Originally debuting in 2003, Call of Duty was a solid—albeit slightly trite—military shooter that offered a compelling and multifaceted campaign set during the Second World War along with entertaining yet fairly disposable multiplayer options. However, from somewhat humble beginnings the series would balloon into perhaps the most renowned first-person shooter franchise of all time.
Be it hunkering down in foxholes in WWII or battling on distant planets, the Call of Duty games have covered some seriously diverse territory. Though the campaigns aren't really the focus of the more recent entries, the franchise has still brought us some unforgettable single-player experiences.
Black Ops 2
Following a decade of widely-celebrated yet fiercely linear offerings, Activision and Treyarch opted to switch things up for 2012's Call of Duty: Black Ops II. A choices-matter affair that featured a plot nearly as twisted and cerebral as that of its predecessor, Black Ops II was a wild ride from start to finish that was built with replayability in mind.
That said, some of the optional side missions could be a bit tedious, and some of the game's many endings didn't come across as cohesive or believable. Still, it was a landmark title that stood head-and-shoulders above the relatively unimaginative campaigns that would follow.
Call Of Duty
The release that started it all, 2003's Call of Duty debuted at a time during which just about every first-person shooter was set in the Second World War. However, Call of Duty differentiated itself by introducing some key mechanics that would soon become standard across the board.
Rather than focusing on one soldier, the title had three campaigns and was perhaps most well known for its groundbreaking depiction of the Battle of Stalingrad. Plus, it included a set of fairly lengthy vehicle sections, and it was one of the first games to include the use of iron sights when aiming.
Call Of Duty 2
Released in 2005 as the direct followup to the original title, Call of Duty 2 takes many queues from the original game, and, in terms of narrative, innovates very little.
However, a launch title for Microsoft's Xbox 360 console, Call of Duty 2 features a noticeable visual upgrade compared to its predecessor. Environments and character models have been improved significantly, and the gunplay has been refined and feels less clunky when compared to the series' first iteration.
Black Ops: Cold War
A return to form for the sub-series after Black Ops III's campaign jumped the shark and Black Ops IIII skipped the campaign entirely, 2020's Black Ops: Cold War took what made the original two games great and expanded upon them, offering a robust and absorbing—if somewhat brief—campaign.
Set during the closing day of the Cold War, a small band of operatives work to capture a rogue Russian spy seemingly hellbent on destroying the Western world. Riddled with twists and unexpected shakeups, Cold War's campaign feels like a welcome return to form for the lineage of games under the Black Ops banner.
Call of Duty 3
The only mainline game in the series never to receive a proper port to PC, Call of Duty 3 still looks stellar despite the limitations of the hardware for which it was designed. Featuring robust, action-packed campaign missions which focused almost entirely on the Second World War's European Theater, Call of Duty 3 set the precedent for the inclusion of big-budget set pieces for which the series would later be known.
Incredibly detailed for the time and tailor-made to be played with a controller, Call of Duty 3 is easily the best of the franchise's original trilogy. It's a shame that the entry never saw a proper conversion for PC players.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
A reboot of the fan-favorite Modern Warfare sub-series and the first Call of Duty title to utilize a new ray tracing-capable engine, Modern Warfare 2019 was a breath of fresh air following the mixed reception of Black Ops IIII, a game which, as was previously mentioned, completely forewent any single-player campaign options.
Though it was dragged for its milquetoast political stances, Modern Warfare was a graphical marvel that wowed audiences and felt like the dawn of a new era for a series that had largely been spinning its tires for most of the 2010s. The campaign may be short and sweet, but it was impactful and far more gratifying than almost anything that had released in previous years.
World At War
The fifth numbered Call of Duty entry debuted in November of 2008 and was the final CoD title to be set during the Second World War until 2017's bluntly-titled Call of Duty: WWII. An epic, harrowing campaign that focused on the grim tragedies of warfare, World At War was a standout title released just as the popularity of military shooters set during historic conflicts was beginning to fade.
Featuring campaigns set in the Pacific Theater and in East Germany, players fought to topple dictators and draw to a close one of the deadliest wars in history, and it served as an excellent bookmark to that era of FPS gaming.
Modern Warfare 2
The direct sequel to what was perhaps the most innovative Call of Duty title of all time, 2009's Modern Warfare 2 defined a generation by ramping the action up to eleven and delivering one of the most explosive military shooter campaigns of all time.
Though it's primarily known for its multiplayer modes, Modern Warfare 2 featured a dynamic and unforgettable narrative that players still discuss to this day. From the infamous No Russian mission to the infamous betrayal by General Shephard, Modern Warfare 2 is so revered that it saw a remaster released in 2020.
Black Ops
Release during the height of the series' popularity in the early 2010s, Call of Duty: Black Ops doubled down on the action movie-style campaign modes seen in previous games, offering up a wild and cerebral ride that fans still revere over ten years later.
Set during the opening years of the Cold War, Black Ops focuses on the story of Alex Mason, a clandestine operator tasked with taking down some of the Soviet Union's greatest allies. However, things unravel as the game progresses, and players are left questioning the very fabric of reality as the monstrous late-game twist is revealed.
Modern Warfare (2007)
The most important and well-regarded release in the Call of Duty lineage, 2007's Modern Warfare was a hallmark release that almost single-handedly ushered in the era of modern military shooters which dominated the late 2000s and early 2010s.
A grand, sweeping campaign heavily based on real-world geopolitical circumstances of the time, Modern Warfare was full of unforgettable moments and missions, with two of the most famous being the "All Ghillied Up" and "One Shot, One Kill" double feature. Plus, from the unexpected nuclear detonation at the end of the first act to the gratifying and perilous conclusion, Modern Warfare's campaign was a non-stop thrill ride that's every bit as enjoyable today as it was fourteen years ago.