The Call of Duty series has captivated gamers worldwide since its inception, becoming a staple in the gaming community. Let's take a journey through the series, highlighting the evolution of these legendary games in the order they were released.
Call of Duty
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The first Call of Duty game, released in 2003, set the stage for the series with its World War II setting. This game introduced players to both multiplayer and single-player modes, featuring four distinct campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign offered a series of missions based on historical events, allowing players to experience the war from different perspectives. The multiplayer mode included small-scale missions like capturing points and flags.
Call of Duty 2
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty 2 continued the World War II theme, maintaining the essence of the original while introducing automatic HP regeneration for the player's character when in cover. This installment featured three campaigns: American, British, and Soviet, with missions based on real historical events. The multiplayer mode remained similar to the first game, and a documentary video at the end highlighted the realities of World War II.
Call of Duty 3
Image: riotpixels.com
Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Call of Duty 3, released exclusively for Xbox, shifted to a single unified storyline instead of separate campaigns. This game introduced new actions like rowing a boat and split-screen multiplayer. It also improved technical aspects such as animation and lighting, and included civilians in the game world, though without handguns in 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 marked a significant shift by moving to a modern setting, set in an alternate 2011. Players navigated two campaigns, American and English, focused on preventing a nuclear catastrophe. The game introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the class system in multiplayer, setting a new standard for the series.
Call of Duty: World at War
Image: polygon.com
Release date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War introduced the popular Nazi Zombies mode alongside the American and Soviet campaigns. This game refined graphics and AI, and added features like dismemberment and flamethrowers, laying the groundwork for the Black Ops subseries.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com
Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Modern Warfare 2 continued the story from its predecessor, set in 2016. It introduced new gameplay elements like climbing and underwater movement, and enhanced the multiplayer with dual-wielding pistols, new modes, and a deeper perk system. This game was a massive success, shaping the future of the series.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Image: youtube.com
Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Black Ops shifted the setting post-World War II, with the player as a CIA agent. It introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering mode. The game retained the class system and zombies mode, further expanding the series' multiplayer experience.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Image: moddb.com
Release date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Modern Warfare 3 continued the story from Modern Warfare 2, focusing on improving existing mechanics without major changes. Its launch set a new record for entertainment history, showcasing the series' enduring popularity.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Image: youtube.com
Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Black Ops II introduced dual time periods, 2025-2026 and 1986-1989, with player actions affecting the storyline and multiple endings. It added Strike Force missions and improved AI, offering a rich narrative and gameplay experience.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Image: youtube.com
Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Ghosts introduced a new story with battles on Earth and in space, including a mode against aliens. It featured character customization, female playable characters, and destructible environments, expanding the series' scope.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net
Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in a future world dominated by corporations, Advanced Warfare introduced exoskeletons and vertical gameplay. Despite new weapons and gadgets, the game received mixed reactions from players.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Image: youtube.com
Release date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Black Ops III featured a futuristic setting with cybernetic enhancements and jetpacks. It introduced specialists and wall-running, enhancing the series' dynamic gameplay.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Image: wsj.com
Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Set on Mars, Infinite Warfare focused on resource exploration and introduced new exoskeletons with customizable upgrades in multiplayer.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
The remastered version of Modern Warfare kept the core game intact while enhancing audio, visuals, and animations, offering a fresh experience for returning players.
Call of Duty: WWII
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Returning to World War II, WWII introduced "heroic actions" and medkits, with a multiplayer mode featuring new game modes and larger lobbies.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Black Ops 4 shifted away from a traditional campaign, focusing on standalone missions and introducing a 100-player battle royale mode. It also featured a new "fog of war" system and increased player HP.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries, this game tackled modern societal issues, featuring heavy content and significant changes like increased recoil and the return of Killstreaks.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Warzone introduced a standalone battle royale experience with three modes: classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder. It featured new mechanics like the Gulag and vehicle usage.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
The remastered version of Modern Warfare 2 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
Set during the Cold War, Black Ops Cold War offered a diverse single-player campaign and introduced new mechanics in the zombies mode, such as loadouts and weapon upgrades.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Image: news.blizzard.com
Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Vanguard returned to World War II, focusing on a familiar formula with a new record of 20 multiplayer maps.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Image: championat.com
Release date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Warzone 2.0, part of Modern Warfare II, introduced new features like ammo sharing and an updated Gulag, along with the new DMZ mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A sequel to Modern Warfare, this game focused on fighting terrorism and drug trafficking, introducing new mechanics like wall breaching and revised swimming.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Modern Warfare III combined elements from its predecessors, offering a combat-focused campaign and a new "Slaughter" multiplayer mode with a record 24 maps.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Image: moddb.com
Release date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Set during the 1990s Persian conflict, Black Ops 6 reintroduces new mechanics like smart movement and different hit reactions, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The Call of Duty franchise, now spanning 25 games, continues to evolve, balancing difficulty, realism, and player interaction. Each new installment builds on the successes of its predecessors, adding innovative features while maintaining the series' core appeal. This balance has won the hearts of gamers worldwide, making Call of Duty one of the most beloved and enduring shooter series in gaming history.
