10 Best Call of Duty Games of All Time

Call of Duty has been the first game for a lot of people. We, especially people born in the ’90s and early 2000s, have a lot of fond memories of Call of Duty. The original Call of Duty came in the year 2003 and became quite popular soon after its release. Recently, Call of Duty has been on a downfall, the last game they released felt boring and repetitive and fans weren’t excited nor were they interested in it.

But that doesn’t mean Call of Duty has been a bad gaming franchise, it has been one of the greatest gaming franchises in recent years. It had its ups and downs but the franchise itself is overall great. Here’s a list of the 10 best games that Call of Duty has given us.

10 Best Call of Duty Games of All Time

10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release Date: 13th November 2020

Developers: Treyarch, Beenox, Raven Software

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

Set in the Cold War era, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War had players play as a Russian double agent sneaking around in KGB’s headquarters. The game had the traditional Call of Duty shootouts, explosions, and bombs. The game had few quiet moments which made the loud moments extremely impactful. The game had a zombie mode, which was fun to play. It provided some extremely tense games and the gameplay was smooth, which just enhanced the experience altogether. The multiplayer mode of this game was a complete letdown.

9. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

Release Date: 8th November 2011

Developers: Treyarch, Raven Software, Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

Unlike Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023) the 2011 version of the game was far superior. It did a great job at improving the game. The multiplayer mode in this game was fun, it had a smooth interface and introduced a variety of new elements into the gameplay. The multiplayer mode added new elements such as proficiencies, weapon progression and a lot more.

The most important part of Modern Warfare 3 (2011) was that it was an extremely addictive game. The game wasn’t the best of all time, but it held a special place among the fans due to its sets of shocking moments, and the fact that it was the end of one of the best trilogy in the Call of Duty franchise.

8. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Release Date: 12th November 2012

Developers: Treyarch

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

The game was a direct continuation of the first Black Ops, but this time, we were in the middle of a cold war in the future in the year 2025. This game gave us one of the best villains in the franchise in the form of Raul Menendez. The main plot followed Alex Mason’s son, David. The narrative of the previous Black Ops continued in this game.

The game also had futuristic weapons, which were fun to use. The game also introduced concepts such as Scorestreaks and Pick 10 System, that enhanced the gaming and customisation experience. And just like its predecessor Black Ops 2 had zombie mode, which was a fun alternative to the games main campaign.

7. Call of Duty: World at War

Release Date: 11th November 2008

Developers: Treyarch, N-Space

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

With World at War, we’re back to the World War 2 era. After the love Modern Warfare received from fans worldwide, it was clear where the next game would be set in. The story focused on the Pacific Theatre and the Red Army’s fight that led to the fall of Berlin. The game was the first multiplayer Call of Duty game, which let you play with 3 or more friends. The game mostly took place in trenches and was filled with close quarter combat. It was also the game that gave us the Zombie mode, it was called Nach Der Untoten in the game.

6. Call of Duty

Release Date: 29th October 2003

Developers: Nokia, Infinity Ward

Platform: N-Gage, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3

In 2003, when shooting, warfare games, especially World War 2 genre were dominated by Medal of Honour and Battlefield 1942, we got our first Call of Duty game. The game was revolutionary for its time. It was the first game that let you play from the perspective of a Soviet Union soldier and a British soldier.

Before Call of Duty, the story of World War 2 games revolved around the US. It had you go to war with other soldiers and features like Shellshock that showed you the consequences of large explosions. The game does feel very old if you decide to play it today after 20 years but the impact it had on the genre cannot be undermined.

5. Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release Date: 9th November 2010

Developers: Treyarch

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

The story of CIA operative Alex Mason is one of the best in the franchise. Black Ops was set in the 1960’s at the height of the cold war. The game was star studded to its brim, with legendary actors such as Gary Oldman, Sam Worthington, and Ed Harris voicing the lead characters.

The game also had one of the most iconic maps in the series, with places such as Nuketown and Firing range, which are still fan favourites even after a decade. This game also saw the return of Nazi zombies, which was fun as you get to kill zombies as JFK, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon or even Robert Mcnamara. There was also an unlockable mode that played like a retro arcade game.

4. Call of Duty 2

Release Date: 25th October 2005

Developers: Treyarch

Platform: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360

What made Call of Duty 2 stand out the most was the timing it was released in. As computer Tech became stronger and more advanced the world saw the release of Xbox 360. Call of Duty 2 was the launch title for Xbox 360. It showcased what next gen meant. The graphics were way ahead of its time and had people’s jaws dropped when it arrived. The addition of smoke bombs to the game gave people a sneak peek at what graphic designers could do with some serious tech and realistic graphic designing engine.

3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Release Date: 25th October 2019

Developers: Infinity Ward

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One

The game was a reboot of the original Modern Warfare, which was a tough task, but Infinity Ward was successful in making a game that stood up to the legacy of its predecessors. Modern Warfare 2019 had a lot of cool and memorable moments that made the game so iconic. From Going Dark’s Nonlinear Stealth Infiltration to Clean House, the game never failed to impress its fans.

Gamers were at the edge of their seats as they wandered through the terrorist hideout, which was pitch black and the only way to look at what’s going on was through night goggles. Even then you had to make choices and decide in a wink of an eye, whether the person ahead is an innocent citizen or a terrorist waiting to kill you.

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Release Date: 10th November 2009

Developers: Infinity Ward

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

Modern Warfare and its sequel Modern Warfare 2 are some of the best games the Call of Duty series has released. The game had everything you would expect from a Call of Duty game, from explosions that covered the sights to revenge filled campaigns. The game has set an unprecedented golden standard for the genre and the franchise itself.

The game perfected the formula its predecessor had created and made something even more enjoyable. While there were a lot of praiseworthy things this game did. It was the Multiplayer mode that stood out the most. The game took the right decision to focus on a bigger map, it introduced Spec Ops and customisable Killstreaks and progression challenges.

1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

Release Date: 5th November 2007

Developers: Infinity Ward

Platform: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo DSi

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, was the most iconic and memorable campaign in the Call of Duty series. It gave us the iconic, classic Call of Duty that most people know about today. It was a revolutionary game that changed the genre forever. It was this game that set Call of Duty into a new phase and made it what it is today. It had tag team assault, legendary multiplayer mode and the introduction of Captain Price and Soap. It has a lot of iconic moments such as jumping into an AC-130 gunship, or trying to escape a cargo ship in the middle of an ocean surrounded by storms.

Conclusion

The last Call of Duty game has been a huge let down for a lot of fans. And it is for a reason, the franchise is known for its iconic action sequences, exciting terrains and wonderfully crafted gameplays. The history of the franchise is filled with great games that makes every fan nostalgic and reminds us of the good old days.

The games started out as a good history lesson with cool graphics and slowly evolved into a great pastime where you would hangout with friends to meet people across the globe and make new friends through the multiplayer mode. The game is one of the most iconic games of all time. With 20 years of rich history the game series is still going strong.

FAQs

1. What is Call of Duty famous for?

The series has a Guinness World Record for being the best selling first person shooting game series of all time.

2. What was the first Call of Duty game?

Call of Duty was released in 2003,it was developed by Nokia and Infinity Ward. It has become the most successful game franchise of all time since its first release.

3. What is the next Call of Duty called?

The next game in the series is part of the Black Ops and will be set during the Gulf Wars, according to reports. It is set to release somewhere in Mid 2024.