TranZit vs. Ashes of the Damned — Which ‘Open-World’ Map is Better?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is here, and with it comes the second “open-world” survival map crafted by Treyarch. Sure, it has made some larger experiences that suit the description of open-world even better, like Outbreak from Black Ops Cold War and MWZ, but in terms of traditional survival maps it’s only TranZit and newcomer Ashes of the Damned. While it’s true that TranZit was panned by fans upon release due to some annoying mechanics like fog, lava, and denizens, most agree that the ideal has potential, leading to a certain nostalgia for TranZit and a desire to see it “done right.” This is why there was so much interest in Ashes of the Damned being a TranZit successor, and now that Black Ops 7 is here, it’s worth a closer look to see if Treyarch created a “better” map this time around. By analyzing several factors, it’s clear that there’s a clear winner between these two maps.

Easter Eggs — Ashes of the Damned

This is one of the most important aspects of any CoD Zombies maps since the first Easter egg appeared in Der Riese, and it’s hard to deny that Ashes of the Damned clears TranZit in this regard. In terms of the main quests, while TranZit (and the other BO2 Easter Eggs besides Origins) having two paths was a novel idea, the reality is that both of TranZit’s Easter egg “sides” were tedious and unsatisfying. The reward was also hugely forgettable, as outside a special CoD Zombies achievement/trophy, players only received occasional drops from the pylon in the corn field — an area they had little reason to visit after the quest since it was dangerous to survive in and difficult to reach other players. There were also no real side Easter eggs to speak of outside of building the Jet Gun and Persistent Perks, limiting the depth of the map.

Ashes of the Damned, on the other hand, absolutely nails its Easter eggs. Sure, some of the rewards could do with being more unique, but players will find side Easter eggs in every zone of the map. They’ll interact with ghosts, learn the new Dempsey’s backstory, uncover Relics for Cursed mode, complete a combat axe challenge, and more. As for the main quest, it may be a bit long in the tooth for some players, but it has a good variety of steps, mid and end cutscenes for story lovers, and an unforgettable boss fight to cap it all off. Compared to TranZit, which offers things like the disappointing Nav Cards that saw players hoping for a Bus Route B that never came, this is an easy victory for Ashes.

Survival Maps — TranZit (so far)

Currently, this comparison is a bit unfair, as Treyarch is planning to release new Survival maps from Ashes of the Damned each post-launch season — two of which are coming in Black Ops 7 Season 1. Still, while BO7 only debuted with one Survival map, Black Ops 2 offered three from the get-go, including the fan favorite that was Town. While there is a chance that one of the future locations like Blackwater Lake feels even better to play in Survival than Town did, TranZit’s approach of giving players all the options from day one as opposed to drip-feeding will give it the edge with most fans in this category.

Moment-to-Moment Gameplay — Ashes of the Damned

For those who don’t care about Easter eggs, satisfying round-based gameplay is key, and it’s another area where Ashes of the Damned takes the cake. All the frustrations of TranZit that were added to help it run on older hardware, such as the lava and fog, are nowhere to be found in Ashes of the Damned. The tedious fast travel system involving denizens and streetlights is replaced with easy-to-use jump pads, and the areas in between the POIs are difficult to navigate without being unfun since players can actually see where they’re going and aren’t being clawed at by bug-eyed goblins. Ashes of the Damned may be large, and will require multiple runs for players to learn its layout, but once they do, the map feels great to play. Zombie slayers don’t have to fear being left behind in a frustrating zone, and there’s no annoying Pack-a-Punch process that involves placing a Turbine halfway across the map, which is a clear plus. Whereas Ashes can be difficult due to its content, like bosses, much of TranZit’s challenge came from annoying and unfair gameplay systems.

Innovation — TranZit

One of the biggest criticisms about Black Ops 7 Zombies thus far is that it’s just a polished BO6, and apart from Ol’ Tessie, it’s hard to argue against that claim. All the other improvements, from the UI to Gobblegum crushing, feel iterative rather than innovative. While there’s nothing wrong with refining what already works, those seeking a significant change got just that with TranZit. The concept of using vehicles like the bus to travel was entirely new, as were buildables, which proved integral to every single map released between BO2 and BO4. The aforementioned survival maps, Easter egg paths, and persistent perks got their starts on TranZit, as did weapon storage and the bank. Sure, not every concept worked out, but TranZit’s ambition deserves praise, as Ashes of the Damned’s may have never existed without the BO2 launch map.

