Call of Duty: A legendary gaming franchise spanning decades, loved globally. Let's explore its history, game by game, in release order.
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
Call of Duty
Release Date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
Launched in 2003, the original *Call of Duty* offered both single-player and multiplayer experiences set during World War II. The single-player campaign featured four distinct narratives: American, British, Soviet, and Allied, each presenting a series of historically-inspired missions. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay like capturing flags and control points.
The game included 26 diverse missions, ranging from training exercises and night battles to naval sabotage and large-scale urban combat.
Call of Duty 2
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Remaining in the World War II setting, *Call of Duty 2* refined the formula. Key changes included automatic health regeneration when in cover and the removal of the traditional health bar. The game maintained the multiple campaign structure, offering American, British, and Soviet perspectives, each with varied missions.
Multiplayer largely mirrored its predecessor, and the game concluded with a documentary-style video on the war.
Call of Duty 3
Image: riotpixels.com
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
An Xbox exclusive, *Call of Duty 3* marked a shift. Instead of separate campaigns, it presented a unified storyline. New gameplay elements included boat rowing, and split-screen multiplayer was introduced. Technically, the game was a significant improvement over its predecessors, showcasing enhanced animation, lighting, and overall visuals. This was also the first game to feature civilians, though not interactively, and notably lacked handguns in the campaign.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Image: blog.activision.com
Release Date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A pivotal moment in the franchise, *Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare* moved away from World War II, setting its action in a modern-day alternate reality. The single-player campaign, focusing on preventing a nuclear catastrophe, featured American and British perspectives. New additions included Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class-based multiplayer system, which became a staple of future titles.
Call of Duty: World at War
Image: polygon.com
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A return to World War II, *Call of Duty: World at War* featured American and Soviet campaigns. While graphically improved, the core gameplay remained similar to *Call of Duty 3*. However, it introduced a popular new mode: Nazi Zombie survival, playable solo or cooperatively. Other innovations included enemy dismemberment, the flamethrower as a weapon, and enhanced character customization.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com
Release Date: November 10, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A direct sequel to *Modern Warfare*, this installment continued the story, set in 2016. The single-player campaign introduced new actions like climbing and underwater movement. Multiplayer enhancements included dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in airstrikes and artillery.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
The first game in the *Black Ops* sub-series, this title shifted the setting to the Cold War era. The single-player campaign followed a CIA agent on various missions. New additions included in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, a wagering mode, and further character customization through perk upgrades. Zombies mode and the familiar class system returned.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Image: moddb.com
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A direct continuation of *Modern Warfare 2*, this game refined existing mechanics, enhancing graphics and sound while retaining the core gameplay that players enjoyed. The game achieved record-breaking sales upon its release.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: November 13, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
The sequel to *Black Ops*, this installment featured a dual-timeline campaign set in both the 1980s and the 2020s. Notable additions included player choices impacting the storyline, multiple endings, pre-battle equipment selection, and improved AI.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Featuring a new protagonist and story, *Ghosts* introduced battles in space and a mode against alien adversaries. Other changes included character customization options, the ability to play as a female character, destructible environments, and a revised perk system.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in a technologically advanced future controlled by private military corporations, *Advanced Warfare* offered exoskeletons, drones, and other futuristic gadgets. The game incorporated vertical gameplay and another alien-themed mode.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Set forty years after *Black Ops II*, this installment featured cybernetically enhanced soldiers with transformable limbs and hacking capabilities. Jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat were introduced, along with nine specialist characters.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Image: wsj.com
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A standalone title with its own storyline, *Infinite Warfare* took place on Mars, focusing on resource acquisition and colonization. Multiplayer introduced customizable exoskeletons with upgrade options.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
A remaster of the original *Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare*, this version updated the visuals, audio, and animations while largely preserving the original gameplay.
Call of Duty: WWII
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
A return to the World War II setting, this game focused on a more grounded experience. New additions included "heroic actions," the return of medkits, and the ability to request allied NPC assistance. Multiplayer featured new modes, larger lobbies, and specialized classes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Set between *Black Ops II* and *Black Ops III*, this installment omitted a traditional campaign, instead featuring standalone Specialist missions. Multiplayer changes included increased player health, a new "fog of war" system, and a 100-player battle royale mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: October 25, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A reboot of the *Modern Warfare* sub-series, this game presented a new storyline focused on contemporary terrorism. The game featured controversial content and gameplay changes, including increased weapon recoil, bipods, and a revised Killstreaks system. Spec Ops mode included both new and classic missions.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A standalone battle royale title, *Warzone* featured three main modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth (with respawns), and Plunder (focused on collecting money). It introduced mechanics like the "downed" state and the Gulag, a 1v1 arena for a second chance.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
A remaster of *Modern Warfare 2*, this version updated visuals, audio, and animations.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Set in the early 1980s, *Black Ops Cold War* featured a single-player campaign spanning various global locations. The Zombies mode received significant updates, including player loadouts, tactical item drops, and an upgrade system.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Image: news.blizzard.com
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Another World War II installment, *Vanguard* featured a main storyline and individual backstories for each squad member. Multiplayer boasted a record-breaking 20 maps.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Image: championat.com
Release Date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Included with *Modern Warfare II*, *Warzone 2.0* introduced ammo sharing, an updated Gulag accommodating up to four players, 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
A direct sequel to the 2019 *Modern Warfare*, this game focused on combating terrorism and drug cartels. It introduced wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a more detailed character customization system.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
The third entry in the rebooted *Modern Warfare* trilogy, this game features a more combat-focused single-player campaign and a record-breaking 24 multiplayer maps. A new "Slaughter" mode was also introduced.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Image: moddb.com
Release Date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
A sequel to *Black Ops Cold War*, this game is set in the 1990s during the Persian Gulf War. New mechanics include climbing, sliding, slide tackles, a smart movement system, and varied hit reactions. Zombies mode is now divided into separate rounds.
The Call of Duty franchise, with its 25 games and counting, maintains its popularity through a balance of challenging gameplay, realistic settings, and engaging multiplayer experiences. The series consistently refines its mechanics while introducing new features, appealing to a broad audience.
