo Zombies mode arrived through the Havoc downloadable expansion rather than as part of the base game’s launch package.
The exoskeleton changed the feel of survival play: zombies could move with enhanced mobility, and players had access to the same futuristic movement system as the campaign and multiplayer. This made Exo Zombies a distinct experiment rather than a straightforward imitation of the Treyarch formula. The base game launched on November 4, 2014, a date confirmed by Xbox Wire.
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops III — November 6, 2015
Black Ops III launched with Shadows of Evil, a stylized 1940s film-noir map set in Morg City. Its elaborate quests, rituals, characters, and Lovecraftian atmosphere represented a substantial evolution from the bunker survival of Nacht der Untoten. The game also continued the earlier Origins-connected storyline through later content, including The Giant and subsequent DLC maps.
Zombies Chronicles is especially relevant when buying or planning a playthrough of this entry. It is not a separate game: Activision describes it as a Black Ops III expansion containing eight remastered maps from World at War, Black Ops, and Black Ops II (official Zombies Chronicles information). For players who want one modern release containing several classic maps, the Black Ops III Zombies Chronicles Edition may be the most direct option, but check the platform, region, edition contents, and current availability before buying.
Activision lists November 6, 2015 as the release date and details the launch setting and continuing Zombies content on its Black Ops III page.
8. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare — November 4, 2016
Infinite Warfare gave Zombies a deliberately lighter, more colorful identity. Zombies in Spaceland trapped four characters in an abandoned 1980s amusement park, combining carnival attractions, science-fiction hazards, and horror-comedy presentation.
The mode was one of the game’s three major experiences and continued through DLC chapters such as Rave in the Redwoods. Its story was separate from Treyarch’s Aether narrative, making it a self-contained branch for players who want a different tone. The release date was November 4, 2016 (Activision’s Infinite Warfare page).
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Sledgehammer Games returned Zombies to a World War II setting with Call of Duty: WWII. Its mode, again presented as Nazi Zombies, began with The Final Reich. The setting and subject matter were darker than Infinite Warfare, with an emphasis on occult experimentation, wartime horror, and a more grounded visual style.
The Final Reich supported the familiar cooperative survival loop while adding objectives and secrets for teams willing to investigate the map. Activision lists the main game’s release as November 3, 2017 and describes its cooperative Nazi Zombies mode on the official WWII page.
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- A CALL OF DUTY CAMPAIGN UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE IT: Treyarch elevates the Call of Duty social gaming experience by delivering a campaign with the ability to play cooperatively with up to four players online, using the same battle-tested network
- PREPARE FOR A LEVELED-UP MULTIPLAYER With Black Ops III, Treyarch premieres a new momentum-based chained-movement system, allowing players to fluidly move through the environment with finesse, using controlled thrust jumps, slides, and mantlin
- FIGHT THE UNDEAD IN AN ALL-NEW HORROR STORY No Treyarch title would be complete without its signature Zombies offering - a full-game experience with its own distinct storyline right out of the box. Black Ops 3 Zombies is the most immersive and
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 — October 12, 2018
Black Ops 4 launched with three full Zombies experiences: IX, Voyage of Despair, and Blood of the Dead. That made it, at the time, the largest day-one Zombies package in the series. The maps covered radically different settings, from an ancient arena to the doomed RMS Titanic and a reworked version of Alcatraz.
The game also marked the beginning of the distinct Chaos storyline, alongside its continuing Aether material. Activision explicitly identifies Black Ops 4 as the start of the Chaos narrative in its official Zombies details. It launched on October 12, 2018.
11. Call of Duty: Mobile — October 1, 2019
Call of Duty: Mobile launched worldwide on October 1, 2019. Developed by TiMi Studio Group / Tencent Games, it combined Call of Duty multiplayer and battle royale systems with mobile-specific live-service content. Activision’s game page has also advertised Zombies action.
Its place in this chronology needs a qualification: this is not a fixed Zombies campaign comparable to a Treyarch console release. Mobile Zombies content was introduced, removed, and handled as part of the game’s changing live-service history. Availability can therefore depend on the current version, region, and service decisions. It is included because Activision officially presented Zombies as part of the game’s available experiences (Call of Duty: Mobile).
