Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, also known as Exo Zombies, ranks fifth among the most disliked Call of Duty games. The main issue is that while the game tried new things, it drastically changed the gameplay, making it unsuitable for the FPS (First-Person Shooter) genre.
The Advanced Movement system was a significant change, first seen in Zombies mode. Unfortunately, it wasn't well-received by the players. The developers introduced new zombie types to complement this system, but these changes, along with new map designs, significantly altered the gameplay dynamics.
This approach reduced the game's playability, leading to a decrease in its popularity. As a result, many players, including myself, did not find Advanced Warfare enjoyable. This situation highlights how significant changes in a game’s core mechanics can alienate its fan base, especially in a series as iconic as Call of Duty.
Even if it didn't have the best campaign in Call of Duty, the story was still somewhat gripping. So yeah, I would say that the players were maybe more generous when evaluating this Zombies mode.
World War II
Call of Duty: World War II is a game so overlooked that it's often forgotten by most players. Like, some people think that it has some of the best CoD Zombie easter eggs. Like, for real?
I personally think that the key reason for its obscurity is the lack of innovation. The developers played it safe, adding nothing new to the game's formula. However, playing it safe does not always equate to making the best decision, as it significantly impacted the game's overall quality.
The Zombies mode in World War II offers no unique features or different perspectives compared to other entries in the series.
Essentially, it's the same game with minimal modifications, lacking any distinctive elements that set it apart in the realm of Call of Duty Zombies maps.
Infinite Warfare
Infinite Warfare, occupying the third spot among Call of Duty games with Zombies, has faced a barrage of criticism. It's a game that seems to be in a state of limbo.
Half of the players appreciate Zombies in Spaceland, praising its unique atmosphere and colorful perspective as a refreshing addition to Call of Duty.
However, the other half feels it clashes with the traditional theme of the series, labeling it as cringeworthy. The bright neon lights and carnival theme, being somewhat alien to Call of Duty's usual style, have continually drawn criticism.
Furthermore, the introduction of new knife mechanics in Infinite Warfare was a major drawback. Its unpopularity was so pronounced that the feature was excluded from subsequent games, a decision widely regarded as wise.
But perhaps the most critical element was the final map, deemed the worst among Zombie maps. Had this map been more successfully executed, Infinite Warfare might have escaped being labeled as one of the worst Call of Duty titles, despite the extensive criticism.
Black Ops IV
Black Ops IV's Zombies mode splits its focus between two distinct Call of Duty storylines: Chaos and Aether, each with its own maps.
This bifurcation makes it feel like two separate games under one title. The split focus on two different storylines and modes creates a distracting and ultimately unsatisfactory experience.
Even though I think that Aether maps lacked personality and seemed rigid, we can still remark that the Chaos maps were a ton of fun. We wouldn't have had two options, but the Zombies mode would have performed better if there had been a genuine focusing on one mode rather than two.
Developers love to try new things with their Call of Duty games, but if it's about making even half the game crappy, most players don't prefer it. All in all, if you consider the worst CoD Zombies maps, Black Ops IV grabs the title or two, for sure.
Vanguard
Vanguard lacked almost all content when it comes to key elements that define the Zombies mode. Almost nothing added to Vanguard enhanced the Zombies mode's fun and playability. This is a huge understatement, and more than enough to declare Vanguard the worst Call of Duty Zombies game.
The most classic and fun aspect of the Zombies mode is starting from a specific location and progressing by purchasing new areas, which greatly increases the game's competition and excitement. However, in Vanguard, players received a hub world that teleported them to locations with a limited number of zombies, replacing the traditional wall buys and hard CoD zombies easter eggs.
This change completely destroyed the originality of the Zombies mode. The zombies were not challenging enough, and the nonsensical updates and poor-quality maps made Vanguard the least enjoyable of all Call of Duty games.