First-person shooters have changed a lot because of the best Call of Duty games. Call of Duty’s famous DNA has changed with the times while staying true to its brand.
It combines the best parts of the best action games with iconic settings, game modes, weapons, and even a free-to-play battle royale spin-off.
The result is a satisfying collection of high-octane war games that not only challenge existing expectations but also set new, higher standards of success for its rivals to reach.
From Vanguard to Black Ops, here are the best Call of Duty games that you can still play today.
Keep reading to see if you agree with our choices.
- 15. Call of Duty: World at War
- 14. Call of Duty: WWII
- 13. Call of Duty: Ghosts
- 12. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- 11. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- 10. Call of Duty 2
- 9. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- 8. Call of Duty WW2
- 7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- 6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- 5. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
- 4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
- 3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- 2. Call of Duty: Black Ops
- 1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
15. Call of Duty: World at War
World at War was made by Treyarch and sold by Activision. It came out worldwide in November 2008 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360.
World at War was the first game in the series to have a Zombie mode, and Glu Mobile made a mobile version of it.
The game is told from the points of view of Private C. Miller, US Petty Officer Locke, and Private Demitri Petrenko.
It focuses on the Pacific and Eastern Fronts of World War II and has a new cooperative mode that lets up to four people play online and two play locally.
When it came out, reviewers liked World at War, and in its first two months, it sold more than 3 million copies in the United States.
14. Call of Duty: WWII
Call of Duty: WWII was made by Sledgehammer Games, and Activision put it out on the market.
On November 3, 2017, the first-person shooter game came out for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One all over the world.
The game is mostly about a squad in the first infantry post fighting on the Western Front. It takes place in the European Center.
In Operation Overlord, players take control of Ronald “Red” Daniels and must work their way through game mode without being able to heal themselves.
Instead, players have to use their squad-mates or health packs to stay alive during their tasks.
People liked WWII’s plot and how the health bar came back in single-player mode.
The game was a commercial hit. In the first three days after it came out, it made more than $500 million.
13. Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: Ghosts was made by Infinity Ward and came out on November 5, 2013 from Activision.
It came out for Microsoft Windows, the PlayStation 3, the Xbox 360, and the Wii U.
The game takes place in the near future, after the Middle East has been destroyed. For most of the game, players are in charge of Logan Walker, but they can switch to other characters later on if they want to.
To stay alive, these Special Operations Forces must fight a new global power with better technology. This one isn’t about getting freedom or equality; it’s just about staying alive!
Call of Duty: Infinite War was praised for its multiplayer gaming and the “Extinction” mode, which was a new way to play.
12. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
It is the eleventh main game in the Call of Duty series. Sledgehammer Games made it.
The game came out on November 4, 2014, and it is played from the point of view of a first-person shooter.
As players complete tasks, they earn “upgrade points” that they can use to improve their Exo suits and weapons.
It’s the first game in the series that lets players choose between different types of normal guns and features. With the Exo cloak power, players can become see-through for a short time.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare got good reviews, and at IGN’s Best of 2014 awards, it won the “Best Graphics – Technology” award.
11. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
This first-person shooter was made by Infinity Ward, and Activision put it out for sale.
It came out for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One around the world in 2006.
Players take control of Captain Nick Reyes, a pilot for Special Operations, and fight in the air using Reyes’s fighter, the Jackal, which changes shape.
The game lets players easily switch between aerial battle and traditional “boots-on-the-ground” combat, and they can keep track of their progress as they play.
Even though it got some bad reviews before it came out, Infinite Warfare got good reviews when it came out, and Game Informer named it “Best Shooter” at E3.
10. Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2 is one of the best games for the Xbox 360 and one of the best World War II shooters ever made. When it came out in 2005, Call of Duty 2 helped start the HD era of video games.
It also showed how important Xbox Live was going to be for computer games in the future.
Even though Infinity Ward’s first-person shooter feels pleasantly retro now, it still shows what makes the series so interesting.
Call of Duty 2 is the game that started the series’ rapid rise to the top. It has a story that takes place all over the world and is big on spectacle, cutting-edge visual design, and very tight multiplayer.
9. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
With Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Infinity Ward looked to the past more as a guide than as a plan.
The result is a thrilling campaign that doesn’t exactly change the rules, but it does make sure that new players know how to play Call of Duty.
The action is fast and frantic, placing is more important than ever, and players who stick to the old ways of playing will die quickly.
For example, if you tend to lean heavily on the left stick and reload after every shot you fire, you’ll be at a disadvantage here.
As we said in our Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 review, this game doesn’t do anything that Call of Duty hasn’t done before, but it’s a lot of fun and has great graphics and sound.
