There is so much to explore inCall of Duty: Black Ops 7that it can feel overwhelming at first. The campaign and multiplayer are a blast, but they aren’t the only modes to receive significant attention in the new release.Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 zombies is better than it’s ever been, with the largest map in the franchise and all sorts of new secrets to uncover.

The classic round-based mode ofCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 zombies takes place on Ashes of the Damned, a massively sprawling map that contains several smaller areas connected by foggy areas swarming with zombies. Your truck is your best friend, serving as both a means of transportation and a way to upgrade your weapons. It is a neat new mechanic that is more than just a gimmick; it is necessary for survival.

The story is Treyarch’s mostambitious approach, featuring an incredibly challenging quest full of Easter eggs that won’t be easy to find. This fever dream of a zombie story is going places that no one expects, and it will be well worth the effort to complete it. The fights are epic in both scale and difficulty, introducing new mechanics that have never been seen before in the franchise.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 zombies introduces a new way to increase difficulty. 

Directed mode will launch in Season 1 to help less experienced players work their way through the quest in a less stressful manner. This is the perfect happy medium for players who want to enjoy the zombies mode without the stress of having to be at the top of their game at all times. This mode was a game-changer when it was first released and remains an important way to onboard new players.

Survival mode is also available inCall of Duty: Black Ops 7 zombies, taking place on Vandorn Farm, a smaller map located within Ashes of the Damned. Vandorn Farm has a great layout, allowing players to set up perfectly to take on hordes of onrushing zombies.

More locations will be added later, but for now, there is only the one map to play. It will be interesting to see how they rotate these to keep it fresh, but this is the best way to play for players who want a quick run without worrying about the quests and easter eggs. 

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 zombies introduces a new Curses mode that allows players to earn different relics, which increase the difficulty. This mode revives classic mechanics, including starting with only a pistol, no minimap, and traditional point-based progression. This mode isn’t for the faint of heart, but it will be music to the ears of more hardcore zombies players. 

Dead Ops Arcade 4 enhances the experience. 

Dead Ops Arcade 4 also brings the classic twin-stick shooter mode back with a few twists. There is a new first-person mode that makes it more similar to the normal zombies experience, as well as ammo mods, GobbleGums, and field upgrades. It represents a more modernized approach to theretro fan favorite. There are numerous nods to other types of retro games, such as sidescrolling platformers, and these interspersed moments further enhance the experience.

I was not expecting to enjoy Dead Ops Arcade 4 as much as I did, but it quickly became my favorite mode to play. It is much better when playing with a group, and the chaos is truly astonishing. The best part is that, thanks to shared experience progression, every mode helps players level up. This means playing Dead Ops Arcade will be beneficial when loading into multiplayer, incentivizing more players to spend some serious time checking it out.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 zombies is the best the series has ever been, with a massive map and wild story to keep players engaged. Dead Ops Arcade 4 is also a blast, giving players plenty of ways to enjoy the zombies experience.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 releases November 14th on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.