The Call of Duty series has been a dominant force in the gaming industry for nearly two decades. From its humble beginnings as a World War II shooter to its current status as a multi-faceted gaming phenomenon, Call of Duty has evolved and expanded in ways few other franchises have managed. With so many games released over the years, each bringing something new to the table, it’s time to take a closer look at the series and rank the games from worst to best. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer, this ranking will help you appreciate the highs and lows of this iconic series.
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The Evolution of Call of Duty
Before diving into the rankings, it’s important to understand how Call of Duty has evolved. The series debuted in 2003 as a World War II-themed shooter, with a strong emphasis on realism and historical accuracy. As the series progressed, it branched out into modern and futuristic warfare, incorporating new gameplay mechanics, settings, and storylines. This evolution has allowed Call of Duty to remain relevant in an ever-changing gaming landscape, attracting millions of players worldwide.
Criteria for Ranking
When ranking the Call of Duty games, several factors were taken into consideration:
- Gameplay Mechanics: How innovative or refined the gameplay was at the time of release.
- Storyline and Campaign: The quality and depth of the single-player campaign.
- Multiplayer Experience: The impact of the multiplayer mode, including its balance, maps, and game modes.
- Cultural Impact: How the game influenced the broader gaming community and culture.
- Replayability: The game’s ability to keep players engaged over time.
With these criteria in mind, let’s dive into the rankings.
Call of Duty Games Ranked: The List
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
At the top of the list is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, the game that redefined not just the Call of Duty series but the entire first-person shooter genre. Released in 2007, Modern Warfare moved away from the World War II setting and introduced players to modern-day combat, complete with advanced weaponry, tactics, and a gripping storyline.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduced the “Create-A-Class” system, allowing players to customize their loadouts, and the killstreak system, which rewarded players for achieving consecutive kills.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was a cinematic experience, with memorable missions like “All Ghillied Up” and “Shock and Awe.” The story was intense, with twists and turns that kept players on the edge of their seats.
- Multiplayer Experience: Modern Warfare‘s multiplayer was revolutionary, setting the standard for future FPS games. The variety of maps, weapons, and game modes ensured endless hours of gameplay.
- Cultural Impact: This game is often credited with popularizing online multiplayer on consoles, and its influence is still felt in modern shooters.
- Replayability: Even today, players return to Modern Warfare for its tight gameplay and nostalgic value.
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Following the success of Modern Warfare, Modern Warfare 2 had big shoes to fill—and it did so spectacularly. Released in 2009, this sequel took everything that made the original great and amplified it.
- Gameplay Mechanics: Modern Warfare 2 introduced new killstreaks, including the infamous Tactical Nuke, and a more refined “Create-A-Class” system.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign continued the story from the first game, delivering even more high-stakes action and shocking moments, such as the controversial “No Russian” mission.
- Multiplayer Experience: The multiplayer was even more addictive, with iconic maps like “Rust” and “Terminal.” The introduction of customizable killstreaks added a new layer of strategy.
- Cultural Impact: Modern Warfare 2 further cemented Call of Duty‘s dominance in the FPS genre and is often cited as one of the greatest games of all time.
- Replayability: The game’s multiplayer mode remains one of the most beloved in the series, with players returning to it years after its release.
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
Call of Duty: Black Ops brought the series into the Cold War era, offering a unique setting and a thrilling storyline filled with espionage and intrigue.
- Gameplay Mechanics: Black Ops introduced new mechanics like the dive-to-prone movement and a currency system in multiplayer, which allowed players to purchase weapons and perks.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was a psychological thriller, with mind-bending twists and turns that kept players hooked from start to finish. The characters, including Alex Mason and Frank Woods, became fan favorites.
- Multiplayer Experience: Black Ops offered a well-balanced multiplayer experience, with maps like “Nuketown” becoming instant classics.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s Zombies mode also became a major highlight, expanding on the foundation laid by World at War and becoming a staple of the Black Ops subseries.
- Replayability: The combination of a strong campaign, addictive multiplayer, and an engaging Zombies mode ensured that Black Ops would remain a favorite among players.
4. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
Returning to the World War II setting, World at War offered a grittier, more brutal take on the conflict, with a focus on the Pacific and Eastern Fronts.
- Gameplay Mechanics: World at War introduced new weapons and vehicles, as well as the Flamethrower, which became a fan-favorite weapon.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was intense and emotionally charged, depicting the horrors of war in a more realistic manner than previous entries. The characters, including Sgt. Roebuck and Pvt. Miller, were well-developed and memorable.
- Multiplayer Experience: The multiplayer was solid, with a variety of maps and game modes. The introduction of the Zombies mode was a game-changer, providing players with a new and challenging co-op experience.
- Cultural Impact: World at War’s Zombies mode laid the groundwork for what would become a beloved feature in future Call of Duty games.
- Replayability: The combination of a strong campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies mode ensured that World at War would be played for years to come.
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)
Black Ops II took the series into the near future, offering a unique blend of futuristic technology and Cold War-era storytelling.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduced branching storylines in the campaign, allowing players to influence the outcome of the story based on their choices. The “Pick 10” system in multiplayer allowed for more customization than ever before.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was ambitious, with a story that spanned multiple decades and featured both returning and new characters. The ability to choose different paths and endings added replay value.