8. Call of Duty WW2
Call of Duty WW2 goes back to the Second World War, which might seem strange after all the future stuff and the last game’s trip to space, but it works.
All of the future tech is reset, which brings the show back to its roots and is kind of like a fresh start.
The story for the single player is a little weak in the first half, but for the most part, the big set piece moments are hit with confidence.
It really shines, though, when you play with other people. This is a much better example of what an online shooter should be like without all the tools, tech, and spacey stuff.
Without the drones and satellites, the action is much more about responses and being aware of your surroundings, which makes it much more fun.
The new Headquarters mode is also an interesting addition. It gives players a place to hang out that is like the Destiny Tower.
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
It’s typical of the Call of Duty series to release a game with the same name as one from 2007.
This game is not a remake of any of the other games in the series, but rather a wild reworking that starts to rebuild the Modern Warfare series from scratch.
The 2019 version of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare is different from the ones that came before it because it doesn’t feel like a bunch of random tasks that you just shoot down one after the other without much thought.
You feel like you’re in charge of a tight action movie that’s moving at a fast pace. It looks good, sounds good, and feels good, and it’s a great first step for the Modern Warfare series in a new direction.
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Saying that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is the worst game in the Modern Warfare series is like saying that Return of the Jedi is your least favorite of the original Star Wars flicks. But, you know, there aren’t any Ewoks here.
This brings the story to a close with some great missions. The rolling sandstorm in Return to Sender is Modern Warfare at its most chaotic, balancing player choice with some real spectacle.
Okay, the online is more about small changes than big ones, but changing killstreaks to pointstreaks makes the game more fair, and there are still a lot of great maps.
Plus, you know that the battle will keep you coming back for just one more round.
5. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Warzone 2 is a brand-new beast in the series, and it’s a direct answer to how free-to-play battle royale games like Fortnite and Apex Legends are changing the multiplayer scene.
The Call of Duty version simplifies the loot system and adds a clever way to rejoin the fight in the Gulag.
\It also uses a dang tac knife to cut through the sometimes boring world of battle royales. Warzone 2.0 came out with Modern Warfare 2 in 2022.
It beat its predecessor, Call of Duty: Warzone Caldera, and has a special single-player DMZ mode for those who want a more story-based experience.
4. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Treyarch likes to get weird with the Black Ops series, and it’s better for it. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 is the first and, so far, only game to try out different ends in a good way.
When you complete Strike Force tasks and certain goals in the main levels, the story changes in a big way.
This gives the game more depth and a reason to come back after the credits roll, even if there’s less new stuff to see.
The Pick 10 system is a longer-lasting and much more important addition to multiplayer. It gives you more control over your loadout and play style, which shapes the new levels of customization that the series now offers.
Even though not every change would be noticed, this entry is a great example of Call of Duty’s skills and tries enough new things to stand out.
3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 had to fill some big shoes, and the fact that it’s the only game in the series that comes close to doing so shows how good it is.
The single-player mode makes the show bigger without slowing down the pace, and the multiplayer mode adds Rust, which is the best small map ever made.
Okay, there are some small problems, like the Tactical Nuke killstreak and the fact that there is no Russian task in the campaign.
This means that it doesn’t get the top spot. But it’s hard to care about little things when the show keeps giving us famous moments like storming the gulag to save an important prisoner.
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops
The Vietnam part of Call of Duty: Black Ops is definitely Treyarch’s best in the series.
The story is a lot of silly fun, and the multiplayer modes add some fun new ways to play. Every time you kill someone in Gun Game, you have to use a different weapon, which is a great idea.
Going back to the 1960s doesn’t change how powerful the guns are, either. The Cold War turns out to be a great setting for Call of Duty.
Its moral ambiguity can be shocking at times, and the use of The Rolling Stones gives it a flavor that none of the other games have. We still don’t know what those numbers mean.
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
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Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is without a doubt the best game in the series.
This was a big deal when it came out and is now an undisputed classic. Every new entry must live up to this level.
The biggest reason is that multiplayer has changed a lot, especially on consoles. Even now, players are still drawn in by the mix of addictive unlocks, great game design, and strong feedback.
The peerless effort is the last one. It’s the best war story the series has ever told, with tasks like “Death From Above,” “All Ghillied Up,” and “Charlie Don’t Surf” that you won’t forget in a hurry.
The 2016 remake only makes it better. It gets a visual update at the right time that makes it look just as sharp as its bundle brother, Infinite Warfare.
Modern Warfare is the best Call of Duty game, so if you only play one, make it that one.