The Call of Duty series is a cornerstone of modern gaming, captivating millions of players worldwide since its inception. Let's explore each game in the order they were released, highlighting their unique features and the evolution of the franchise.

Call of Duty

Image: youtube.com

Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward

The inaugural Call of Duty game set the stage for the series, released back in 2003. It introduced players to both multiplayer and single-player modes, centered around World War II. The game included four single-player campaigns:

• American campaign
• British campaign
• Soviet campaign
• Allied campaign

Each campaign offered a series of missions reflecting historical events, allowing players to experience the war through different perspectives and utilize various weapons and equipment. The multiplayer mode featured small missions such as capturing and holding points or flags.

Call of Duty 2

Image: youtube.com

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

Continuing the World War II theme, Call of Duty 2 introduced automatic health regeneration when the player took cover, removing the health bar. The game maintained the familiar structure with three campaigns:

• American campaign
• British campaign
• Soviet campaign

The multiplayer mode remained similar to the first game, and a documentary video at the end provided insight into the realities of World War II.

Call of Duty 3

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

Exclusively released for Xbox, Call of Duty 3 shifted to a single, unified storyline instead of separate campaigns. New gameplay elements included rowing boats and split-screen multiplayer. The game also saw significant technical improvements in animation and lighting, introducing civilians and omitting handguns in the campaign.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Image: blog.activision.com

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

Infinity Ward ventured into a modern setting with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, setting the events in 2011. The game featured two campaigns:

• American campaign
• English campaign

New features included an Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a class system in multiplayer, which became a staple for future games. This installment marked a significant shift and set the tone for future experiments within the series.

Call of Duty: World at War

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

Returning to World War II, Call of Duty: World at War featured two campaigns:

• American campaign
• Soviet campaign

While the single-player mode saw minimal innovation, the game introduced a popular Nazi Zombies multiplayer mode. Other new features included dismemberment, flamethrowers, and customizable character classes, laying the groundwork for the Black Ops subseries.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

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Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, this game advanced the storyline to 2016. The single-player campaign introduced new mechanics like climbing and underwater movement. The multiplayer mode expanded with dual-wielding pistols, new modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in artillery and airstrikes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops

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

Set after World War II, Black Ops continued the World at War narrative. The single-player campaign remained traditional but introduced in-game currency, skins, and contracts. Multiplayer innovations included a wagering mode, character appearance changes based on perks, and the Zombies mode.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

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

As a direct sequel to Modern Warfare 2, this game continued the storyline with familiar characters. It focused on enhancing existing mechanics and improving graphics and sound, leading to a highly successful launch.

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

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Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam

Black Ops II innovated with a dual timeline narrative spanning 2025-2026 and 1986-1989. The campaign introduced player-driven story outcomes, multiple endings, and equipment selection. Multiplayer enhancements included improved AI and Strike Force missions.

Call of Duty: Ghosts

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Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

Ghosts introduced a new storyline set on Earth and in space, including battles against aliens. Key features included character customization, the option to play as a female character, destructible environments, and changes to the perk system.

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

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

Set in a future where corporations control private military companies, Advanced Warfare introduced exoskeletons, drones, and vertical gameplay. Despite these innovations, the game received mixed reviews from players.

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Image: youtube.com

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

Set forty years after Black Ops II, this game featured soldiers with cybernetic limbs and introduced jetpacks, specialists, wall-running, and underwater combat.

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

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

Set on Mars, Infinite Warfare offered a new storyline with customizable exoskeletons in multiplayer, allowing players to tailor their gameplay experience.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

Image: store.steampowered.com

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

This remaster preserved the original Modern Warfare's core game while enhancing audio, visuals, and animations, adding new achievements and cheat codes.

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," medkits, and NPC assistance requests in the campaign. The multiplayer mode expanded with new modes, increased lobby sizes, and special classes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

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

Set between Black Ops II and III, Black Ops 4 introduced standalone missions instead of a classic campaign, increased player HP, a "fog of war" system, and a 100-player battle royale mode. The futuristic setting faced criticism, leading the series to shift focus.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

Image: store.steampowered.com

Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam

This reboot of the Modern Warfare series addressed modern societal issues like terrorism, introducing heavy content and new gameplay mechanics such as increased recoil, bipods, and the Killstreaks system. The Spec Ops mode was also split into new and classic operations.

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 a "downed" state, the Gulag, and required vehicles due to the large map size.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered

Image: youtube.com

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

This remaster focused on enhancing the sound, animations, and visuals of the original Modern Warfare 2, allowing players to relive the beloved campaign.

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Image: store.steampowered.com

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

Set between Black Ops and Black Ops II, Cold War offered a varied single-player campaign across multiple global locations. The zombies mode saw significant updates, including loadouts, tactical items, and weapon upgrades.

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Image: news.blizzard.com

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

Returning to World War II, Vanguard featured a campaign with a main storyline and backstories for each group member. The multiplayer mode set a new record with 20 maps.

Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0

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

Included with Modern Warfare II, Warzone 2.0 introduced new features like ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a DMZ mode with faction-based tasks.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

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

A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, this game focused on combating a terrorist organization and drug traffickers. It introduced wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a detailed progression system.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Image: store.steampowered.com

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

This installment combined the best elements from its predecessors, featuring a combat-focused single-player campaign and a record 24 maps in multiplayer. It also introduced the "Slaughter" mode with three teams competing simultaneously.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Image: moddb.com

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

Set in the 1990s during the Persian conflict, Black Ops 6 reintroduced significant gameplay changes, including obstacle climbing, smart movement, and different hit reactions. The zombies mode was also revamped into separate rounds.

The Call of Duty series, spanning 25 games over 21 years, continues to captivate players with its balance of difficulty, realism, and engaging multiplayer experiences. Each game builds on the success of its predecessors, ensuring the franchise remains a beloved staple in the gaming community.