What Maps Come with Black Ops 3 Zombies? Just Shadows of Evil

Unlike previous Call of Duty Zombies experiences, the only map included in the base Black Ops 3 game is Shadows of Evil. All other playable Zombies maps must be purchased separately either individually or as part of the Season Pass.

Maps in Base Game

Shadows of Evil is the sole map available for players who purchased only the Black Ops 3 base game. Set in the fictional Morg City, this 1940s film noir-inspired Zombies map introduces four new characters – Nero, Jessica, Vincent, and Campbell. Instead of fighting endless waves of zombies, you battle twisted Lovecraftian monsters after being tricked by the mysterious Shadowman.

With its unique perk machines, challenging Easter egg quest, and introduction of GobbleGums for temporary buffs, Shadows of Evil took the Zombies formula in an ambitious new direction at launch. Personally, I have very fond memories staying up all night to beat this map‘s epic boss fight and unlock its alternate ending.

Zombies Chronicles DLC – 8 Classic Maps Remastered

While the Black Ops 3 Season Pass does include some excellent new maps which I‘ll detail below, the Zombies Chronicles DLC is easily the best value for Zombies fans. This epic DLC bundle includes 8 iconic maps from previous Treyarch games like World at War, Black Ops, and Black Ops 2 – all stunningly remastered on the BO3 engine.

As someone who grew up mastering these classic Zombies experiences, getting to revisit them with updated visuals and BO3 gameplay mechanics was a dream come true. The maps included are:

• Nacht der Untoten
• Verruckt
• Shi No Numa
• Kino Der Toten
• Ascension
• Shangri-La
• Moon
• Origins

Whether you want to camp on the stage in Kino or unleash monkey bombs in Ascension, Zombies Chronicles let me relive so many incredible memories. And with GobbleGums, weapon kits, and other BO3 elements added to the mix, these maps feel fresh rather than just nostalgic.

Black Ops 3 DLC Map Packs

Aside from Zombies Chronicles, there have been 5 other DLC map packs released for Black Ops 3, most of which included an exciting new Zombies experience. Here‘s a quick overview:

Let‘s take a closer look at the intricately designed Zombies maps that released as part of these DLC packs post-launch:

Der Eisendrache (Awakening DLC)

Set high up in a medieval Austrian castle, Der Eisendrache may be one of the most visually stunning and cinematically thrilling Treyarch Zombies maps ever created.

Facing off against a zombified group 935 and the demonic Shadowman himself, you‘ll guides Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo, and Richtofen on an time-twisting adventure. From upgrading elemental lightning, fire, and ice bows to riding dragons, ragnaroks, and death rays mid-fight, Eisendrache constantly leaves your jaw on the floor with epic set piece moments.

The extremely challenging Easter egg quest also features my favorite Zombies boss battle yet against a towering undead mech that can wipe whole teams if you‘re not careful!

Zetsubou No Shima (Eclipse DLC)

If you felt previous Black Ops 3 maps were too easy, Zetsubou No Shima will destroy you with deadly spiders, water traps, and some of the hardest zombie types ever. Set on a Japanese island, this map strands players with yet another questionable Division 9 scientist – as you fight endless zombie hordes, look for crafting parts, and try to escape the island by completing the complicated Easter egg.

While definitely frustrating at times, ZNS has some of my favorite Wonder Weapons in any Treyarch game. Between the absolutely wacky KT-4 plant gun, the spider bait/venom device, and the fun but deadly Skull of Nan Sapwe, you have plenty of toys to play around with here! Just watch your back, as this tropical island is crammed full of ways to die gruesomely.

Gorod Krovi (Descent DLC)

Hoping aboard a dragon ride above the smoldering ruins of Stalingrad, Gorod Krovi dials the spectacle up to 11 – complete with flyable dragons, mech suits, and a surprisingly emotional story. Despite the insanely cool Gauntlet of Siegfried Wonder Weapon that lets you become a hero of Russian folklore, GK offers arguably the most heartfelt character moments yet between the four original Primis heroes.

From Nikolai grappling with the loss of his wife to Richtofen achieving his ultimate goal, the dramatic cutscenes and radio logs make each tense shootout moment feel that much more impactful. And did I mention you get to fly a dragon that rains down fire while carrying a badass minigun??

Revelations (Salvation DLC)

Capping off years of buildup in the convoluted Aether storyline, Revelations mixes together fan favorite areas and enemies from previous Black Ops maps into one epic, nostalgia packed finale. From Kino Der Toten to Shangri-La to Mob of the Dead and more, each district housed unique traps, buildables, and deadly challenges to overcome.

And if running through this Zombies "highlight reel" wasn‘t epic enough, the absolutely massive map was home to the most complicated Easter egg quest ever attempted by the community. I‘ll never the dozens of hours coordinating 4-player teleporting sequences, shield flinging, Apothicon upgrading mayhem to finally trigger the super Easter egg ending and animated comic cutscene.

My Personal Zombies Map Rankings

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as an experienced COD Zombies veteran I can‘t help but rank the BO3 maps from worst to best in terms of everything from Easter eggs to just surviving:

1. Zetsubou No Shima – Way too many annoying challenges just to get set up
2. Shadows of Evil – Super confusing layout and gumball reliance
3. Revelations – Mix of old areas doesn‘t fully stand on its own
4. Gorod Krovi – Epic spectacle and set-pieces, but monsters get bullet spongey late game
5. Der Eisendrache – Nearly flawless blend of stunning visuals, innovative gear/traps, and balanced difficulty
6. Kino der Toten (Zombies Chronicles) – Simple, elegant, infinitely replayable – now in modern graphics!
7. Origins (Zombies Chronicles) – The possibilities of custom loadouts and gobblegums make this epic quest even better
8. Ascension (Zombies Chronicles) – Monkey-throwing, rocket-dodging action still shines brightly remastered

As you can tell, I have strong opinions on ranking these maps and specific reasons for loving or hating many design choices across Treyarch‘s history with Zombies mode! I‘d be happy to further defend each position in the comments below.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 delivers hours upon hours of heart-pounding undead action across over a dozen maps – provided you have the DLC packs or Zombies Chronicles bundle. Starting with only Shadows of Evil in the base game then expanding to Der Eisendrache‘s sprawling castle gondolas to Gorod Krovi‘s explosive dragon ride set pieces, BO3 represents a refined apex for Treyarch‘s ever-evolving Zombies formula before BO4‘s more controversial changes.

So if you consider yourself a COD Zombies fanatic like me, be sure to experience all these maps have to offer – from complex multi-layered Easter eggs to surviving until the highest rounds using classic survival strategies. Let me know which Black Ops 3 Zombies experiences stand out the most in your memory!