If you‘re a fan of the thrilling Zombies mode in Call of Duty games, you may be wondering – what maps can I play in Black Ops 3 without having to buy any DLC packs? The good news is there are a few free Zombie maps available! Let‘s take a look at what‘s included:
Shadows of Evil – The Only Base Map
Shadows of Evil is the only Zombies map included with the base Black Ops 3 game. Set in the 1940s in a gloomy, noir-style city, this map introduces us to four new characters – Nero, Jessica, Vincent and Campbell. This diverse cast of characters replaces the classic Zombies crew of Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo and Richtofen.
Shadows of Evil brings a ton of new elements to the Zombies formula including the mysterious Summoning Key artifact, the monstrous Apothicons, and Cthulhu-esque tentacle beasts roaming the city streets. With its eerie setting, intriguing Lovecraftian story, and innovative "Beast Mode" transformations, Shadows of Evil is a great starting map for BO3 Zombies.
Der Eisendrache – Free with Special Editions
While Shadows of Evil is the only on-disc map, some special editions of Black Ops 3 included Der Eisendrache for free. This medieval Zombies map transported players to a rocket research facility within a German castle.
Der Eisendrache introduced the powerful Wrath of the Ancients bow weapon along with new story developments involving the original Zombies crew. Set across winding corridors, snowy courtyards, and high-tech laboratories, this map provided a nice change of pace from the dark city streets of Shadows of Evil.
The Giant – A Classic Revamped
Fans of the World at War Zombies maps could get The Giant for free with select pre-orders and special editions. This was a remastered version of the beloved Der Riese map with enhanced visuals and gameplay.
Fighting the undead hordes with Dempsey, Nikolai, Takeo and Richtofen once again was a nostalgic treat. The Giant had the Pack-a-Punch machine, Perk-a-Colas, and classic power-ups that made the early Zombies maps so memorable and fun. It was great seeing this classic brought to life on next-gen consoles.
Nuk3town – Chaos in Suburbia
Nuk3town Zombies was added for free in a game update and brought zombie mayhem to the iconic multiplayer map. Fighting the undead in this neighborhood area with toxic fog reinvigorated the layout in a fresh way.
With perk machines scattered throughout like Speed Cola and Double Tap Root Beer, laying waste to the zombies was as fun as ever. This small map was perfect for jumping in for quick undead carnage.
Free Map Overview
| Map | How to Get | Setting | New Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shadows of Evil | Base BO3 Game | 1940s city | Beast Mode, Apothicons |
| Der Eisendrache | Special Editions | Castle/Rocket Lab | Wrath of the Ancients Bow |
| The Giant | Pre-Order Bonus | Der Riese Remaster | Original Crew Returns |
| Nuk3town | Free Game Update | Toxic Suburb | Tight Survival Map |
Unlocking All Maps…But Be Warned
While the maps above are free, some players have found ways to unlock all of the Black Ops 3 Zombies DLC maps without paying. Entering codes like "3ARC UNLOCK" on the computer terminals can potentially grant access. There are also console commands and PC mods that allow playing any map.
However, take extreme caution with these methods as they may be considered cheating or violation of the game‘s terms of service. I personally don‘t recommend risking account suspensions or bans just to access maps for free.
The best way to get your hands on every Treyarch Zombies map is simply buying them. Keep reading to learn more about the additional DLC options.
Zombies Chronicles – The Ultimate Nostalgia Trip
For $29.99, Zombies Chronicles bundles 8 iconic maps from World at War, Black Ops, and Black Ops 2. This includes legendary experiences like Kino Der Toten, Ascension, and Origins remastered in BO3 with updated visuals and features.
This is a must-buy for longtime Zombies fans who want to re-experience these classic maps with smoothed out gameplay and next-gen graphics. Fighting the undead through these classic corridors with the Primis crew is a nostalgic blast.
Maps in Zombies Chronicles:
- Nacht der Untoten
- Verrückt
- Shi No Numa
- Kino Der Toten
- Ascension
- Shangri-La
- Moon
- Origins
Season Pass – Save on All DLC Packs
The Black Ops 3 Season Pass bundles all 4 DLC map packs together for $49.99, saving $15 compared to buying them individually. Each pack includes 4 multiplayer maps and 1 new Zombies map for a grand total of 16 maps across the various modes.
This is great for players who want all of the Zombies and multiplayer content. The Season Pass ensures you‘ll get every map pack at launch and save some money in the process.
Zombies Maps in DLC Packs:
- Awakening – Der Eisendrache
- Eclipse – Zetsubou No Shima
- Descent – Gorod Krovi
- Salvation – Revelations
Individual DLC Packs – A La Carte Zombies
If you‘re only interested in the Zombies maps, you can buy each DLC pack separately. These usually cost $15 and include 1 Zombies map along with 4 multiplayer maps. This a la carte model is great if you just want to pick certain Zombies experiences to purchase.
However, buying the full Season Pass is more cost effective if you plan on getting all of the DLC eventually. But the individual packs are nice for trying select maps first before committing to everything.
As you can see, Black Ops 3 offers players several free Zombies maps to get started as well as paid DLC options that deliver plenty of exciting new experiences. Let us know which BO3 Zombies maps are your favorites! We‘d love to hear your thoughts in the comments. Enjoy slaughtering those zombies!