Wonder Weapon — Ashes of the Damned

While the Zombies community has been debating whether the Necrofluid Gauntlet is one of the best CoD Zombies Wonder Weapons ever, those who know how to use it know the answer. It’s incredibly strong, essentially has unlimited ammo, and deals solid damage no matter how high into the rounds players get. It has a fun unlock quest, too, which cannot be said for TranZit’s Jet Gun since it simply saw players picking up pieces and then assembling the gun. While this was new at the time, it isn’t exactly exciting by modern standards, and the Jet Gun breaking and needing to be reassembled is terribly annoying. Yes, the weapon can be used in short bursts to avoid this rebuild process, but using a Wonder Weapon so timidly goes against the very purpose of a Wonder Weapon. The Necrofluid Gauntlet may take some practice due to its recall mechanic, but even when used recklessly, it’s less of a headache than the Jet Gun.

via Treyarch / Call of Duty

Aesthetic — TranZit

This is the hardest category to decide a winner for, but TranZit’s post-apocalyptic vibes are immaculate. All of its sore points contribute to the feeling that the earth is beyond saving, with the 115 rockets from Moon creating a moody, fiery arena that is unlike anything else in CoD Zombies. Ashes of the Damned is the opposite, as it’s drop-dead gorgeous thanks to its stunning skybox and a smooth mixture of familiar and fresh locations. Still, the purple sky and Dark Aether forests full of glowing flora have been seen before, as has a map featuring a hodgepodge of familiar locations (Revelations). While personal preference will determine the winner here, TranZit deserves some love for doing something bold instead of playing the greatest hits — even if it is awesome to traverse a graveyard packed with Orda corpses.

Transportation — Ashes of the Damned

While the bus is undoubtedly a source of nostalgia for TranZit lovers and haters alike, so much so that TEDD returned in Black Ops 7 to navigate for Ol’ Tessie, it’s hard to argue against the new Wonder Vehicle being superior. Players get full control of where it goes, being able to pick up anyone who gets left behind on the off chance that does happen. A teleporter in Ashwood prevents players from ever being abandoned like they could be by the bus, while the bus’s best feature — TEDD’s dialogue — is still found in Ol’ Tessie, with funny quotes playing whenever gamers reach a new POI. A mobile Pack-a-Punch, Abomination and Wunderwaffe turrets, and jet boosters only make the vehicle more fun, and are more exciting upgrades to chase than the battering ram for the bus. The use of Tessie in the boss fight is also a bold approach and allows for a fight that’s more than just firing into a bullet sponge. While Treyarch should keep Ol’ Tessie exclusive to Ashes in favor of introducing fresh ideas, it’s a highlight of the map and gives it a clear identity.

Exploration — TranZit

TranZit’s final area of superiority is the genuine sense of surprise players would have when going off the beaten path for the first time. Finding the bunker from Nacht Der Untoten randomly in a field of corn, or a hidden shed that houses the once-essential Bowie knife, made the map feel so much larger than it actually was. Additionally, being able to choose how to use the ladder upgrade — either to open the Diner roof or access the top of the bus — gave players a small amount of say over how the map played. Ashes of the Damned may have fun side quests to trigger in its danger zones, like the bear prints or the ARC-XD race, but there’s little to actually explore within them that players won’t just see when driving through.

Characters — Ashes of the Damned

Ashes of the Damned is essentially cheating, but even so, there’s no competition in this category. While pitting the Requiem crew against Victis would have been a fair fight, as both groups took their sweet time to win over CoD Zombies fans, the original four protagonists being included is one of the best things about Ashes of the Damned. Richtofen, Dempsey, Takeo, and Nikolai meeting each other again allows for several fun interactions, while their chats with the Requiem crew provides dialogue unlike anything fans have heard in the past. Having eight main characters was a boon for Alpha Omega years ago, and it is again for Ashes of the Damned. If the writing stays strong, it should prove to be just as meaningful for Astro Malorum and beyond.

Mini-Bosses and Special Enemies — Ashes of the Damned

via Treyarch / Call of Duty

Any longtime Zombies fan will know that Denizens and the Avogadro are some of the worst foes Zombies has ever had. The former made it painfully annoying to get around without the bus, which should have been optional, whereas the idea of a mini-boss that requires either EMPs (a Mystery Box item) or melee attacks to kill is frankly unfun. Zursa, on the other hand, is a unique threat that feels different from all the other mini-bosses players have seen in the past. Its ability to launch bee swarms gives players a ranged attack to look out for in addition to its charges, and though the Jager 45 pistol will melt bears with the Prestige attachment equipped, players typically need to aim well and focus on their weak points. The Ravagers make for a fun obstacle in the vehicle traversal areas, latching onto Tessie instead of the player, and they’re an exhilarating “special round” for Max Ammo drops since they attack in large packs.

The Winner: Ashes of the Damned

With Ashes of the Damned being superior in 6 of the 10 categories (and having the potential to eventually steal Survival Maps if the post-launch maps are as strong as Vandorn Farm), it’s clearly an upgrade from TranZit. Even some of its losses, such as the aesthetic criteria, are fairly close, showing that Treyarch nailed its second attempt at an “open-world” survival map. It’s hard to consider TranZit better without some rose-tinted glasses or a sheer hatred for the mechanics of modern Zombies, and Cursed mode even addresses that latter complaint. With the most important categories like the core gameplay and Easter egg quests won by Ashes of the Damned, it’s a major step up, even if it’s a bit derivative of the cult classic that is TranZit. For anyone who likes the newer Zombies modes like Black Ops 6, they’ll love Black Ops 7, as with Ashes of the Damned it finally feels like Treyarch has hit its stride and perfected its modern formula.

Released

November 14, 2025

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Drugs