It’s 115 Day, which gives me an excuse to get sentimental about Call of Duty Zombies. Not that I need an excuse, of course, it’s part of my brand at this point.
I continue to be impressed by how far the mode has come since 2008, back when my friends and I would pass the controller around in the wee hours of the morning trying to reach a new high round on Nacht. Never did I think that one day we’d be playing as Jeff Goldblum or Heather Graham, shooting tentacled nightmares and hopping between dimensions, or that Zombies would eventually stand tall as a core component of Call of Duty (I’d argue it’s the main selling point, but maybe I’m biased.)
I often say Zombies is antithetical to Call of Duty proper, and I stand by it. It should never have existed in the first place, so the fact it’s still going strong is testament to the perseverance of Treyarch’s Zombies Team and a community that has remained loyal, despite all the trials and tribulations along the way.
Whether your first game was World at War or Black Ops 7, you’re part of that community. It’s okay to have favourites, it’s okay to not like the new stuff,and it’s fine if you can’t go back to the old games. Part of Zombies’ charm is its versatility; every era brings something new to the table. Every map is a chance for a new experience.
Call me crazy for viewing a Call of Duty game like a piece of art (people do), but every iteration of Zombies has had something for me. Even a disasterclass like Vanguard has its redeeming features! It’s much more rewarding to view games that way. Flaws – and the reasons for them – can be just as interesting as the parts you enjoy.
That said, things could always be better. The threat of generative AI further infecting Zombies scares me, and it always feels like we’re an executive’s bad day away from the mode being packed up in search of something more profitable and far less expressive. There’s no question the live-service era of Call of Duty has resulted in compromises many of us despise. Yet, without being chained to Call of Duty, I’m not sure Zombies would still be here. It’s a paradox that’s incredibly fitting for the mode, and something I think about often.
Black Ops 7 is scratching an itch that I haven’t felt since Black Ops 4 – and I say that as someone who adored Cold War and Black Ops 6 (despite the latter’s misgivings). I’m not going to commit to a ranking or anything at this stage – there’s still plenty to come – but I’m thrilled with where we’re at right now. Cursed Mode is in its infancy, but I strongly believe it can grow into a staple of Zombies.
So, if you’re reading this, Happy 115 Day! I’ll always be grateful for what has come before and what is yet to come. Be it Aether, Dark Aether, Chaos, IWZ, WW2 Zombies, Exo-Zombies, DOA, Customs… now more than ever, may we all find comfort in Call of Duty Zombies.
