As a seasoned Call of Duty enthusiast with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I’ve seen the series evolve from its humble beginnings to the futuristic spectacle it has become today. While I appreciate the innovation and creativity that goes into these new settings, I must admit, there’s a part of me yearning for those good old days of boots-on-the-ground action.
Starting back in 2003, Call of Duty has explored the past, present and future.
Ever since that point, Activision has released at least one game per year, which is remarkable given the number of series they’ve created and managed to keep so popular. This is evident from the impressive player count of Call of Duty: Black Ops VI.
Since the initial entry of the second World War in Call of Duty, they’ve covered everything from Modern Warfare and Black Ops through Ghosts, Advanced Warfare, Infinite Warfare, another WWII installment, Vanguard, and now back to contemporary times. Essentially, Call of Duty has encompassed a wide range of war-themed games.
If you’re considering playing all the Call of Duty games in chronological order, you won’t have to quit your job or take time off to finish it. In fact, we estimate that completing the entire series of campaigns will require around 130 to 170 hours, taking into account some titles without a campaign mode.
That’s amazingly shorter than getting everything in Baldur’s Gate 3, so there’s no excuse.
As a devoted film buff might break down a series of movies for fellow enthusiasts, let me share with you an overview of the Call of Duty franchise, organized in the sequence of their release dates.
How to play the Call of Duty games in release order
Absolutely, there’s more than one approach to playing the Call of Duty series. If you prefer experiencing each game as it was released, here’s the sequence you should follow:
- Call of Duty (2003)
- Call of Duty: United Offensive (2004)
- Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004)
- Call of Duty 2 (2005)
- Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)
- Call of Duty 2 (Mobile) (2006)
- Call of Duty 3 (2006)
- Call of Duty 2 (Windows Mobile) (2007)
- Call of Duty: Roads to Victory (2007)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Nintendo DS) (2007)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (Mobile) (2007)
- Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
- Call of Duty: World at War: Final Fronts (2008)
- Call of Duty: World at War (Nintendo DS) (2008)
- Call of Duty: World at War (Mobile) (2008)
- Call of Duty: Zombies (2009)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: Force Recon (2009)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Mobilized (2009)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare: Reflex Edition (2009)
- Call of Duty: Classic (2009)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (Nintendo DS) (2010)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Mobile (2010)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Zombies (2011)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance (2011)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified (2012)
- Call of Duty: Strike Team (2013)
- Call of Duty Online (2013)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
- Call of Duty: Heroes (2014)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered (2016)
- Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)
- Call of Duty: Mobile (2019)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
- Call of Duty: Warzone (2020)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (2020)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Call of Duty: Warzone 2 (2022)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)
How to play the Call of Duty games in timeline order
Call of Duty: WWII
The initial game chronologically is World War II, which was more recently developed in the year 2017. It’s worth noting that these games can be arranged differently, and the first entry serves as a perfect example of this flexibility. The game begins in 1940, marking the earliest date within the Call of Duty timeline, but then progresses and occurs approximately around 1944-1945.
As a movie critic, I’d rephrase it like this: Placing this film post-World at War isn’t a game-changer, but it does offer an exciting bonus – the chance to engage in a thrilling zombie mode where you annihilate Nazi undead soldiers. Trust me, it’s every bit as entertaining as it seems!
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
This game leaps through time intervals, and we’ve decided to position it here based on its earliest occurrence. In this title, you’ll find American, British, and Soviet soldiers prominently featured, providing three unique campaigns within a single game. Notably, this was the initial installment of the series designed for consoles, and it saw a launch on both the original Xbox and PlayStation 2.
Call of Duty: World at War
In this installment of the series, Kiefer Sutherland heads the voice actors’ roster. Despite the passage of time, this World War II-centered game remains a standout within the franchise. The action unfolds in the Pacific Theater as you face off against the Imperial Japanese forces. This engaging campaign maintains its appeal and continues to be an enjoyable experience even today.
Furthermore, it was this very game that pioneered the “zombie mode,” making it worthy of being listed among the top titles in the Call of Duty series.
Call of Duty 2
In our approach, we’ll use the first date displayed in the game as a reference point, which happens to be 1942. The sequel to the initial game, titled Call of Duty 2, raised the stakes and introduced four main characters hailing from various nations, each with a shared goal: to liberate the world from the oppressive Nazi regime.
Call of Duty
Let’s rewind to the very start, to the initial release of Call of Duty in 2003. This edition offers you a trio of distinct campaigns. Each is spearheaded by soldiers from Great Britain, Russia, or America.
The narratives span from 1942 to 1944, and since we usually prioritize the earlier dates in our collection, the year 1942 places it within our list, positioned immediately after the subsequent game to maintain a sense of suspense.
Call of Duty 3
This game, called Call of Duty 3, is another World War II title, but it’s simpler to pinpoint because it focuses on a specific period rather than stretching across various years. It centers around the Operation Cobra events, where the Allies fought to break free from the Normandy region.
Call of Duty: Big Red One
Set approximately in 1944, this game is highly recommended for fans who have enjoyed the acclaimed miniseries Band of Brothers. If you haven’t watched it yet, I strongly advise you to do so as it offers an immersive experience. Notably, some members of the show’s cast lend their voices to this game, including Michael Cudlitz and Richard Speight Jr.
