The Call of Duty franchise is a gaming behemoth, delivering annual installments of fast-paced action across various historical and fictional settings. From World War II to futuristic conflicts, the series has taken players on a rollercoaster ride of intense battles. But with such a vast library, the quality inevitably fluctuates. Which Call of Duty games deserve your time, and which should be left in the digital dustbin? This definitive ranking, from worst to best, will help you navigate the sprawling world of Call of Duty.
Ranking Call of Duty GamesCall of Duty games offer diverse settings and gameplay experiences, catering to a wide range of players.
The Bottom Tier: Games to Skip
These entries stumbled, either due to technical issues, poor design choices, or a general lack of innovation.
21. Call of Duty 3
Call of Duty 3Call of Duty 3 failed to capitalize on the success of its predecessor.
Riding the coattails of the massively successful Call of Duty 2, Treyarch’s rushed development of Call of Duty 3 resulted in a disappointing experience. The multiplayer felt uninspired, caught between the mechanics of its predecessor and the innovative formula that Call of Duty 4 would soon establish. The campaign, while attempting to introduce new elements like a Canadian section and revamped melee combat, ultimately lacked the polish and compelling characters to elevate it above mediocrity.
20. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Call of Duty: Infinite WarfareInfinite Warfare’s ambitious gameplay was hampered by flawed execution.
Infinite Warfare, despite its ambitious scope and innovative features, falls short of expectations. While the non-linear campaign and spaceship combat offered intriguing possibilities, the core shooting mechanics felt off. Excessive flinching hampered the single-player experience, and the multiplayer suffered from poorly designed maps. The game’s potential only amplified the disappointment.
19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
Modern Warfare III (2023)Modern Warfare III (2023) relied heavily on nostalgia, failing to deliver a truly innovative experience.
Intended to celebrate the franchise’s 20th anniversary, Modern Warfare III (2023) proved a major letdown. The campaign felt cobbled together, relying too heavily on nostalgia and generic gameplay. The lack of original multiplayer maps, opting instead for remakes from the 2011 Modern Warfare 3, further contributed to its underwhelming reception.
18. Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: GhostsGhosts offered little to distinguish it from previous Call of Duty titles.
As the first Call of Duty game on the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, Ghosts failed to capitalize on the new hardware. While offering a mix of space, urban, and foliage settings, the campaign lacked a compelling narrative and memorable villain. The multiplayer, while well-designed, offered little innovation.
The Middle Ground: Decent but Not Exceptional
These games offer enjoyable moments, but ultimately lack the staying power of the top-tier titles.
17. Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIBlack Ops III’s futuristic setting failed to capture the excitement of previous entries.
Black Ops III doubled down on the futuristic elements of its predecessors, but the result felt derivative and uninspired. The mind-controlled drones and advanced weaponry couldn’t overcome the sense of familiarity. The non-linear campaign structure, while offering some player agency, further highlighted the lack of a cohesive narrative.
16. Call of Duty (2003)
Call of Duty (2003)The original Call of Duty, while groundbreaking for its time, has not aged well.
The original Call of Duty was a groundbreaking title, introducing the split campaign across multiple nations and laying the groundwork for the series’ future success. However, its gameplay and graphics have not aged well, making it a less compelling experience for modern players.
15. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareAdvanced Warfare’s exo-suit gameplay offered a fresh take on the series’ formula.
Advanced Warfare introduced exo-suit gameplay, promoting verticality and dynamic movement. While challenging to master, the innovative mechanics offered a fresh perspective on the Call of Duty formula. The techno-political thriller campaign, while absurd, provided an engaging narrative.
14. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Black Ops 4’s introduction of Blackout marked a significant shift for the franchise.
Black Ops 4 was a bold experiment, ditching the traditional single-player campaign in favor of multiplayer, Zombies, and the battle royale mode Blackout. While the absence of a narrative-driven experience was felt by some, the excellent multiplayer, robust Zombies content, and successful foray into battle royale made Black Ops 4 a significant entry in the series.
13. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarBlack Ops Cold War served as a bridge between console generations but lacked visual polish.
Black Ops Cold War marked the series’ transition to the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, offering ample content across Multiplayer and Zombies modes. However, its visuals felt muddy and unpolished, failing to fully leverage the power of the new consoles.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)Black Ops 6 offered a strong campaign but suffered from multiplayer issues.
