Like other Treyarch titles, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War features a full-fledged Zombies mode. While players are patiently waiting for more content and Zombies maps to play on, plenty of praise has been thrown Treyarch’s way regarding the mode’s new features. From entirely new mechanics like the exfil system to small but impactful changes to the HUD, the latest take on the mode has a gameplay loop that feels vastly different from the one seen in previous iterations of Zombies. However, as shown by the latest version of the popular survival mode, different certainly does not mean bad.

Due to the changes made in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies, it finally feels like players of all skill levels can find enjoyment in the Zombies experience. With progression carrying over across other modes, spending time in Zombies does not hurt the multiplayer grind, and simpler systems for things like armor make dropping into the mode an easier adjustment for first timers. With more manageable easter eggs that rely less on outside assistance from guides and videos, as well as deeper mechanics like perk and rarity upgrading, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies is a mode that welcomes all players with open arms.

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Giving Casual Players A Fighting Chance

ray gun fired at zombies in purple room

For several years now, Call of Duty Zombies has been a game mode aimed at a niche audience. With a convoluted Zombies storyline and increasingly complex puzzles and objectives, only longtime fans were given the opportunity to genuinely enjoy the mode and see all it has to offer. By requiring the memorization of buildable part locations and asking players to study up on complex quests using step-by-step walkthroughs, Treyarch left the casual Zombies player behind long ago. While hardcore players who had been with the mode from the beginning loved the evolution of Zombies, people looking to jump into the mode for the very first time had no chance.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War goes against the philosophy that the Zombies mode should only be for Zombies fans, as the latest Black Ops game introduces numerous mechanics that simplify the experience. Armor, for instance, replaces the Zombie Shield that has been seen in maps since Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. Instead of requiring players to search through every corner of the map for pieces of the shield, armor can be bought from a single location in every game. With no randomized locations to check or additional set-up required, players can buy their armor and get right back into the action.

One of the biggest criticisms in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Zombies was the HUD design, but with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Treyarch has made some major improvements. Aside from a cleaner, customizable look, the HUD now guides inexperienced players through the basic map setup. Showing new players where to go to turn on power and activate Pack-A-Punch, even the most inexperienced player can have a chance to succeed by being taught the basics of the map. Beyond that, a mini-map is also provided, showing players where they can go to open doors, spin the mystery box, buy perks, and more.

Players can share weapons as well, allowing skilled zombie slayers to provide new players with fully upgraded weapons while they learn the map. As for the map itself, Black Ops Cold War’s Die Maschine features plenty of open areas to train, working as a strong starter map for players to learn the basics. With players able to spawn in with a weapon of their choice as well, those more accustomed to multiplayer can load into a Zombies match with their favorite weapon, fully customized to look and play exactly how it does in PvP modes. With a new Zombies storyline kicking off in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War as well, the latest version of the mode is a perfect jumping off point for new players — and the right time to return for those who have not played Zombies for years.

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Rewarding More Experienced Players

While Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies is far more forgiving for the casual player, the mode still rewards those who put large amounts of time into the mode. Aside from a Dark Aether camo to grind for, as well as dozens of challenges to complete, Zombies features mechanics the series has never seen before. The concept of weapon rarity is entirely new to Zombies, and it makes mid-high round play more intense. Players are constantly upgrading their weapons or spinning the box for a higher rarity gun, making it to where players always have something to spend their resources on.

The game’s new crafting system offers a speedier approach to buildable items that keeps the flow of the game mode intact. By using resources dropped by zombies and the Megaton mini-boss, players can craft 14 different items. Everything from monkey bombs to chopper gunners can be built, with players going to one of the map’s crafting tables to put the items together. With the items being built instantly using a few in-game materials, there is no longer a need for slowing the game down by keeping a crawler and searching for parts. While casual players will surely benefit from the simple crafting system as well, the fast-paced nature of the building keeps players on the edge of their seat for the entire game — progressing to higher rounds faster.

High rounds in Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War’s Zombies offering are just as challenging as ever, though they feel far more action packed and require more attention from players. Rather than running in circles and hitting traps, ammo for any weapon can be bought from boxes and players can eliminate entire hordes using field upgrades like Ring of Fire. Zombies fans dedicated enough to reach high rounds will be rewarded with extra Aetherium Crystals, which are used to unlock permanent upgrades for field upgrades and the various Zombies perks. With a solid reward system in place that lets players make themselves stronger through RPG-like upgrades, Zombies players have been given a reason to keep playing that extends beyond a love for the gameplay.

With the mode including shorter easter eggs that are just as rewarding as previous Zombies quests, Treyarch has trimmed the fat from the mode while keeping the things longtime players love intact. With buyable self-revives offering a method to prolong games and an exfil system allowing players to end matches on top, the many new features of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies have come together to create a mode for all players. With a perfect blend of casual gameplay and deep mechanics, the latest version of Zombies features the best mechanics the mode has ever seen. If more content is added soon that matches the level of quality seen in this gameplay loop, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War Zombies could prove to be the new standard for Treyarch’s beloved game mode.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

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