In case you’re curious about the origin of the game’s title, it’s named after a real-life Army Infantry Division known as the Big Red One.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
During the final stages of World War II’s European theater in 1945, the narrative of Vanguard includes many flashbacks spanning from 1941 to 1944. It focuses on five separate stories of soldiers involved in the North Africa Campaign, Eastern Front, Western Front, and Pacific War, which ultimately resulted in the formation of Task Force One.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
We shift our focus onto the highly successful and widely appreciated Black Ops series, then leap forward several years into the Cold War period, specifically starting in 1961. The narrative unfolds until 1968, encompassing a significant portion of that decade. You assume the role of Alex Mason, who belongs to the covert operations unit of the United States – often referred to as SOG.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Among the relatively simpler games to conquer on the challenging expert mode, Black Ops 2 stands out with a bit of complexity regarding its timeline. Unlike its predecessor, this installment jumps between settings – one reminiscent of the ’60s, similar to the original Black Ops, and another set in the future (although 2025 may not seem too futuristic today). It also introduces several new gameplay elements that would later become standard in future versions of the game.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
As a diehard Call of Duty fan, I’m thrilled about the latest installment that transports us back to the ’90s! In this new adventure, I find myself as one of two renegade agents on a secret mission to replace the CIA’s deputy director. The multiplayer action is still there, but what sets this game apart is its bold and innovative missions – ones that push the boundaries of what we’ve come to expect from Call of Duty campaigns.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Among the timeless hits from the Call of Duty series, Modern Warfare was re-imagined with enhanced graphics and gameplay not too long ago. Alternatively, if you prefer, you can opt for the classic version that remains engaging even today.
This game, being the first in the series to depart from World War II themes, was particularly well-timed as it provided a refreshing change that seemed essential for the series at this juncture. Despite its release in 2007, its storyline primarily unfolds in 2011.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
2009’s Modern Warfare 2 lived up to expectations following the success of its predecessor and delivered an exhilarating experience that felt like a blockbuster action movie. The game featured a captivating storyline where Russians invaded the United States, with iconic battles such as the White House invasion being among the highlights. Among all Call of Duty games, this one stands out as particularly replayable. To clarify, it is set in 2016.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
This game marks the conclusion of the outstanding original Modern Warfare trilogy, and it certainly made a grand finale! Characters like Captain Price and Soap MacTavish reappear for the third installment, immediately continuing the storyline from where the second game ended. So if you play these games one after the other, you’re in for an action-packed journey!
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
2019’s Modern Warfare begins with General Barkov’s invasion of Urzikstan in 1999; however, events quickly unfold differently and shift to the year 2019 for the remainder of the campaign. Although it is a reboot and not directly connected to the continuity of other Modern Warfare games, this narrative placement makes the most sense. Consider it as an alternate timeline akin to the multiverse concept.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
In 2022, Modern Warfare 2 carries on from its earlier version, advancing the storyline several years forward. The single-player campaign revolves around Task Force 141 and the Mexican Special Forces unit, Los Vaqueros, who are on a mission to locate Hassan Zyani, a notorious terrorist with access to American-made ballistic missiles.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
In 2022, Modern Warfare 3 continues the storyline from Modern Warfare 2, focusing on Task Force 141’s efforts to stop a worldwide danger. The team includes Captain John Price, Sergeant John “Soap” MacTavish, Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley, and Sergeant Kyle “Gaz” Garrick. Notably, the infamous villain, Vladimir Makarov, makes his return as the primary antagonist.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
In the upcoming game starting in 2017, the alliance of South American countries poses a potential challenge for the U.S., with the storyline extending up until around 2027. Furthermore, Ghosts is known for its particularly explosive opening among games within this timeframe.
The narrative opens in the aftermath of a devastating event: multiple cities in the southwestern U.S. are obliterated, victims of an extraterrestrial weapon named Odin detonated in space. Fast forward ten years, and we delve into the remainder of the story.
If you’d like to shift Black Ops 2’s storyline set in 2025 to an earlier position in the series timeline, that’s definitely a reasonable decision.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
In the next installment of the Black Ops series, we delve deeper into the future, specifically the year 2043. The main character this time around is Savannah Mason-Meyer, a researcher, who prepares elite troops for an impending danger by using advanced virtual training simulations.
Unfortunately, and perhaps contentiously, this game lacks a traditional single-player campaign and primarily focuses on Specialist HQ training missions, Battle Royale mode, and zombies. While these aspects are enjoyable, the absence of a campaign may make it a pass for those who prioritize single-player experiences exclusively.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
In 2054, we leap far into the future, and this is where things got distinctly futuristic, which wasn’t met with universal approval among long-term followers of the series. This discontent can be understood – after all, the series had deviated from its realistic military game roots multiple times before, but now we have technologies like cloaking devices, hoverbikes, and exoskeletons!
It is still a ton of fun though, with some memorable moments – but it’s no surprise that it wasn’t long before the franchise started looking to the past again.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
2065 serves as the backdrop for Black Ops 3, and the game’s advanced, future-oriented elements have been significantly amplified in this installment. This shift has left some players yearning for a return to a more realistic, traditional take on the series.
In this tale, the focus lies on advanced robotics in military applications, set against a dystopian backdrop of the future. The narrative spans over a five-year period, concluding in the year 2070.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
2016’s Infinite Warfare transports us into a setting around 2080, making it at least a decade ahead of our current time. You assume the role of Captain Nick Reyes, a highly skilled Tier 1 Special Operations pilot. With your team, you engage in combat not on land or sea, but in the vast expanse of space!
On Earth, things are changing rapidly and resources are being used up faster than they can be replaced, while scientists search for alternatives throughout our solar system. However, let’s try not to dwell on the idea that humanity may face extinction in about 60 years as proposed by some developers.
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2024-11-05 22:06