Call of Duty Series: A Comprehensive Journey Through Time
The Call of Duty franchise has captivated gamers worldwide since its inception, with each installment pushing the boundaries of first-person shooter gameplay. Let's explore each game in the series in chronological order, highlighting their unique features and contributions to the legacy of Call of Duty.
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
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The original Call of Duty, released in 2003, set the stage for the series. It offered both multiplayer and single-player modes, focusing on World War II with four distinct campaigns:
- American campaign
- British campaign
- Soviet campaign
- Allied campaign
Each campaign featured a series of missions inspired by historical events, allowing players to experience the war from multiple perspectives. With 26 diverse missions, including night battles and urban combat, the game provided a comprehensive WWII experience.
Call of Duty 2
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: October 25, 2005
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty 2 continued the WWII theme, introducing automatic health regeneration—a feature that became a staple in the series. The game retained the multi-campaign structure:
- American campaign
- British campaign
- Soviet campaign
While the gameplay remained similar to its predecessor, the addition of a documentary video at the end of the game provided historical context, enhancing the player's experience.
Call of Duty 3
Image: riotpixels.com
Release Date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Call of Duty 3 shifted to a unified storyline for its single-player mode and was initially exclusive to Xbox. Key changes included:
- A single, cohesive narrative
- New actions like rowing a boat
- Split-screen multiplayer
- Improved animations and lighting
This game was the first to feature civilians and omit handguns from the campaign.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Image: blog.activision.com
Release Date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare marked a significant shift to a modern setting, introducing an alternate reality in 2011. The game featured:
- American campaign
- English campaign
Innovations included an Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the introduction of classes in multiplayer, which became a hallmark of the series.
Call of Duty: World at War
Image: polygon.com
Release Date: November 11, 2008
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: World at War returned to WWII but introduced the popular Nazi Zombies mode. The game featured:
- American campaign
- Soviet campaign
Notable additions included dismemberment, flamethrowers, and customizable character classes, setting the stage for the Black Ops subseries.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com
Release Date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A sequel to Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continued the storyline into 2016. New features included:
- Climbing and underwater movement
- Dual wielding pistols
- New multiplayer modes and a deeper perk system
This installment was a massive success, shaping the future of the series.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops continued the World at War narrative, setting missions in the post-WWII era. Key features included:
- In-game currency and skins
- Contracts and a wagering game mode
- Zombies mode
This game expanded on multiplayer customization and introduced a variety of new gameplay elements.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Image: moddb.com
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 directly continued the story from its predecessor, focusing on refining existing mechanics. It achieved record-breaking sales upon release, reflecting its popularity.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops II innovated with a dual-timeframe campaign set in 2025-2026 and 1986-1989. Key features included:
- Player actions affecting the storyline
- Multiple endings
- Equipment and weapon selection before battles
- Improved AI and Strike Force missions
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts introduced a new storyline with battles on Earth and in space. Notable changes included:
- Character customization
- Female playable characters
- Destructible environments
- Revamped perk system
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net
Release Date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in a futuristic world, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare introduced:
- Exoskeletons and advanced technology
- Vertical gameplay
- A mode featuring alien enemies
Despite these innovations, the game received mixed reactions from players.
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: November 6, 2015
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops III continued the futuristic theme, featuring:
- Cybernetic enhancements for soldiers
- Jetpacks instead of exoskeletons
- Wall-running and underwater combat
The game introduced nine specialists, enhancing the class system.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Image: wsj.com
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was set on Mars and introduced:
- New exoskeletons with customizable upgrades
- A standalone storyline
The game focused on multiplayer enhancements and new mission types.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Raven Software
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered offered updated visuals and audio while maintaining the core gameplay of the original. It included new achievements and cheat codes.
Call of Duty: WWII
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 3, 2017
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: WWII returned to the WWII setting, introducing:
- Heroic actions and medkits
- NPC assistance requests
- Expanded multiplayer modes and larger lobbies
The game was warmly received, despite the genre's perceived saturation.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: October 12, 2018
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 shifted to a futuristic setting without a traditional campaign, featuring:
- Standalone missions
- Increased player HP and new healing mechanics
- A "fog of war" system
- A 100-player battle royale mode
This game marked a departure from the series' conventional structure.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A reboot of the Modern Warfare subseries, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare focused on contemporary issues, including:
- Increased weapon recoil and bipods
- A revamped Killstreaks system
- A split Spec Ops mode
Despite its heavy content, the game introduced significant gameplay changes.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone was a standalone battle royale game, featuring:
- Classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder modes
- A "downed" state and Gulag system
- Extensive vehicle use
This game introduced new mechanics without traditional single-player or multiplayer modes.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Image: youtube.com
Release Date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered focused on enhancing visuals, audio, and animations while preserving the original campaign's essence.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 13, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War bridged the gap between Black Ops and Black Ops II, offering:
- Diverse mission locations
- Enhanced zombies mode with loadouts and upgrades
The game focused on refining existing mechanics without introducing radical changes.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Image: news.blizzard.com
Release Date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Vanguard returned to WWII, featuring:
- A short main storyline with character backstories
- 20 multiplayer maps, a series record
The game maintained the familiar formula without introducing significant new mechanics.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Image: championat.com
Release Date: November 16, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 built upon the original Warzone, introducing:
- Ammo sharing among allies
- An updated Gulag and new DMZ mode
The game remained free-to-play as part of Modern Warfare II.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Release Date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A direct sequel to the rebooted Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II featured:
- Wall breaching
- Revised swimming and vehicle mechanics
- Underwater combat limitations
- Enhanced character customization
The game maintained familiar gameplay while introducing minor changes.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release Date: November 2, 2023
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III combined the best elements of its predecessors, featuring:
- More combat-focused missions
- 24 multiplayer maps
- A new "Slaughter" mode
The game focused on enhancing existing mechanics without major alterations.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Image: moddb.com
Release Date: October 25, 2024
Developer: Treyarch and Raven Software
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 continues the Cold War narrative into the 1990s, introducing:
- Climbing and sliding mechanics
- Smart movement and corner peeking
- Different hit reactions
- Rounds-based zombies mode
This installment reintroduces significant gameplay changes, refreshing the series.
The Call of Duty franchise has consistently delivered engaging gameplay, striking a balance between difficulty, realism, and player interaction. Over 21 years, each game has built upon the successes of its predecessors, earning a devoted global fanbase. The series continues to evolve, remaining a cornerstone of the first-person shooter genre.
