Well, gamers, we’ve only a few weeks away from Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 hitting the shelves. If you can’t wait to jump in, we believe now is the perfect time to revisit the earlier entries and experience them in chronological order to get the ultimate Call of Duty experience. With 20 mainline entries across two decades, you might find it hard to figure out which one fits where. But don’t sweat, here’s a complete guide to playing all Call of Duty games in the right order.
1. Call of Duty
Call of Duty (2003) marked the very beginning of the legendary franchise. It’s set during World War II between 1944 and 1945. As a player, you must take sides with the three Allied nations, the Americans, the British, and the Russians, and overcome challenges and fight against German armies.
2. Call of Duty 2
Call of Duty 2 (2005) returns us gamers to the battlegrounds of World War II. This time, you’ll get the look from four different soldiers representing the Allied nations. The sequel ramps up the intensity of the fights, enhances action, and has four different campaign modes with a total of 27 missions. It’s a follow-up that truly delivers.
3. Call of Duty: World at War
World at War is yet another installment that’s set during World War II. What’s different this time around is that players experience the story from the eyes of the US Forces and the Soviet Red Army. World at War was the game that brought the now-iconic Zombies mode, which has become a mainstay of the franchise.
4. Call of Duty 3
Well, it’s one WW2 game after another here. Call of Duty 3 lets you play as an American, British, Canadian, or Polish Soldier on the Western Front in 1944. What’s your task? Well, help the Allied forces take the Battle of Normandy. There are 14 missions in total, and various scripted sequences that require a bit of button-mashing for you to get through.
5. Call of Duty: WWII
Alright, we promise, this is the final World War II Call of Duty on our list. So, what makes this one so unique? Activision brought modern graphics and visuals to deliver a completely redefined WW2 experience. You step into the shoes of a young U.S soldier, and lead your squad through Europe, and take part in historic battles.
6. Call of Duty: Vanguard
Alright, we lied, but this is truly the final World War 2-II-centered game in the franchise (so far). We can’t blame Activision for pumping out so many WW2 games, as it’s what has made the franchise. In Vanguard, you experience the final days of the war, joining elite soldiers from across the world to unravel the mysteries of Project Phoenix, a Nazi scheme. It’s the game that births our special forces.
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops
Let’s go into the 60s Cold War era with Black Ops. You take on the role of the CIA operative Alex Mason, who must head to spots like Vietnam, Cuba, and the Soviet Union to put an end to a deadly Soviet scheme against the U.S. Fail, and it’s game over for your country. If it weren’t for this game, we wouldn’t have the franchise’s most beloved series to date.
8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Black Ops Cold War is a direct sequel to Black Ops, and brings familiar faces like Alex Mason and Frank Woods. In this game, you’ll play as another CIA operative, Russel Adler. He’s been tasked with bringing on board elite agents and doing whatever it takes to hunt down Persus, a Soviet spy, who plans to unleash a massive attack.
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Black Ops 2 picks up after the events of the first Black Ops game, but this time you’re playing as Alex Mason’s son, David Mason, who is going after Raul Mendenzes, bent upon triggering the second Cold War in 2025. Don’t worry, though, you’ll still be able to play as Alex Mason and Frank Woods, as there are plenty of flashback missions that take you to the 1980s and uncover the events that led to the Mendezes’ rise.
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Black Ops 6 features the return of Frank Woods, Troy Marshall, and William Calderon, who have gone rogue after being suspended from the CIA. Set during the 1990s, the group must stop Pantheon, which has infiltrated the agency, and uncover the secrets behind the Cradle weapon. With over 11 story missions, there’s no shortage of action here.
11. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the first entry in the franchise that took us to the modern era. You’ll see the events unfolding through the eyes of Sgt. Paul Jackson, and Sgt. John ‘Soap’ MacTavish and take on a narrative that spans the entire globe with twists and betrayals in order to stop an enemy group.
12. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 introduces us to Task Force 141, comprising Captain “Soap” MacTavish, Captain John Price, and other elite operatives. Their mission? Bring down the Vladimir Makarov, but things quickly spiral out of control. The gunplay is chef’s kiss, and the multiplayer is genuinely fun to play.
13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 continues the story from Modern Warfare 2, and is Task Force 141’s final showdown against Vladimir Makarov. Will they succeed? That’s for you to find out, but trust me, you don’t want to miss out on this action.
14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) reboots the legendary franchise and brings back characters like Gaz and Captain Price. This time, they’re being deployed to Urzikstan to team up with locals to retrieve stolen chemicals and put an end to the fight.
15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is the second entry in the rebooted franchise, with Task Force 141 now joining other forces to put an end to the plans of a terrorist who is in possession of ballistic missiles and is planning an attack on the U.S
16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is the third game in the rebooted series, which puts Task Force 141 against Vladimir Makarov once again as he’s out to start World War III. Get ready for some high-stakes missions.
17. Call of Duty: Ghosts
Call of Duty: Ghosts establishes a United States that’s been torn apart by its enemies and invasions. You become a part of the elite ‘Ghosts ‘ unit, and take the battle across the land and air to fend off against enemies, including one of your own.
18. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare is the title that helped the franchise jump into a futuristic era. You’re playing as Jack Mitchell in this one, and must go against a private military corporation that wants to seize control.
19. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 takes us to the year 2065, where cybernetics have taken over the world, and there’s every kind of cyborg out there. You’re a part of an elite squad that must stop a conflict before it becomes uncontrollable. The zombie mode in this game is really top-notch with impressive DLC maps.
20. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
And finally, we have Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, which is one of the franchise’s most controversial series. Get ready for an all-out warfare across the Solar System with space battles against a group that’s trying to claim it.
With that said, what’s your favorite Call of Duty game? Let us know in the comments below!