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War — November 13, 2020
Black Ops Cold War introduced the Dark Aether storyline and made Zombies one of its three core modes. It launched with Die Maschine, a map that reinterpreted the series’ early bunker setting, then expanded with Firebase Z, Mauer der Toten, and Forsaken.
The game also introduced Outbreak, a larger open-area experience built around objectives and exploration rather than staying inside one tightly enclosed round-based map. That combination let players choose between traditional survival and a more spacious mission structure. Activision confirms the November 13, 2020 release and the game’s cooperative Zombies offering in its Black Ops Cold War overview.
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Vanguard continued the Dark Aether narrative but initially moved Zombies away from the classic single-map, round-based format. Der Anfang centered on objectives and portals, while later content included Terra Maledicta and The Archon.
Sledgehammer Games developed the main title, while Treyarch led Zombies development. Later updates added more traditional round-based content after the objective-driven launch structure received a mixed response. Activision’s Vanguard coverage and patch notes identify November 5, 2021 as the launch date and document the mode’s ongoing updates.
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- INTRODUCING A NEW ERA OF BLACK OPS: Call of Duty: Black Ops III takes place in a dark, gritty future where a new breed of Black Ops soldier emerges and the lines are blurred between our own humanity and the cutting-edge military robotics that define the future of combat.
- A CALL OF DUTY CAMPAIGN UNLIKE ANYTHING BEFORE IT: Treyarch elevates the Call of Duty social gaming experience by delivering up to four player campaign co-op, using the same battle-tested network infrastructure and social systems that support its world-class Multiplayer and Zombies game modes.
- PREPARE FOR A LEVELED-UP MULTIPLAYER: With Black Ops III, Treyarch premieres a new momentum-based chained-movement system, allowing players to fluidly move through the environment with finesse, using controlled thrust jumps, slides, and mantling abilities in a multitude of combinations, all while maintaining complete control over your weapon at all times.
- FIGHT THE UNDEAD IN AN ALL-NEW HORROR STORY: No Treyarch title would be complete without its signature Zombies offering - a full-game experience with its own distinct storyline right out of the box. Black Ops III Zombies is the most immersive and ambitious Call of Duty Zombies to date, with a full XP-based progression system for players that adds depth and re-playability to the engaging gameplay Zombies fans have come to expect.
14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III — November 10, 2023
Modern Warfare III was the first Modern Warfare title to include a full Zombies experience. Known as Modern Warfare Zombies or Operation Deadbolt, it used an open-world, player-versus-environment extraction-survival structure rather than a conventional round-based map.
Multiple squads could operate in the same space, complete contracts and story missions, collect equipment, and attempt to extract before the match ended. It also carried over recognizable Treyarch Zombies systems and narrative elements. Activision describes the mode and its extraction format in the official worldwide launch announcement. The game launched November 10, 2023.
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15. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — October 25, 2024
Black Ops 6 returned to a stronger round-based emphasis while retaining modern progression, equipment, and live-service systems. Its launch maps were Terminus and Liberty Falls, giving players both a darker, more complex island setting and a suburban West Virginia location.
The game’s Zombies mode continued to expand through seasonal maps and modes. Treyarch and Raven Software developed the title, which launched worldwide on October 25, 2024. Activision’s Black Ops 6 launch information identifies Zombies as one of the game’s primary modes.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.16. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 — November 14, 2025
Black Ops 7 is the latest release in this researched chronology. It launched worldwide on November 14, 2025 with Ashes of the Damned as its launch Zombies map and includes Round-Based Zombies. The official launch material also identifies Dead Ops Arcade 4 as part of the game’s Zombies-related offering.
Because game editions, platforms, and availability can change, verify the version you are buying rather than assuming every storefront includes identical Zombies content. For readers specifically looking for the newest entry, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the relevant release to check, subject to current platform and edition availability. Activision’s Black Ops 7 Zombies launch guide confirms the mode and launch map.
