Top 20 maps in rotation (2022 Edition)

I prefer maps that extremize some aspect of ZS gameplay, and that do it well... Maps that are iconic. I also like maps that are basic but great. I also like unique maps. With that in mind here's my list (with my--dare I even say it--opinion for each map).

1. nothing - although I don't adore this map personally, it does perfectly capture what "zombie survival" fundamentally is. In 34 years, when you finally meet up with your ZS pals, this is the map you'll most likely remember. Stood the test of time and always will.

2. roadrunner - a perfect prorun map with no filler, no boring spots. The aesthetics are iconic.

3. terre - a very-close-to-perfect prorun map, but just a tad less exciting and iconic than Roadrunner.

4. main - trendsetter for a slew of other cubical maps with never-lukewarm gameplay at every corner.

5. pandoras_box - incredibly exciting and original gameplay. Easily the best fun map to play as a zombie.

6. main_2 - a near-perfect map in gameplay and simplicity. Arguably better than its predecessor.

7. perplex - an extremely exciting map to play on. There's never a boring moment being chased, or chasing, on this map.

8. park - a well-balanced, simple prorun map. Not quite reaching the heights of Terre and Roadrunner--as the flat areas make the gameplay a little too much like other weaker prorun maps, and unexciting for zombies--but still an excellent prorun map.

9. gydaie_glen - I've always seen this as a "refined" prorun map, focusing heavily on aesthetic as well as gameplay. The detailed sword is a one-of-a-kind example of this. The map has an abundance of custom blocks, but (quite amazingly) without compromising the gameplay.

10. sundial - an incredibly clever aesthetic trick elevates this map into a NB icon. It supports the idea that--against popular opinion--aesthetic can in fact influence the perception of a map. The gameplay is strong.

11. mango_run - a great parkour map. Very simple and unpretentious. A perfect blend of theme, look and track; the basic elements of a ZS parkour map.

12. castle_plane - a great blend between nearly all aspects of ZS, offering a few tricky jumps, some area for prorunning, hiding spots, nice looks, and a central theme. It tries to do everything at once, and does it very well. But individually, it doesn't quite reach the peaks in any of these components as we see them in the top 10 maps.

13. hexagon - a Dzidq classic, with a great central focus, interesting side areas that include parkour, and spleef. Dzidq balances all these elements quite well with his hexagonal layout.

14. kirbys_dreamland - an exciting parkour with an impressive amount of texturing done for it. Arguably the most interesting parkour map in rotation.

15. junction - a mix of roadrunner and terre, but a little more "lukewarm" than its predecessors. Still, the last almost completely breakable map left. Quite impressive how the gameplay remains fun in spite of it.

16. mountain_trail - a shameless plug map. Among the last of the very vertical maps. I like it simply because I'm one of those players that likes to "hide", and this map takes hiding--a legitimate part of ZS gameplay--to an extreme. Still, this is its strength and its weakness, as overall the gameplay can be dull because of it. I would've included other hiding maps such as Ikea, but find that many hiding maps suffer from secrets that take far too long to reach.

17. bbbbbb - bbbbbb is derivative, else I might have ranked it in the top 10. It is an exciting map, but nonetheless an inevitable death trap.

18. futz_course - a one-of-a-kind parkour map. Futz_course could be classified as a troll map, but I think unlike other such maps it can be genuinely enjoyed. It fulfills the niche of being difficult. I would rate this higher had it delivered more of these aspects, either being more extremely silly (like Diggles) or more extremely difficult (like Bots_course). Great art is often controversial, Futz_course being no exception.

19. aviary - an extremely fun concept. A map that is either loved or hated.

20. rainbow_course - the most frustrating parkour in rotation, but unique in its length and theme. Quite memorable.

This is the objectively only acceptable list. All my homies love gcn_pipe_plaza

1. wario_stadium_run - "It's a simple spell, but quite unbreakable." - Dr. Strange, sums it up pretty well. Simple course but it's such a perfect example of how course maps could be done. Majority of the map isn't difficult except for *that* one challenging jump which I'm honestly not against being there. I mess up there a lot whilst other times I don't, it's a sense of reward if you get the jump first try which elevates the experience of the map further.

2. runaround - I like the flow of the map and all the multiple paths you as both a zombie and human can take to complete your mission, it being by either misleading the zombie and then go a different path or flanking the human at a place they didn't expect it. All around an enjoyable experience to play on in my opinion.

3. steve_and_the_beanstalk - Fun good ol' vertical course map, reminds me of Getting Over It which is a game about torturing yourself if you fall. I like the idea of jumping from clouds to leaves, or leaves to the ground, it adds more to the map other than it just being a linear parkour course, there's freedom of choice as to where you want to go.

4. meshwork - One of my all-time favorite maps through my time playing on ZS, big fan of the original version without the boosts (and if there wouldn't be any secrets, even bigger of a fan). Even with the boosts I would say it's one of the maps I enjoy playing on the most due to its smooth gameplay and options to go, oh you want to go left? Just do it. Want to go down and to the right? You go gurl. The verticality makes things interesting for both humans and zombies, as zombies has a chance to surprise attack humans Assassin's Creed style or spleef the ground whilst humans has the advantage of deciding where to go.

5. ikea - Jokes and bias aside, I do believe this is one of the better open course maps there is. The secrets needs fixing, but take away the secrets (at least the op ones) then you got a pretty solid map.

6. main_2 - The most unique of the "main" maps, and in my opinon, the far superior one. I actually enjoy playing on this map.

7. the_great_robbery - Great map, even better now that there's a way back up to spawn instead of having to complete the course.

8. bbbbbb - I like nojump maps, added verticality compared to aaaaaa is just a plus.

9. mango_run - Simple course map with a loop, a classic example of a well made course map.

10. pandoras_box

11. kirbys_dreamland - A nice course map, beautiful aesthetics, for sure a map to be remembered in the future.

12. halfpipe - jumps go brrrr

13. alphabet_run - speedrun any %

14. get_outta_mah_zwamp - Reminds me of home.

15. rainbow_course - It's one of the more challenging course maps out there due to both its size and the boxes of parkour near the end. Unique take on a course map, I like the concept and how it's executed.

16. sundial

17. gydaie_glen

18. aviary

19. sonic_spleef

20. standoff

Would've loved to make comments about every map, however time is running short for me. Wanted to get this done whilst I still had it fresh in my mind.

My definition of a good map: well-balanced/challenging (i.e. not too prohuman nor too prozombie) and gameplay is prioritized over aesthetics; I'm also including maps that were removed from rotation.



Top 5 prorun for low player counts (5-9) in no particular order:

main_2

main_3

garden_of_demeter

vaelus

compact



Top 12 prorun for medium player counts (10-14) in no particular order:

nothing

sundial

campsite

incline

perplex

terre

park

playground

little_locomotive

n64_block_fort

circuit_board

dyatlov



Top 5 prorun for high player counts (15+) in no particular order:

roadrunner

relic

runaround

marketplace

yellow_red_run



Top 7 course in no particular order:

mariobros

steve_and_the_beanstalk

emerald_coast

transcending

adventure_parkour

season_parkour

eruption