Call of Duty started the Zombies mode in World at War, starting with the map Nacht Der Untoten. The zombies mode was unlocked by beating the World at War story, bringing players to an unexpected cutscene. This map branched out the zombie's story, basically creating another game entirely.
There is a story revolving around how zombies were created and how the heroes are combatting the undead. While Treyarch may have started the zombie trope in the games, other games such as World War II and Advanced Warfare made their own versions of the mode. With the inclusion of the mode, there are sure to be some iconic characters.
10 BAD: Survivor
The survivor can be found in Advanced Warfare in the Exo Zombies mode. These characters are defenseless and must be escorted by the player to safety. If a survivor is rescued, the player will get an upgrade for their weapon. However, the power on the map will go out for a minute if a survivor dies.
The power will then have to be turned on manually with switches. If 25 survivors are rescued on the map, players will unlock the outro cutscene and complete the map.
9 GOOD: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Who wouldn't want to play as Buffy? Players get to play as Sarah Michelle Gellar in the Call of the Dead map, which was included in the Escalation DLC for Black Ops. The map takes place at an abandoned lighthouse, which was being used as a filming location for a movie.
After zombies come out of the water, Gellar and three other celebrities have to fend off a horde of zombies. It is also interesting to note, the real Sarah Michelle Gellar voices the Call of Duty version of herself.
8 BAD: Bus Driver
The Bus Driver can be found on the Green Run map in Black Ops II. He drives the bus around the map, transporting players from one area to another. The bus driver, however, is unforgiving if a player is left behind.
If the player falls out of the bus or is left behind, they are on their own. There is no way to stop the bus or go back, meaning the player must fend off any zombie until the bus makes a return.
7 GOOD: Marie Fischer
Marie Fischer is a playable character in the zombies mode for World War II. She has one of the more tragic stories in the mode, as she is searching for her brother in Austria. Her brother, Klaus, tried to sabotage a Nazi scientist's work but was caught.
Marie is either forced to kill her brother or watch him take his own life. Despite this, Marie and her group go on to defeat the scientist who created the zombies.
6 BAD: Michael 'Finn' O'Leary
Michael O'Leary is introduced in the Mob of the Dead map, which was introduced in the Uprising DLC for Black Ops II. He is a prisoner at Alcatraz when the zombies take over the prison. He must work with his fellow mobsters to try to escape the prison.
What is discovered is that he and the other mobsters have been dead and are currently in Purgatory. By flying to the Golden Gate Bridge and killing himself, he can try to break the cycle and escape Purgatory.
5 GOOD: Nikolai Belinsky
Nikolai Belinski was first introduced as a character in World at War, with players following his story since. Players most likely remember him because of his stories, which included killing a number of wives and numerous German soldiers. By the end of the zombie story, it is discovered he made up most of these stories.
Nikolai became a drunk after his wife was killed in a German bombing. Knowing Nikolai since the beginning, it is easy to think of him as a lovable character.
4 BAD: George A. Romero
It would only be fitting that the creator of numerous zombie movies would become a zombie. George A. Romero is included in the Call of the Dead map, where he was shooting a movie. The zombie version cannot be killed, instead, he returns to the water he came from.
Players will obtain the Death Machine and a random Power-Up after defeating him. Unlike the other celebrities included with this map, George Romero does not voice himself.
3 GOOD: John F. Kennedy
On the map Five in Black Ops, players are able to play as President John F. Kennedy. Kennedy is also joined by Richard Nixon, Robert McNamara, and Fidel Castro. Players can play as the former president as they fight zombies inside of the Pentagon.
The character of Kennedy will have his iconic Boston accent and will make references to the politics of the 1960s. Sadly, JFK and the team did not survive the zombies. It is revealed that the four survivors were overrun and killed by zombies.
2 BAD: Pentagon Thief
The Pentagon Thief appears on the map Five, taking weapons from the player. When he steals a weapon, he will teleport the player to the power room. If he escapes, players will be left with one less weapon, which can be bad at higher rounds. Killing the thief will start a Fire Sale or a Bonfire Sale.
The thief will try to avoid traps but will be instantly killed if he runs into one. It is a fun little addition to the game but can be extremely frustrating if a Ray Gun or Winter's Howl is stolen.
1 'Tank' Dempsey
Much like Nikolai, Tank has been around since the beginning of the zombie's story. It is also revealed he was one of the marines on the map Verrückt. Throughout the various maps, bits of his life can be revealed. Tank has a daughter and fought in the Battle of Peleliu.
There are also two versions of him - called Primis and Ultimis. One version fought in World War I, while the other fought in World War II. His personality between the two changes, with one version being calmer and the other being a stereotypical soldier.