It’s one of the defining franchises of modern gaming, but which Call of Duty game is best?
Of course, not everyCall of Dutygame is a fan favorite, and a few have aged particularly poorly.
For this list, we only consideredCall of Dutygames released for consoles or PC.
At least the music isnt too bad.
It really is the best part of the poor attempts at cinematic battles.
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One of the biggest casualties of this period wasCall of Duty 2.
Its a landmark game on PC and Xbox 360.
Gamers back then wanted moreCall of Duty 2, and thats exactly what they got.
Nothing more, nothing less.
It wouldnt be unfair to call this gameCall of Duty 2.5.
You get the same World War II setting, just with less variety.
Even the multiplayer maps feel more like DLC than a new mode.
TreyarchCoDgames improved dramatically over the years, but this first draft was rough.
And the big new changes here arent great.
Even Activision seemed to use it as more of a paid beta to eventually launchCall of Duty: Warzone.
The problem is gameplay.
Its a fine example of console shooters from this era, butFinest Houris largely a nostalgia piece in 2023.
Call of Duty
This is the full version of the game that started the multi-billion-dollar phenomenon.
Dont get me wrong; this game was super impressive back in the day.
Its just that while all of this was top-of-the-line in 2003, it definitely shows its age now.
But that doesnt mean its a game for everyone.
This was something the series experimented with extensively in the mid-2010s with mixed results.
Regardless of how you feel about these changes, at least the expanded Zombies mode is worth checking out.
Even if its a mixed bag overall, at least the graphics are fantastic.
A lot of fans felt the series was straying too far from its roots.
To be clear, this game does lean hard into its sci-fi trappings.
Multiplayer modes are a bit more of a mixed bag.
It even featured the likenesses of David Hasselhoff, Elvira, and the late Paul Reubens.
Do you know what people still talk about, though?Call of Duty 2.
This was the real reason to pick up an Xbox 360 at launch in 2005.
The first twoModern Warfaregames are all-time classics.
And then theresModern Warfare 3.
Its certainly one of theCall of Dutygames ever made.
The campaigns of its predecessors featured some of the most memorable moments in FPS history.
And the stealth-focused mission in Stalingrad stands out as one of the very best in anyCall of Dutygame.
Unfortunately, things go off the rails when you delve into multiplayer.
That very different pop in of conflict means levels set everywhere from the ocean depths to outer space.
At one point, you even play as a dog.
Theres even a neat story twist straight out ofBioshock.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
I loveAdvanced Warfarefor its unintentionally hilarious campaign moments.
This is also the campaign that gave the internet the infamous Press F to pay respects meme.
It deserves to be recognized as one of the betterCall of Dutygames just for that.
Multiplayer is more of a mixed bag.
That long hiatus paid off, though.
And then theres a new Nazi Zombies mode.
This was also the first title that significantly adjusted the gunplay.
Each weapon feels like it has some real weight, giving each shot some impact.
And of course, this was the game to debutWarzone.
Again, whats here is fantastic.
The series had found its groove by 2010, though, and Treyarch found little reason to deviate.
But what really stands out is just how graphically violent the whole thing is.
And while most players lost dozens of hours to multiplayer, the campaign is no slouch either.
This is the game that gave the world All Ghillied Up and the explosive ending to Shock and Awe.
The campaign is basically a highlight reel of the best moments inCall of Dutyhistory.
To be fair, the multiplayer wasnt a huge step forward from the firstModern Warfare.
And who could forget the tactical nuke killstreak?
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Black Ops IIis the gold standard forCall of Dutygames.
What really sets it apart, though, is the freedom and replayability.
The choices you make and how Strike Force missions go directly impact which of the multiple endings youll see.
Plus, you might actually customize your loadout before each mission.
For that alone, its head and shoulders above the single-player options in every otherCall of Dutygame.
Of course, the real star here is multiplayer, which introduced the customizable Pick 10 system.
This was the pinnacle of the series that a lot of players are still pining for.
