The *Call of Duty* series is a cornerstone of gaming culture, beloved by millions around the globe. Let's take a journey through the series, highlighting each game in the order of their release.
Table of Contents
- Call of Duty
- Call of Duty 2
- Call of Duty 3
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Call of Duty: World at War
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II
- Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
- Call of Duty: WWII
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Call of Duty: Warzone
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Call of Duty: Vanguard
- Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The first Call of Duty game, released in 2003, set the stage for what would become a legendary franchise. This game transported players to the battlefields of World War II, offering both single-player and multiplayer modes. It featured four distinct single-player campaigns:
- American campaign
- British campaign
- Soviet campaign
- Allied campaign
Each campaign allowed players to experience historical moments from different perspectives, using a variety of weapons and equipment. With 26 missions, including a training mission, night battles, and urban combat, the game provided diverse gameplay experiences. The multiplayer mode focused on team-based objectives like capturing and holding points.
Call of Duty 2
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty 2 continued the WWII theme, introducing automatic HP regeneration when players stayed in cover. The health bar was removed, but the game otherwise closely resembled its predecessor, which fans appreciated. The game included three campaigns:
- American campaign
- British campaign
- Soviet campaign
The multiplayer mode remained similar to the original, and a documentary video at the game's end provided a poignant look at WWII's conclusion.
Call of Duty 3
Image: riotpixels.com
Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Call of Duty 3 was released exclusively for Xbox, focusing on WWII but with a unified storyline rather than separate campaigns. New gameplay elements included rowing boats, and the game introduced split-screen multiplayer. Technical improvements enhanced animation, lighting, and overall gameplay, though handguns were absent from the campaign.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Image: blog.activision.com
Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare shifted the series into the modern era, set in 2011. The game introduced two campaigns:
- American campaign
- English campaign
New features included an Arcade Mode for high scores, cheat codes for altered gameplay, and a class system in multiplayer that would become a staple of the series.
Call of Duty: World at War
Image: polygon.com
Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: World at War returned to WWII, featuring two campaigns:
- American campaign
- Soviet campaign
While the campaigns were similar to previous entries, the game introduced a Nazi Zombies multiplayer mode and innovations like dismemberment, flamethrowers, and customizable character classes.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com
Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continued the story from Modern Warfare, set in 2016. The game introduced new gameplay elements like climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer enhancements included dual wielding pistols, new modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Image: youtube.com
Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops continued the World at War storyline, set post-WWII. The game introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering mode. It also retained the popular zombies mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Image: moddb.com
Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 directly followed Modern Warfare 2, with minimal changes but significant enhancements to sound and graphics. It achieved record-breaking sales upon release.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Image: youtube.com
Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops II took a bold approach with a dual timeline spanning 2025–2026 and 1986–1989. The campaign featured player-driven choices affecting the storyline and multiple endings. The game also introduced Strike Force missions, allowing players to control different squad members.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Image: youtube.com
Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced a new storyline, including space battles and alien encounters. The game offered character customization, the option to play as a female character, and destructible environments.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net
Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was set in a future where corporations rule through private military companies. The game introduced exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay, but received mixed reactions from players.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Image: youtube.com
Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops III continued the futuristic theme with cybernetic enhancements and jetpacks. The game added wall-running and underwater shooting capabilities, and introduced nine specialists to enhance the class and perk system.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Image: wsj.com
Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare took players to Mars, introducing new exoskeletons with customizable upgrades. The single-player mode remained largely unchanged, but the multiplayer mode was enhanced with these new features.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered kept the core game intact, with minor changes to the campaign and new achievements. The remaster focused on enhancing audio, visuals, and animations.
Call of Duty: WWII
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: WWII returned to the WWII setting, introducing "heroic actions" and the return of medkits. Multiplayer changes included new modes, larger lobbies, and special classes, which were warmly received by players.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 shifted to a futuristic setting but without a traditional campaign, instead featuring standalone missions. The game introduced a 100-player battle royale mode, increased player HP, and a new "fog of war" system.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare rebooted the subseries with a focus on modern societal issues like terrorism. The game introduced increased weapon recoil, bipods, and the return of the Killstreaks system. It also split Spec Ops mode into new and classic operations.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone was a standalone battle royale game with three modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder. It introduced mechanics like the "downed" state and the Gulag, where players could fight to return to the main map.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered focused on enhancing sound, animations, and visuals, allowing players to relive the iconic campaign.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was set in 1981, featuring a diverse set of missions across various global locations. The game maintained traditional mechanics but introduced new features in the zombies mode, including player loadouts and weapon upgrades.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Image: news.blizzard.com
Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Vanguard revisited WWII, focusing on a unified storyline and character backstories. The game included a record-breaking 20 multiplayer maps but did not introduce major new mechanics.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Image: championat.com
Release date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 was released as part of Modern Warfare II, featuring updated mechanics like ammo sharing, an expanded Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II continued the story from Modern Warfare, focusing on combating terrorism and drug trafficking. The game introduced wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a detailed progression system.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III combined elements from the first two Modern Warfare games, offering a more combat-focused single-player campaign and a record-setting 24 multiplayer maps. The game introduced a new "Slaughter" mode for three teams of three players.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Image: moddb.com
Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is set in the 1990s during the Persian conflict, introducing new mechanics like climbing, sliding, and smart movement. The zombies mode is divided into separate rounds, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The Call of Duty franchise, now comprising 25 games, continues to captivate players worldwide with its balance of difficulty, realism, and engaging multiplayer interactions. Each year, new releases are eagerly anticipated, maintaining the series' reputation as one of the most popular shooters in gaming history.
