Call of Duty is a globally renowned and beloved video game franchise. Let's explore its history, game by game, in chronological order.

Table of Contents

• Call of Duty
• Call of Duty 2
• Call of Duty 3
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty: World at War
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• Call of Duty: Black Ops
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II
• Call of Duty: Ghosts
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
• Call of Duty: Black Ops III
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
• Call of Duty: WWII
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
• Call of Duty: Warzone
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
• Call of Duty: Vanguard
• Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty

Release Date: October 29, 2003 Developer: Infinity Ward

Launched in 2003, the original Call of Duty offered both single-player and multiplayer experiences. Set during World War II, it featured four distinct campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign presented a series of historically-inspired missions, showcasing the war from different perspectives and utilizing diverse weaponry. The 26 missions ranged from training exercises and night battles to naval sabotage and large-scale urban combat. Multiplayer focused on objective-based gameplay like capturing and holding points or flags.

Call of Duty 2

Release Date: October 25, 2005 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Call of Duty 2, remaining faithful to the World War II setting, built upon its predecessor. A key change was the introduction of automatic health regeneration while in cover, removing the traditional health bar. The game retained the multiple campaign structure with American, British, and Soviet campaigns, each offering varied missions based on real historical events. Multiplayer largely mirrored the first game. A post-game documentary provided historical context.

Call of Duty 3

Release Date: November 7, 2006 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Xbox

Call of Duty 3, an Xbox exclusive, marked a shift. The single-player campaign moved to a unified storyline instead of separate campaigns, introducing actions like rowing a boat. Split-screen multiplayer was added, allowing for simultaneous gameplay. Technical improvements were significant, with enhanced animations, lighting, and overall visual fidelity. This installment also featured civilians (non-playable) and notably omitted handguns from the campaign.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Release Date: November 5, 2007 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare transitioned the series to a modern setting, creating a unique alternate reality. Set in 2011, the single-player campaign focused on preventing a global nuclear catastrophe, featuring American and British campaigns. New additions included Arcade Mode (high-score chasing), cheat codes, and the introduction of classes in multiplayer, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.

Call of Duty: World at War

Release Date: November 11, 2008 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Returning to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War offered American and Soviet campaigns. While graphically improved, the core gameplay remained similar to previous WWII titles. However, it introduced a highly popular Nazi zombie horde mode, playable solo or cooperatively. Other innovations included enemy dismemberment, the flamethrower as a weapon, and further character class customization.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Release Date: November 10, 2009 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, this installment continued the story five years later, in 2016. The single-player campaign introduced new actions like climbing and underwater scuba movement, though limited to specific missions. Multiplayer saw additions such as dual-wielding pistols, new game modes, a refined perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release Date: November 9, 2010 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Call of Duty: Black Ops, a continuation of the World at War storyline, moved the setting to the post-World War II era. Players took on the role of a CIA agent, facing dangerous missions to avert another global crisis. The single-player campaign remained largely unchanged from previous iterations, but multiplayer introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Release Date: November 8, 2011 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Modern Warfare 3 directly followed Modern Warfare 2, continuing the story and retaining beloved characters. Focusing on refinement rather than radical changes, it improved existing mechanics and enhanced graphics and sound. This approach proved highly successful.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Release Date: November 13, 2012 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops II featured a unique dual-timeline campaign set in 1980s and 2020s, exploring the consequences of player actions and offering multiple endings. Gameplay improvements included player choices impacting the storyline and the ability to select equipment and weapons before battles.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Release Date: November 5, 2013 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced new characters and a storyline spanning Earth and space, including alien combat. It featured character customization, playable female characters, destructible environments, and a revised perk system.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2014 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Set in a technologically advanced future controlled by private military corporations, Advanced Warfare featured exoskeletons, drones, and other futuristic weaponry.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Release Date: November 6, 2015 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Black Ops III, set forty years after Black Ops II, featured cybernetically enhanced soldiers with transformable limbs and hacking capabilities. Jetpacks, wall-running, and underwater combat were added.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Infinite Warfare was a standalone title set on Mars, focusing on resource acquisition and colonization. Multiplayer introduced customizable exoskeletons.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Release Date: November 4, 2016 Developer: Raven Software Download: Steam

A remaster of the original Modern Warfare, focusing on updated visuals, audio, and animations while preserving the core gameplay.

Call of Duty: WWII

Release Date: November 3, 2017 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

A return to the World War II setting, featuring a campaign focused on heroic actions and the return of medkits. Multiplayer expanded to 48 players.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Release Date: October 12, 2018 Developer: Treyarch Download: Steam

Black Ops 4 omitted a traditional campaign, instead offering standalone Specialist missions. It featured a 100-player battle royale mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Release Date: October 25, 2019 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A reboot of the Modern Warfare series, focusing on contemporary conflicts and controversial themes.

Call of Duty: Warzone

Release Date: March 10, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A standalone battle royale game with multiple modes, including classic battle royale, Rebirth (respawns), and Plunder (money collection).

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Release Date: March 31, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: callofduty.com

A remaster of Modern Warfare 2, with updated visuals, audio, and animations.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release Date: November 13, 2020 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

Set in the early 1980s, during the Cold War era.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Release Date: November 5, 2021 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

Another World War II installment, featuring multiple backstories within a larger overarching narrative.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

Release Date: November 16, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A sequel to Warzone, featuring updated mechanics and a new DMZ mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

Release Date: October 28, 2022 Developer: Infinity Ward Download: Steam

A direct sequel to the 2019 Modern Warfare, focusing on the fight against terrorism and drug cartels.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Release Date: November 2, 2023 Developer: Sledgehammer Games Download: Steam

The third installment in the rebooted Modern Warfare series, combining elements from its predecessors.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Release Date: October 25, 2024 Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software Download: Steam

A continuation of Black Ops Cold War, set in the 1990s during the Persian Gulf War.

The Call of Duty franchise boasts 25 titles, each building upon the strengths of its predecessors while introducing fresh elements. Its enduring appeal stems from a well-balanced combination of challenge, realism, and engaging multiplayer experiences. For over two decades, Call of Duty has captivated players worldwide, bridging generations and interests, and cementing its place as a leading first-person shooter franchise.