Summary
Call of Dutyhas had its fair share of legendary moments, and even years later, its greatest hits still hold up quite well since that 2003 debut. When it comes to first-person shooters,Call of Dutyhas practically rewritten the playbook with vibrant game modes, locales, and the selection of weapons, making a lasting impact on the genre we recognize today.
So, with the countdown toCall of Duty: Black Ops 6in full swing, what better moment to rank the best mainlineCall of Dutysequels that have truly earned their spot among the all-time greats?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3sticks to that gritty feel fans have cherished from the earlier games, continuing the gripping saga ofTask Force 141as they set out to track down the infamous Vladimir Makarov. The game’s multiplayer mode gives fans a variety of sixteen remastered maps straight from the classic 2009 hit,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Unfortunately, it has snagged the title of the lowest-rated mainlineCall of Dutyentry on all fronts. Many fans were left feeling let down, sensing that the whole thing was a bit too quick and shallow, with missions that just missed the mark. However,Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3redeems itself somewhat due to its impressive technical features and stunning graphics.
It’s tough to shake the feeling thatCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is just a shadow of one of the best games in the series, riding on its well-known name. The multiplayer action is as quick and exhilarating as ever, but the few new modes introduced seem more like minor adjustments to what players had already experienced.
The campaign has its highs, but it often seems like players are just reliving the greatest hits from pastCall of Dutygames. This rebooted version ofCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 2doesn’t end with a bang but a whimper that leaves players grappling with a frustrating final mission. Still, while it may not reinvent the wheel likeCall of Dutygames, it definitely serves up a fantastic experience with jaw-dropping visuals, maps as well as some pretty interesting missions.
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warreally brings the heat with intense shootouts and adrenaline-pumping moments that keep the players on their toes. The game of covert hide and seek is played to perfection, exquisitely amplifying the tension and setting the stage for some explosive scenes ahead.
Sadly, Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold Warfalls slightly short in the rankings because the multiplayer experience just doesn’t deliver that well and feels clumsier. After the massive success of 2019’s rebootedModern Warfare, which really turned heads,Cold War’s multiplayer can come off as a bit puzzling and doesn’t quite strike the same chord as theModern Warfaresub-series.
On the upside, it takes everyone back to the good old days of theBlack Opsseries. For instance, the maps are a bit snug, just like the sleek Zombies mode. So, while it may not be the shining star of theCall of Dutylineup, it’s still a good option for anyone wanting to dive into the latest action.
Treyarch really leans into the weirdness with theBlack Opstrilogy, and honestly, it just raises the fun factor. So forget the Cold War era and those near-future feels from the earlierBlack Opstitles;Black Ops 3takes players to the year 2065. It sets off the thrilling events thrill with cybernetics, robot fighters, and cool cybercore skills straight out ofCyberpunk.
So, for all theCall of Dutyenthusiasts out there, make sure to play it (rather than straight up dismissing it for the wacky futuristic changes), and don’t miss the incredible “Nightmares” mode that swaps all enemies for zombies.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2is the trailblazer, being the first and only game in the series to explore the fascinating idea of multiple endings, and it nails it. When it comes to the campaign’s set pieces, it’s hard not to think it’s one of the best in the series. What sets it apart is the freedom and the limitless chances to dive back in. The decisions players make and the results of Strike Force missions directly shape the different endings they can encounter.
The real showstopper, though, is the wild “Mob of the Dead” storyline, where time-traveling mobsters take on the undead in an unforgettable thrill ride. InBlack Ops 2’s multiplayer, gamers found themselves diving into some cool new features, like the Pick 10 system and Scorestreaks, adding a thrilling twist to the gameplay experience.
Remember Specialist Ajax’s got a 9-bang? It was a one-of-a-kind flashbang that popped off repeatedly, delivering a hilariously satisfying blow to those pesky enemy campers. Well, it was actuallyCall of Duty: Black Ops 4that kicked off that move. This sequel is famous for its Blackout mode, an early dive into the battle royale craze that set the stage for Warzone.
While a lot ofCall of Dutyfans jump in for the multiplayer action,Black Ops 4is unique as the first—and so far only—game to hit the scene without aclassic campaign. Change can be risky, but forBlack Ops 4, it was a game-changer in all the right ways. So while it may have some rough patches, each of its three modes serves up a fun shooter experience that’s both unique and tailored just for fans.
Call of Duty: Black Opshits the mark as a sequel to the 2007 Modern Warfare, proving that Treyarch can hold its own in theCall of Dutyuniverse, right alongside Infinity Ward’sModern Warfarelegacy. It lets players jump into America’s secret battles, packed with some seriously epic cameos on the side. The storyline’s bursting with excitement and fun, while the multiplayer modes bring in some seriously cool new game types to dive into. And then there’s Gun Game—each kill means a new weapon.
Players might hang out in Southeast Asia, but Black Ops cranks it up a notch, diving headfirst into the espionage and paranoia that marked the Cold War. That approach sparked a series of covert missions worldwide, culminating in the most jaw-dropping twist ever seen in aCall of Dutycampaign.
The rebootedCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3had its hiccups, but the 2011 original? It was literally a game-changer, taking what worked previously and then making it bigger and better. It made a splash with fresh features like weapon progression and proficiencies, but the real highlight was actually an incredibly engaging and enticingCall of Dutymultiplayer experience that had everyone hooked.
The campaign was a blast too, and while it may not be the all-time favorite, it sure packed in some incredible setpieces and plenty of those “Woah!” moments that fans adore in this franchise. This sequel made a slick move by tradingKillstreaksfor Pointstreaks, and it really leveled the playing field.
Call of Duty 2stands out as a top-tier Xbox 360 game and ranks among the greatest WW2 shooters ever made. Sure, the originalCall of Dutywas a standout in its own right, butCall of Duty 2took theWW2 experienceto a whole new level. Plus, can anyone even forget the smoke grenades? They practically really stole the show in this sequel, proving just how much the realism had been enhanced in the game in no time at all.
This game, in particular, kicked off the HD era of video games and highlighted the future significance of Xbox Live in console gaming. With its sleek visuals and super tight multiplayer,Call of Duty 2laid the groundwork for the series' meteoric rise to the top.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2had fans on the edge of their seats, reeling from the thrill and intensity of its campaigns, particularly thenotorious No Russian. This game is the uncrowned winner of the franchise, leaving its predecessors in the dust with a heart-pounding plot, an awesome multiplayer experience, customizable Killstreaks, and iconic maps like Terminal.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2is also attributed to rolling out the Spec Ops co-op mode, and no otherCall of Dutyhas quite matched its Spec Ops magic since. It’s in a class all by itself, so good luck finding anything that can top it.