- Multiplayer Experience: Black Ops II’s multiplayer was fast-paced and highly competitive, with a variety of maps and modes that kept players engaged.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s Zombies mode continued to evolve, with new features like buildable items and a more complex storyline.
- Replayability: The branching campaign, deep multiplayer, and expanded Zombies mode ensured that Black Ops II would be played for years to come.
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
Modern Warfare (2019) was a reboot of the original Modern Warfare trilogy, bringing the series back to its roots with a gritty and realistic take on modern combat.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduced new mechanics like mounting weapons on surfaces and door breaching. The Gunsmith system allowed for extensive weapon customization.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was intense and realistic, tackling modern-day issues like terrorism and war crimes. The characters, including Captain Price and Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, were well-written and memorable.
- Multiplayer Experience: The multiplayer was fast-paced and highly tactical, with new modes like “Gunfight” and “Ground War” adding variety.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s release was highly anticipated, and it delivered on its promise of bringing the series back to its roots. The introduction of Warzone, the free-to-play battle royale mode, also had a significant impact on the gaming community.
- Replayability: The combination of a strong campaign, deep multiplayer, and the addition of Warzone ensured that Modern Warfare would be played for years to come.
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)
Black Ops III continued the trend of futuristic warfare, offering a unique blend of advanced technology and traditional Call of Duty gameplay.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduced new movement mechanics like wall-running and thrust jumps, as well as the “Specialist” system, which allowed players to choose from a variety of unique characters with special abilities.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was complex and cerebral, with a story that dealt with themes like mind control and artificial intelligence. The co-op campaign mode allowed players to team up with friends.
- Multiplayer Experience: Black Ops III’s multiplayer was fast-paced and highly customizable, with a variety of maps and modes that kept players engaged.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s Zombies mode continued to evolve, with new features like the “Gobblegum” system and a more complex storyline.
- Replayability: The combination of a deep campaign, addictive multiplayer, and an engaging Zombies mode ensured that Black Ops III would be played for years to come.
8. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
Call of Duty: WWII marked a return to the series’ roots, offering a realistic and historically accurate depiction of World War II.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game returned to the traditional boots-on-the-ground gameplay, with a focus on realism and authenticity.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was emotional and impactful, depicting the horrors of war in a realistic and respectful manner. The characters, including Pvt. Daniels and Sgt. Pierson, were well-developed and memorable.
- Multiplayer Experience: The multiplayer was solid, with a variety of maps and modes that kept players engaged. The introduction of the War mode added a new layer of strategy to the gameplay.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s release was highly anticipated, and it delivered on its promise of bringing the series back to its roots.
- Replayability: The combination of a strong campaign and solid multiplayer ensured that WWII would be played for years to come.
9. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
Advanced Warfare took the series into the future, offering a unique blend of advanced technology and traditional Call of Duty gameplay.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduced new movement mechanics like boost jumps and dashes, as well as the “Exo” system, which allowed players to customize their abilities.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was intense and action-packed, with a story that dealt with themes like private military companies and advanced technology. The characters, including Jack Mitchell and Jonathan Irons, were well-developed and memorable.
- Multiplayer Experience: Advanced Warfare’s multiplayer was fast-paced and highly customizable, with a variety of maps and modes that kept players engaged.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s release was highly anticipated, and it delivered on its promise of bringing the series into the future.
- Replayability: The combination of a strong campaign and solid multiplayer ensured that Advanced Warfare would be played for years to come.
10. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
Infinite Warfare took the series into space, offering a unique blend of advanced technology and traditional Call of Duty gameplay.
- Gameplay Mechanics: The game introduced new movement mechanics like zero-gravity combat and the “Jackal” system, which allowed players to pilot their own spacecraft.
- Storyline and Campaign: The campaign was intense and action-packed, with a story that dealt with themes like space warfare and advanced technology. The characters, including Nick Reyes and Ethan, were well-developed and memorable.
- Multiplayer Experience: Infinite Warfare’s multiplayer was fast-paced and highly customizable, with a variety of maps and modes that kept players engaged.
- Cultural Impact: The game’s release was highly anticipated, but it was met with mixed reviews from fans and critics alike.
- Replayability: The combination of a strong campaign and solid multiplayer ensured that Infinite Warfare would be played for years to come.
Honorable Mentions
While the top ten games in the Call of Duty series are undoubtedly the best, there are several other entries that deserve mention for their contributions to the franchise:
- Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013): While not as well-received as some of the other entries in the series, Ghosts introduced several new gameplay mechanics and features that have since become staples of the series.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018): The first Call of Duty game to forgo a traditional single-player campaign, Black Ops 4 focused on multiplayer and introduced the popular battle royale mode, Blackout.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011): The conclusion of the original Modern Warfare trilogy, Modern Warfare 3 offered a satisfying end to the story and introduced several new gameplay mechanics.
Conclusion
Ranking the Call of Duty games is no easy task, given the sheer number of entries in the series and the diverse opinions of its fanbase. However, it’s clear that certain games have had a more significant impact than others, both in terms of gameplay innovation and cultural influence. Whether you’re a fan of the original World War II games or the more recent futuristic entries, there’s no denying the lasting impact of the Call of Duty franchise on the gaming industry.
As the series continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how future entries are received and where they will rank among the classics. One thing is for sure: Call of Duty will remain a dominant force in the gaming world for years to come.