Recommended order for playing Call of Duty Zombies
If your goal is to understand the main console and PC Zombies evolution, play these entries in release order:
- World at War
- Black Ops
- Black Ops II
- Black Ops III
- Infinite Warfare
- WWII
- Black Ops 4
- Black Ops Cold War
- Vanguard
- Modern Warfare III
- Black Ops 6
- Black Ops 7
This route shows how the mechanics changed from tight round-based survival to larger objective and extraction modes, then back toward a renewed round-based focus. The two standalone mobile games and Call of Duty: Mobile are best treated as optional side branches, not required chapters in the main Zombies story.
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Which Call of Duty Zombies game should you start with?
- For the historical beginning: start with World at War. It is mechanically simple and establishes the original survival format.
- For a more approachable classic: try Black Ops. It offers several contrasting maps and is the point at which the mode’s story and replay systems became much more developed.
- For a collection of classic maps: consider Black Ops III with Zombies Chronicles. Remember that Chronicles is an expansion, and confirm the edition and platform before purchasing.
- For modern round-based Zombies: choose Black Ops 6 or Black Ops 7, depending on which maps, platform, and current content you prefer.
- For open-world cooperative play: Modern Warfare III offers Operation Deadbolt’s squad-based extraction format, while Black Ops Cold War offers both round-based maps and Outbreak.
- For a deliberately different tone: Infinite Warfare’s Zombies in Spaceland is colorful, comedic, and separate from Treyarch’s Aether storyline.
What does not count as a separate Call of Duty Zombies game?
- Zombies Chronicles: a remastered map expansion for Black Ops III, not a separate release in the chronology.
- Individual Zombies map packs: maps such as Ascension, Origins, Der Eisendrache, and The Final Reich remain content belonging to their host games.
- Warzone Zombies events: temporary undead-themed events in Warzone do not constitute standalone Zombies games.
- Blackout Zombies appearances: Zombies content appearing inside Black Ops 4’s Blackout mode does not make Blackout a separate Zombies title.
- Call of Duty: Strike Team: this mobile tactical shooter included survival-oriented content, but the available evidence does not support classifying it as a dedicated Call of Duty Zombies game comparable with the releases above (background on Strike Team).
Release-date and availability notes
Dates can vary by geography, platform, storefront, and early-access arrangements. The clearest example is Black Ops II: North American materials use November 12, 2012, while some regional pages display November 13. Mobile releases are even less suitable for a single global day because platform and regional launches may differ.
Availability is also not permanent. The standalone Black Ops – Zombies mobile game, for example, was removed from new-download availability on December 13, 2021. Physical and digital editions of older console games may differ in included DLC, backward compatibility, and platform support. Always check the current store listing and the exact edition before buying.
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Quick answer
The first Call of Duty Zombies game was World at War in 2008. The release sequence then runs through the two mobile spin-offs, Black Ops, Black Ops II, Advanced Warfare, Black Ops III, Infinite Warfare, WWII, Black Ops 4, Call of Duty: Mobile, Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, and Black Ops 7. For the clearest main-series playthrough, skip the mobile branches and follow the console/PC order shown above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the first Call of Duty Zombies game?
The first Call of Duty Zombies game was Call of Duty: World at War, released on November 11, 2008. Its hidden Nazi Zombies mode began with Nacht der Untoten.
How many Call of Duty Zombies games are there?
There are 16 qualifying releases in this guide through Black Ops 7. That total includes two standalone mobile spin-offs and Call of Duty: Mobile, but excludes individual map packs, Zombies Chronicles as a separate game, temporary Warzone events, and other non-dedicated survival modes.
What is the best order to play Call of Duty Zombies?
For the main console and PC storyline, play World at War, Black Ops, Black Ops II, Black Ops III, Infinite Warfare, WWII, Black Ops 4, Black Ops Cold War, Vanguard, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, and Black Ops 7. The mobile titles are optional side branches.
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Is Zombies Chronicles a separate Call of Duty Zombies game?
Zombies Chronicles is a remastered map expansion for Black Ops III. It includes eight maps from World at War, Black Ops, and Black Ops II, so it is not a separate Call of Duty Zombies game in the release list.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Start with World at War to see where Zombies began, use Black Ops or Black Ops III with Zombies Chronicles for the classic experience, and choose Black Ops 6 or Black Ops 7 for the newest round-based entries. The list is release order, not the fictional chronology of the various Zombies universes.
Quick Recap
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