Black Ops 2 Zombies Guide: Maps, Unlocks, and Easter Egg Secrets
Black Ops 2 Zombies has a total of five main maps, and the total balloons to twelve if you also count the Survival, Grief, and Turned offerings. Below, you’ll find a map-by-map look at what each mode is like, what you need to unlock where DLC is involved, and how to tackle the Black Ops 2 Zombies super easter egg—the one that comes after finishing the Victis crew quests.
One important note before you jump in: wrapping up all three Victis easter eggs in Black Ops 2 Zombies doesn’t wrap the story completely. There’s still a “super” easter egg to finish, and it’s tied to specific map quest completions.
The guide you’re being set up for covers the Black Ops 2 Zombies Super Easter Egg. To unlock it, you must complete the TranZit, Die Rise, and Buried easter eggs for either Richtofen or Maxis.
Release & platform / DLC tracker
| Content | Where it appears | DLC requirement mentioned |
|---|---|---|
| Die Rise (Great Leap Forward) | Black Ops 2 Zombies | DLC 1: Revolution |
| Origins (Excavation Site 64) | Black Ops 2 Zombies | DLC 4: Apocalypse |
| Mob of the Dead | Black Ops 2 Zombies | DLC 2: Uprising |
| Buried (Resolution 1295) | Black Ops 2 Zombies | DLC 3: Vengeance |
All Black Ops 2 Zombies Maps & Modes
Purchase DLC 1: Revolution.
Purchase the Season Pass.
Die Rise | Great Leap Forward.
Purchase DLC 3: Vengeance.
Origins | Excavation Site 64.
Purchase DLC 4: Apocalypse.
Tranzit (Green Run)
- Black Ops 2 Richtofen TranZit Easter Egg Guide
- Black Ops 2 Maxis TranZit Easter Egg Guide
Tranzit was the launch map for Black Ops 2 Zombies, and it’s the one that throws a big bundle of new systems at you. Expect mechanics like Perma Perks, the Victis crew, and T.E.D.D.—the “bus driver” that moves around the map’s landmarks on a schedule. He may feel like he’s teasing you with his movement, but the important thing is that he won’t stop; you have to plan around the route.
Tranzit has a reputation for catching a lot of unwarranted criticism, often because it was ambitious and limited to PS3 and Xbox 360 at launch. Still, it works well when you’re playing with other people. The fog and the map’s denizens can be aggravating, and getting Pack-a-Punch online can be a slog, but the end result is still a mode worth revisiting.
Die Rise (Great Leap Forward)
- Black Ops 2 Richtofen Die Rise Easter Egg Guide
- Black Ops 2 Maxis Die Rise Easter Egg Guide
Die Rise was the first DLC map that arrived with Revolution, and the community has spent years picking it apart. The core layout is completely vertical, which makes it feel like a fall waiting to happen. Falling to the lower levels can mean certain death, since debris and broken connections between skyscrapers force you to stay aware and move carefully.
Die Rise continues Black Ops 2 Zombies’ streak of trying bold, experimental ideas, but the danger level is often so punishing that it can be hard to enjoy for everyone. Even so, it’s still smart to try Die Rise yourself, because the map’s structure is distinctive—and you might end up liking it more than the online chatter suggests.
Mob of the Dead
- Black Ops 2 Mob of the Dead Easter Egg Guide
DLC 2: Uprising adds Mob of the Dead, placing you in a hellish version of Alcatraz. It also brings in a fresh crew: Michael “Finn” O’Leary (Michael Madsen), Albert “Weassel” Arlington (Joe Pantoliano), Salvatore “Sal” DeLuca (Chazz Palminteri), and Billy Handsome (Ray Liotta). While the concept of “celebrity casting” might sound like a gimmick, the changes it introduces to Black Ops 2 Zombies are exactly the kind that pay off.
Mob of the Dead ended up serving as a blueprint for future Zombies maps, largely because it leaned into its own signature side easter egg quests. Those quests unlock special tools and weapons like the Blundergat, Golden Spork, and Hell’s Retriever, and it also provides a different structure for building toward the main quest. There’s a reason players often rank Mob of the Dead as an S-Tier map—and it’s kept that reputation for more than a decade.
Buried (Resolution 1295)
- Black Ops 2 Richtofen Buried Easter Egg Guide
- Black Ops 2 Maxis Buried Easter Egg Guide
The Victis finale, Buried, comes with DLC 3: Vengeance. This map plays more like a sandbox round-based experience—less about barely scraping by and more about leaning into being brutally overpowered. You’ll get help from a large ally, plenty of buildable components, and Wonder Weapons that encourage experimentation. It’s also one of the more approachable options for players who want to move past the typical limitations, thanks to easy Perk access that helps you bypass the usual 4-Perk cap.
Buried may not carry the same immersive atmosphere or satisfying side easter egg depth that fans praise in Mob of the Dead and Origins, but it’s still an extremely satisfying map if your goal is simple: kill zombies, push rounds, and keep moving. You can enjoy it solo or with friends, and it generally stays focused on delivering a strong “survive and escalate” loop.
Origins (Excavation Site 64)
- Black Ops 2 Origins Easter Egg Guide
The last Black Ops 2 Zombies map, Origins, launches with DLC 4: Apocalypse. Origins acts like a reset for the series, featuring a rebooted (alternate-universe) version of Ultimis characters—Richtofen, Nikolai, Dempsey, and Takeo—now reimagined with a World War 1 twist and the addition of Giant Robots.
Instead of leaning into horror, the series shifts toward sci-fi and alternate history, and that change ended up reshaping the direction of the franchise in the right ways. Origins is another S-Tier map, with elemental staffs that scale into devastating power during high rounds. It also includes engaging side easter eggs that lead to G-Strike grenades and a One-Inch Punch. If you want a map that’s great to run with friends, Origins is a top pick—just be ready to settle the inevitable argument about who gets the Ice Staff.
Survival Maps (Nuketown Zombies, Bus Depot, Town, Farm)
Survival Maps are round-based zombie modes, but the action happens in a much smaller play space. Within Black Ops 2’s lifespan, a handful of Survival Maps show up, including the popular Town and the infamous Nuketown Zombies, plus Bus Depot and Farm—often less discussed, but still enjoyable. Survival is straightforward and laid-back compared to the heavier mainline maps, yet it can still be a fun way to play.
Grief Maps (Town, Farm, Cell Block, Borough)
Grief is an experimental mode that feels like a bigger, more structured take on round-based Zombies. It places two teams of four players against each other, but the teams aren’t allies. The objective is to outlast the other side. You can’t directly kill each other, but you can still disrupt the opposition—by refusing to open doors and by stabbing them. Because it’s contained to smaller areas, Grief can be a good time when you have enough people to coordinate and keep momentum.
Turned Maps (Diner, Borough)
Turned didn’t get as much attention as some other modes, but it still offers interesting co-op dynamics. The structure is essentially Gun Game, except it’s built around Zombies. Three players start as Zombies and have to kill the human player, while the human player’s goal is to eliminate the Zombies—progressing through a total of 6 guns, with a new weapon granted for each kill. It’s a hot-potato style contest: who can stay alive the longest in a confined space by adapting quickly enough?
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
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FORCED TO GO ROGUE – HUNTED FROM WITHIN While the Gulf War draws global focus, a covert organization has infiltrated the highest levels of the CIA, labeling anyone who resists as traitors. Cut off from the agency and the country that once celebrated them as heroes, Black Ops veteran Frank Woods and his team are now being hunted by the same military apparatus that helped create them.
