ShooterofIO Zombies

Nickname(s)	Cherry
Games of appearance	ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare (2009) ShooterofIO: WWII (2011) ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare II (2012) ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare III (2015) ShooterofIO: 1950 (2017) ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 4 (2018) ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 5 (2020) ShooterofIO: Advanced Operations (2021) ShooterofIO: Modern Ops III (2023) ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 6 (2024)
Maps of appearance	Dark Warfare Undead Forest Firebase Z Outpost Nocturne Harbinger WWII Undead Theatre Zombie Warfare Outpost Tempest Vanguard Dark Warfare II Der Aufstand Nuketown Zombies Die Rise Mob of the Dead Buried Origins Dark Warfare III Shadows of Evil Der Eisendrache Zetsubou no Shima Gorod Krovi Revelations Nacht der Untoten Verrückt Shi No Numa Kino Der Toten Ascension Shangri La Moon Dark Warfare 6 Terminus Der Bridge
Affiliations	Zombie
Announcer	Demonic Announcer
Cost	2000
Jingle genre	Blues

Zombies is the cooperative game mode known for being included in the ShooterofIO series most famously developed by Air Studios. Other franchise developers SOI Studios and War Games have attempted at including the mode in their games, however the mode is most positively recieved within Air Studios games due to their unique take on it.

Zombies first appeared in ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare (2009). SOI Studios only included the mode in their 2016 game ShooterofIO: Shadows. Air Studios included the mode in ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare II (2012), ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare III (2015), ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 4 (2018), ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 5 (2020), and the upcoming ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 6 (2024). Even though it's titled "Nazi Zombies", ShooterofIO: WWII (2011) features the same gameplay and War Games has cited they were inspired by the Zombies mode from 2009's Dark Warfare.

The mode is known for its repetiitve fast-paced action that involves players starting with a pistol (or a loadout weapon at a low rarity) and becoming more powerful by surviving endless waves of the undead. As the match progresses, the enemies become stronger, whilst in some older games, weapons become weaker.

In Dark Warfare 5, Outbreak was released, which is a new objective-focused mode that had players spawning in with a weapon they chose at a low rarity and completing objectives and surviving as long as they can. In Outbreak, players didn't have a "round" system and instead a tally of how many objectives that they have completed.

With the upcoming Dark Warfare 6, Zombies has been revealed to be returning and will be releasing a week early for players who have pre-ordered the game. The mode will feature

The mode has been seen as one of the most "polished" modes of all time due to its replayability and fast-paced action. However, during 2018, the mode was in a "low point" according to critics due to the lack of features that have been in the mode since its inception. However, reviews returned to normal in 2020 with the release of Dark Warfare 5.

History

Air Studios

ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare (2009)

Main article: ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare

The first iteration of Zombies appeared in the 2009 game ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare. In the game, players were introduced to all the basic mechanics in the mode such as rounds and zombie themed enemies.

The game features basic movement and mechanics that are designed all together to help the players survive but do not make them gods. The game features a perk limit of 4 perks, whilst there are secret methods to earn even more perks to become even more powerful.

In this iteration of the mode, one to four players fight an unlimited number of waves of zombies, beginning with an M1911 pistol. Players earn points for killing zombies or repairing boarded-up windows, which are used to expand areas of the map, access stronger weapons, or upgrade existing weapons. Zombies routinely break the windows to enter and attack the players; if a player is attacked enough times, they fall and will need to be "revived" by another player in a certain time, or will respawn in the next round with their weapon progress reverted if they are not revived. The game ends when all players are damaged enough to fall. The base game features two maps, "Undead Forest". Three maps were introduced post-launch being "Firebase Z" during Season Two, "Outpost Nocturne" in Season Four, and "Harbinger".

The game featured paid post-launch content including the three additional maps.

Dead Ops Arcade is a seperate game mode that the player can play from the main menu. The player is transferred to play a retro arcade version of the main zombie's game mode. New elements like extra lives, unique mini maps, and zombie bosses are present within the game mode. Dead Ops Arcade includes co-op playthrough through either Xbox Live or split screen of up to 4 players.

ShooterofIO: WWII (2011)

Main article: ShooterofIO: WWII

In June 2011, War Games announced they had developed a Zombies mode to include with WWII. The mode plays like the one from Dark Warfare but instead introduces some very unique innovations in one launch map. In regards to gameplay, Nazi Zombies retains the wave-based survival formula that has been used in all previous games, with new additions such as custom loadouts and its own XP based leveling system which includes the ability to enter prestige, to repeat the process, which can be done ten times. Unlike the Air Studios version of the mode, Nazi Zombies in WWII offers players the ability to play as any character from a list of eleven, each with their own unique personalities and quotes.

Returning are wallbuys and the mystery box; War Games chose to add some minor changes to how wallbuys work. Instead of the player simply walking up to a weapon outline and buying the weapon, players now have to complete a small quest to "unlock" that specific wallbuy in each match. War Games also introduced a system called the "hint" system that gave players hints on how to complete the main quest, or "easter egg", on each map; this setting is able to be turned off within the settings.

ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare II (2012)

Main article: ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare II

The cooperative survival Zombies mode returns in Dark Warfare II with two maps being available at launch with an entirely new set cast being Kael Mercer, Seraphina Gale, Elara Quinn, and Orion Vale. The mode is built using the same engine as the multiplayer mode, allowing for bigger play spaces and more enemies on the maps. According to Air Studios, the modes story is a "direct sequel" to the one in ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare's Zombies mode.

In terms of gameplay, Dark Warfare II features similar gameplay found in Dark Warfare and brings a few new features to the mode. Players begin each match with a pistol. The mode introduces a new point sharing system that allows players to share points to allies, players can also earn new form of perks during a match called a "Perma Perk" that never disappears when a player downs, but doesn't carry over to the next match. Dark Warfare II introduces a crafting system, allowing players to build items during their match. According to Air Studios, Dark Warfare II's easter eggs are much larger than those found in Dark Warfare.

The first launch map for Dark Warfare II is "Der Aufstand" which is set in a New York City research facility. The map features default enemies whilst featuring dogs as the "ammo waves". The second launch map is called "Nuketown Zombies", a survival map created for casual players.

ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 6 (2024)

Main article: ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare 6 § Zombies

The cooperative round-based Zombies mode returns in Dark Warfare 6. The game is set in the Dark Aether narrative which is the same universe as both Dark Warfare 5 and ShooterofIO: Modern Ops III (2023). The mode features the return of Perk-a-Colas such as Juggernog, Speed Cola, and Deadshot Daiguiri. Unlike in the previous Dark Warfare game, Dark Warfare 6 Zombies doesn't feature a upgrade system for perks and other items and instead uses a new system called "Augments"—a set of minor and major upgrades to perks, field upgrades and ammo mods. Each gameplay item features up to three minor and major Augments, with one of each type being equippable at the same time, allowing players to customize and experiment with different play styles. Players can also obtain "GobbleGum", which are single-use consumables that grant the player various in-game effects and abilities, they were first seen in ShooterofIO: Dark Warfare III (2015) Zombies. The mode launched with the map, "Terminus" at launch, which was designed with hidden easter eggs and a "badass" main quest. A remaster of "Undead Forest" is planned for release with the Week Two update.

Reception

The Zombies mode has recieved critical acclaim across the franchise and many sources say that Zombies peaked around the time of Dark Warfare III's release in 2015. This is because of the amount of maps that were added to the game during its life cycle and its gameplay being replayable in every aspect.