Call of Duty Zombies fans have long requested a standalone game based on the beloved co-op mode. From a proper singleplayer experience that retells Zombies’ convoluted story in a clear fashion to a collection of every survival map from the mode’s 15-year history, there are plenty of upsides to this concept. Unfortunately, with Raven Software’s pitch for a standalone Zombies game supposedly falling through, there is no telling when or if this will become a reality. If such a game does eventually happen, though, Activision and its many developers may want to consider following in The Outlast Trials’ footsteps.
Obviously, there is very little in common between the terrifying Outlast universe and the over-the-top Call of Duty Zombies multiverse, both from a narrative and gameplay standpoint. Still, despite their only shared traits being a first-person perspective and an emphasis on four-player co-op, CoD Zombies can learn from The Outlast Trials. Specifically, the latter’s Sleep Room could be a perfect feature for a dedicated Zombies game, giving players a hub space to explore in between their many bouts of round-based survival.
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A Call of Duty Zombies Sleep Room Could Offer Everything Outlast’s Does
For those unfamiliar with The Outlast Trials’ Sleep Room, it is essentially a hub area where players spend their time between the actual trials. Similar to Deep Rock Galactic’s space rig or Borderlands 3’s Sanctuary 3 ship, there is plenty that players can do here to prepare for their next adventure or just mess around a bit. Outlast Trials’ Sleep Room offers the following features:
- Vendors to upgrade skills and equipment
- A customizable bedroom where players can decorate using unlocked cosmetics
- A mirror where gamers can customize their survivor
- A terminal where players can access collectibles to study up on their lore
- Multiple mini-games, such as chess and the stroop test
When thinking about a potential Call of Duty Zombies Sleep Room equivalent, it is easy to imagine all of the above features translating perfectly. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 offers upgrades via the augment system, as well as numorous Operator skins. Lore can be accessed via the main menu already, so adding a terminal within player rooms would be simple enough. Room decorations is something that Treyarch has actually already dabbled with in Black Ops 3, and this time around, they could be achieved by reaching certain milestones within Zombies. There are countless pieces of memorobilia that Zombies fans would like to decorate their rooms with, from models of Origins’ giant robot to Wonder Weapon replicas that can be placed on walls. Map posters, the toys Sam and Eddie used to play with, and location-themed walls and floors are other potential decorations.
As for mini-games, there are a few routes Treyarch could take. It could offer a collection of real-world games like The Outlast Trials, or it could offer more thematic activities within its hub. Content like Terminus’ boat race Easter egg, Liberty Falls’ bowling, or Forsaken’s RC-car race could be accessed through arcade machines. Even better, Treyarch could let players play Dead Ops Arcade with others in the hub area, killing time while they wait for their friend to get online or simply enjoying the top-down Zombies spin-off to get a change of pace.
Call of Duty: WW2’s Headquarters was the closest thing the series has had to this feature, but it kept a general military aesthetic instead of being a location oozing with CoD Zombies’ personality.
A Call of Duty Zombies Sleep Room Could Have a Narrative Hook
While the gameplay benefits of a hub like the Sleep Room would be enough to justify this feature’s inclusion, Treyarch (or whoever develops the standalone game) could also use the area as a way to enhance the mode’s storytelling. Players could interact with iconic characters like Richtofen, Peck, and so on within the hub, getting new dialogue from them as well as optional tasks to pursue within their matches. If an apocalyptic setting like what was seen in Black Ops 2 Zombies ever comes back around, the area could serve as the last hideout for humanity, with players seeing the civilians they are trying to protect scattered throughout the location. This could make gamers feel like their undead slaying is accomplishing something, increasing their immersion while playing Zombies. Whether players are making new friends through mini-games or chatting up a storm with Ravenov, a hub could be a key strength for a standalone game.
