Close Menu
  • Gaming
    • Game Guides
    • Codes
    • Game News
    • Game Previews
    • Game Reviews
    • Game Features
    • Game Lists
    • Platforms
      • Nintendo
      • PC
      • PlayStation
      • Xbox
      • Mobile
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Movie Features
    • Movie Reviews
    • TV
    • Reality TV
    • Royals
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Astrology
  • Videos
  • More
    • Anime
    • Lists
    • Podcasts
    • Reviews
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram LinkedIn YouTube
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
The Nerd Stash
  • Gaming
  • Celebrity
  • Human Interest
  • Videos
The Nerd Stash
Home»Game Lists»Every Call of Duty Game, Ranked Worst to Best

Every Call of Duty Game, Ranked Worst to Best

Which Call of Duty game is the best of them all?

Nickolas DavisBy Nickolas DavisNovember 11, 20239 Mins Read
call of duty games modern warfare 2 vanguard the big red one
Image Source: Activision

Skip To...

  • 19. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
  • 18. Call of Duty: Ghosts
  • 17. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
  • 16. Call of Duty 1
  • 15. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
  • 14. Call of Duty: WW2
  • 13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
  • 12. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
  • 11. Call of Duty: Vanguard
  • 10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
  • 9. Call of Duty 2
  • 8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
  • 7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
  • 6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2007)
  • 5. Call of Duty: Black Ops 1
  • 4. Call of Duty 3
  • 3. Call of Duty: World at War
  • 2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
  • 1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
This article is over 1 years old and may contain outdated information.

Theย Call of Dutyย series has become synonymous with multiplayer first-person shooters in the 21st century, and it has no lack of main series games to show for it. With the upcoming release ofย Call of Duty:ย Modern Warfare 3, the franchise will be celebrating its 20th entry with a new game coming out every single year since 2003. Each of these games still has its own dedicated fans to this day, so it’s good to know where everyย Call of Dutyย game ranks in relation to the others.

19. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

call of duty advanced warfare
Image Source: Activision

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare finds itself at the bottom of the ranking. The 2014 game attempted a departure from the traditional CoD formula, further doubling down on the futuristic elements that were played around with in games like Black Ops 2 and Modern Warfare 3, only this time, the separation was a step too far for most of the fan base. The game struggled on all fronts, delivering a less engaging campaign, more troublesome multiplayer, and an off-the-mark zombies mode that all combined to make Advanced Warfare a Call of Duty game that few will rush to defend.

18. Call of Duty: Ghosts

call of duty ghosts
Image Source: Activision

Call of Duty: Ghosts ultimately failed to understand what it wanted to be and suffered as a result. While not doing anything new isn’t a cardinal sin when it comes to the Call of Duty franchise, Ghosts does nothing new and doesn’t do anything particularly well with the old mechanics it continues to peddle. Extinction mode is the one interesting thing this game has going for it, and it is a shame that the failure of this game overall has resulted in that mode, ironically, going extinct.

17. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

call of duty infinite warfare
Image Source: Activision

Infinite Warfare contains somewhat commendable efforts to further infuse sci-fi elements into Call of Duty, but many fans were just tired at this point of how far the series had strayed from its roots. The game maintains its fans and defenders to this day, and it certainly isn’t the worst multiplayer experience for players into the boosted jumps and fast-paced slides of this era, but it’s simultaneously not surprising that this was Infinity War’s last attempt at this aesthetic.

16. Call of Duty 1

call of duty 1
Image Source: Activision

It’s kind of amazing to return to the originalย Call of Dutyย and realize how far the franchise has gone since its humble beginnings as a World War 2 shooter. The first game in the series came at a time when the FPS genre was still fairly new, and a sea of titles were all trying to make gradual improvements.ย Call of Dutyย stands out for having a feel to its combat and story that holds up surprisingly well to this day, although younger fans with less nostalgic connection will likely turn their noses up at how archaic it can be in many areas.

15. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

call of duty black ops 4
Image Source: Activision

In retrospect,ย Black Ops 4ย isn’t the worstย Call of Duty, but at the time, it certainly did feel like the game had failed to satisfy anything that fans were looking for. There was no campaign, the multiplayer continued down the path tread byย Black Ops 3, which was fairly polarizing,ย the zombies felt significantly weakerย than anything from theย BOย trilogy, and the series’ first foray into Battle Royale, Blackout, needed a lot of work. Many of these areas were improved throughout the game’s life cycle, but that’s not enough to make it a solid entry.

14. Call of Duty: WW2

call of duty wwii world war 2
Image Source: Activision

Call of Duty: WWII aimed to return to the series’ historical roots for the first time in nearly a decade. It’s certainly nice and nostalgic for many to see this return to form, but the result is a game that feels inherently formulaic. Nothing in this game is done particularly poorly, but simultaneously, nothing is done well enough to warrant anyone remembering this title half a decade after its release.

13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

call of duty modern warfare 2 2022
Image Source: Activision

2022’s Modern Warfare 2 faced almost impossible odds. It’s no simple task for a new game to stand up next to a classic and be naturally compared by name alone. Does the 2022 MW2 compare to the more familiar one from 2009? Not by a long shot. At the same time, it isn’t bad, but it is another concerning step down the path of unfinished-feeling content that the series has been putting out recently.

12. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

call of duty black ops 3
Image Source: Activision

Black Ops 3 introduced a number of innovative features to its multiplayer and zombies, but the campaign is really where this game begins to crumble. Its convoluted plot falls incredibly short of the standards set by its two predecessors. The multiplayer is fun but also winds up falling short in comparison to prior games. That leaves the zombies standing alone as the sole reason to return to this game in the modern day, and it is a really good reason to return to the game.

11. Call of Duty: Vanguard

call of duty vanguard
Image Source: Activision

Vanguardย handles the World War 2 storytelling and multiplayer far better than the series’ last attempt inย WW2. It also does a much better job standing out with unique modes and multiplayer features. It stumbles in some of the new things it tries, especially its zombies mode. Still, overall, it lands on its feet as one of the better triple-AAA World War 2 shooters in recent years.

10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

call of duty black ops cold war
Image Source: Activision

Black Ops Cold War is a fairly polarizing game among many Call of Duty fans. Some consider it one of the best multiplayer and zombies experiences since the series’ heyday, and some consider it an absolute mess. A lot of the latter opinions come from the title’s undoubtedly rocky launch, sadly littered with bugs, but Treyarch did wind up fixing a lot of those problems, and it’s a much smoother experience in its present state.

9. Call of Duty 2

call of duty 2 the big red one
Image Source: Activision

At a time when this series was truly focused on its campaigns, Call of Duty 2 tells one of the best stories that the franchise has ever seen. Similar to the first game in the series, there is some notable dating when revisiting this game in the present day, but it does improve in a fairly dramatic way over its predecessor, and it’s definitely worth a modern replay.

8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

call of duty modern warfare 2019
Image Source: Activision

The first of the new Modern Warfare trilogy ushered in the current and ongoing era of Call of Duty games. An era defined by sweeping modernization that saw Activision drop paid DLC and adopt the free-to-play model for its undoubtedly most modern addition, the battle royale mode Warzone. There are a number of controversial problems that came along with these changes, many of which Activision has still yet to address, but Modern Warfare certainly renewed interest in the series for many players.

7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

call of duty modern warfare 3
Image Source: Activision

Modern Warfare 3 was initially fairly polarizing, although time has given this game a dedicated fanbase that still strongly defends it to this day. It’s hard not to look at this game’s campaign as the weakest of the original trilogy, but the multiplayer is one of the best the series has seen.

6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2007)

call of duty modern warfare 1 2007 infinity ward
Image Source: Activision

The original Modern Warfare from 2007 singlehandedly redefined Call of Duty as a series that isn’t just about the Second World War. It also struck right at the perfect moment to capitalize on the burgeoning console online multiplayer market, and while both Call of Duty 2 and Call of Duty 3 had online multiplayer, this is the game many look back at and remember as their first online CoD experience. It naturally has growing pains as a result, but it’s still a great game.