Black Ops 6 delivered a compelling spy thriller campaign and a fun Zombies experience. However, the introduction of omnimovement proved divisive, while the multiplayer continued to suffer from issues that plagued previous installments.
11. Call of Duty: Vanguard
Call of Duty: VanguardVanguard offered extensive weapon customization but suffered from a repetitive setting.
Vanguard’s return to World War II, while offering extensive weapon customization and a robust multiplayer experience, felt repetitive given the franchise’s frequent revisits to the era. The single-player and Zombies modes offered little to distinguish themselves.
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)Modern Warfare II (2022), while offering a solid campaign, fell short in its multiplayer and post-launch support.
Modern Warfare II (2022), despite its compelling campaign, represented a step back for the franchise, particularly in its slower-paced multiplayer. Lackluster post-launch support further diminished its appeal.
The Top Tier: Must-Play Call of Duty Experiences
These games represent the pinnacle of the franchise, offering memorable campaigns, innovative multiplayer, and lasting impact.
9. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)Modern Warfare 3 provided a satisfying conclusion to the original trilogy.
Modern Warfare 3, while feeling somewhat derivative due to the absence of key Infinity Ward developers, delivered a solid conclusion to the groundbreaking trilogy. The addictive multiplayer and memorable set-piece moments solidified its place among the franchise’s best.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Call of Duty: Black Ops IIBlack Ops II experimented with new mechanics but struggled to find a cohesive identity.
Black Ops II’s blend of futuristic multiplayer and a branching campaign, while ambitious, resulted in a somewhat disjointed experience. Despite its flaws, the game showcased Treyarch’s willingness to experiment with new mechanics.
7. Call of Duty: WWII
Call of Duty: WWIIWWII offered a compelling return to the series’ roots but suffered from a convoluted progression system.
WWII’s return to the series’ World War II roots provided a refreshing change of pace after years of futuristic combat. The game’s compelling characters and emotional narrative elevated the campaign, while the back-to-basics multiplayer focused on pure boots-on-the-ground action. However, the convoluted progression system hampered the overall experience.
6. Call of Duty: World at War
Call of Duty: World at WarWorld at War introduced the popular Zombies mode and offered a gritty portrayal of World War II.
World at War marked Treyarch’s return to prominence, offering a grim and gritty depiction of World War II. The introduction of the now-iconic Zombies mode further cemented its legacy.
5. Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2Call of Duty 2 delivered a cinematic and immersive World War II experience.
Call of Duty 2, a launch title for the Xbox 360, offered a cinematic and immersive World War II experience. Its open-ended missions, sprawling scale, and satisfying multiplayer made it a defining entry for many fans.
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)The 2019 Modern Warfare reboot successfully captured the atmosphere and tense action of the original.
The 2019 Modern Warfare reboot successfully recaptured the tense atmosphere and thrilling action of the original, while modernizing the gameplay and introducing new mechanics. Its straightforward progression system and lack of pay-to-win microtransactions further enhanced its appeal.
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black OpsBlack Ops established Treyarch as a leading Call of Duty developer.
Black Ops established Treyarch as a major force in the Call of Duty universe, delivering a thrilling Cold War spy thriller with memorable characters and stellar voice acting. The introduction of Nuketown, a map that would become a series staple, further cemented its legacy.
2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)Modern Warfare 2 refined the formula of its predecessor, delivering a classic Call of Duty experience.
Modern Warfare 2 built upon the success of its predecessor, delivering a campaign filled with twists, betrayals, and unforgettable set pieces. The refined multiplayer, expanded killstreaks, and satisfying progression system solidified its status as a classic.
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfare revolutionized the FPS genre with its iconic campaign and innovative multiplayer.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare redefined the first-person shooter genre with its groundbreaking campaign and innovative multiplayer. From the iconic “All Ghillied Up” mission to the addictive weapon customization and focus on kill-to-death ratios, Modern Warfare set a new standard for the franchise and the industry as a whole.
Conclusion: Finding Your Perfect Call of Duty
The Call of Duty franchise has delivered a wide range of experiences, from groundbreaking classics to forgettable missteps. This ranking provides a roadmap for navigating the series’ extensive library, helping you identify the must-play titles and avoid the disappointments. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a newcomer to the franchise, there’s a Call of Duty game out there waiting to be discovered.