5. Call of Duty: Black Ops 1

call of duty black ops 1 treyarch
Image Source: Activision

The originalย Call of Duty: Black Opsย does so much right between its mysterious, heart-racing story, iconic multiplayer map designs, and majorย innovations to the zombies modeย that it’s hard to even focus on its flaws. The flaws are still there, mostly regarding certain mechanics in the multiplayer, like the strange CoD Points system, but they’re small issues in the larger context of a great game.

4. Call of Duty 3

call of duty 3
Image Source: Activision

Call of Duty 3 improves on everything from the previous games: visuals, storytelling, combat, and more, all while having a very engaging multiplayer. Its improvements over its two predecessors make it the one that’s aged the best. However, its main flaw is still its age and lack of extra modes and features that later titles add on to make for a more varied experience. Those are minor complaints in the face of a bonafide series classic, though.

3. Call of Duty: World at War

call of duty world at war zombies der riese
Image Source: Activision

World at War was simultaneously a final and first chapter in the series, being the last World War 2 shooter for nearly a decade and the first to introduce the landmark zombies mode that would spawn its own almost separate dedicated fanbase that remains loyal to this day. It builds on everything the first three WW2 shooters in the series had already accomplished, resulting in one of the best campaigns and multiplayer modes the series has ever seen.

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

call of duty modern warfare 2
Image Source: Activision

2009’s Modern Warfare 2 takes all of the building blocks established by its predecessor for contemporary military gameplay and goes the extra mile with it. The game feels more vibrant, more fleshed out, and more exciting to this day than almost any other Call of Duty game. What this game continues to teach is that balance isn’t necessarily the formula for entertaining multiplayer. Is the series more balanced without nukes and akimbo 1887 shotguns? Absolutely. Is it more fun? There isn’t much more fun than Modern Warfare 2.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

call of duty black ops 2
Image Source: Activision

Treyarch manages the perfect blend of classic Call of Duty and its futuristic elements in Black Ops 2. The end result is the game that feels like the most unique and varied in the series, which has something for every type of CoD fan. Whether it’s an engaging campaign, an intense and complex multiplayer, or a wide variety of zombies maps the player is seeking out, Black Ops 2 has everything.

Related Topics
Activision Call of Duty
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Reddit Email
Nickolas Davis
  • Website
  • Instagram

Nickolas Davis is a writer and musician from Asheville, North Carolina. He has yet to convince his friends and family that playing Shin Megami Tensei every day is "for his job."

SUGGESTED READS

Destiny 2 Weapon and Armor Tiers
Game Guides

How Do Weapon and Gear Tiers Work in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Exotic Items
Game Guides

All Exotics in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Power Level 200
Game Guides

How To Reach Power Level 200 Fast in Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate World Tier Changes
Game News

Bungie Responds to Community Criticism by Peeling Back Some Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Secrets

Destiny 2 Weekly Reset Guide: Challenges, Rotations, & Rewards (June 28-May 2)
Game Guides

Destiny 2 Weekly Reset Guide: Challenges, Rotations, & Rewards (July 1 – July 7)

Destiny 2 Edge of Fate Expansion Launch Trailer
Game Features

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate Just Gave Us a Remedy-like Launch Trailer

Trending
Texas Man records a package thief stealing boxes off the porch

Texas Man Comes up With โ€˜Epicโ€™ Idea To Get Revenge on Porch Pirates: โ€˜This Is Genius’

Florida bride has special moment with two fathers at wedding

Florida Bride’s Father Shocks Guests At Wedding When He Sees Her Stepdad In Crowd: ‘Cries In Daddy Issues’

Ric Flair poop in restaurant

Angry Tampa Server is Fed-Up With Ric Flair Pooping in Their Restaurants, ‘Dirtiest Player in the Game’

Texas woman sees dead brother during vacation

Texas Woman Shares Shocking Story of Seeing Her Dead Brother During Family Vacation in Italy: ‘This Gave Me Chills’

The Nerd Stash
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About Us
  • Join Our Team
  • Meet the Team
  • Privacy Policy
  • DMCA Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Sitemap
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Advertising Policy
© 2025 The Nerd Stash. All Rights Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.