Few video game franchises have shaped modern gaming quite like Call of Duty. For more than two decades, Activision’s blockbuster shooter series has defined what fast-paced first-person combat looks and feels like, evolving from gritty World War II roots into globe-spanning modern warfare, near-future experiments, and sprawling live-service ecosystems. Love it or loathe it, Call of Duty has delivered some of the most influential multiplayer modes, most cinematic campaigns, and most recognizable maps in gaming history.
With Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 now released in 2025, the series finds itself at another crossroads. While that latest entry sparked debate among fans and critics alike, it also encouraged a moment of reflection: just how many great Call of Duty games have there really been? And which ones still deserve your time in 2026?
Taking into account campaigns, multiplayer longevity, innovation, cultural impact, and overall quality, we’ve ranked the 10 best Call of Duty games of all time. Both mainline entries and major spin-offs were considered, drawing from the work of Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, Raven Software, and beyond.
Let’s count them down.
10. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Infinity Ward’s Modern Warfare II (2022) is a sequel that looks backward without being trapped by nostalgia. Rather than slavishly recreating the beats of its 2009 namesake, this rebooted sequel uses the past as inspiration, modernizing systems and pacing for a new era.
The campaign is relentlessly intense, with an emphasis on positioning, sound design, and lethal encounters that punish careless play. Stealth sections, experimental mechanics, and a more grounded tone make it one of the studio’s strongest modern campaigns. While it doesn’t radically redefine the formula, it executes it with confidence and polish.
Multiplayer builds on the foundations laid by Modern Warfare (2019), offering refined gunplay and slick audiovisual presentation. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s undeniably effective—and a reminder that Call of Duty doesn’t always need reinvention to be compelling.
9. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
After years of jetpacks, wall-running, and sci-fi spectacle, Call of Duty: WWII represented a deliberate return to basics. Set during the Second World War, it stripped away futuristic gadgets in favor of boots-on-the-ground combat—and the series was better for it.
The campaign starts slowly but builds toward confident, cinematic set pieces that echo classic war films. Its greatest strength, however, lies in multiplayer. Without drones and advanced mobility, firefights become more deliberate, rewarding map knowledge, positioning, and reflexes.
The addition of Headquarters—a shared social space inspired by games like Destiny—was a bold experiment that helped humanize the multiplayer experience. While not flawless, WWII stands as one of the strongest modern-era resets the franchise has attempted.
8. Call of Duty 2 (2005)
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: Xbox 360, PC
It’s difficult to overstate how important Call of Duty 2 was at the time of its release. Arriving alongside the Xbox 360, it helped usher in the HD era of console gaming and demonstrated the potential of Xbox Live for competitive multiplayer.
Today, it feels undeniably old-school—but in the best way. The campaign’s globe-trotting structure, large-scale battles, and cinematic ambition laid the groundwork for everything the series would become. Meanwhile, its tight multiplayer showcased Infinity Ward’s early mastery of map design and pacing.
For players willing to appreciate its age, Call of Duty 2 remains remarkably playable and historically essential—a foundational pillar of the franchise’s dominance.
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC
Reboots are risky, especially when they share a name with one of the most beloved shooters ever made. Yet Modern Warfare (2019) succeeds by reimagining the franchise rather than remaking it.
This entry feels less like a sequence of disconnected missions and more like a tightly edited action film. The campaign explores morally gray conflicts, urban warfare, and covert operations with a tone that feels heavier and more grounded than many previous entries.
Multiplayer introduced a new engine, revamped gunplay, and a more realistic presentation that influenced the entire series moving forward. While its sequels failed to reach the same heights, Modern Warfare (2019) remains a bold and successful reinvention.
6. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 (2022)
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Unlike every other entry on this list, Warzone 2.0 is a free-to-play battle royale—and one of the most important games in the franchise’s modern history.
Designed as a response to Fortnite and Apex Legends, Warzone 2.0 adapts the battle royale formula to Call of Duty’s faster gunplay and grounded weapon handling. Streamlined looting, refined Gulag mechanics, and the addition of the DMZ mode give it a unique identity within the genre.
Even years after launch, Warzone 2.0 remains relevant thanks to ongoing updates and integration with mainline titles. It’s proof that Call of Duty can thrive outside its traditional annual-release structure.
5. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)
Developer: Treyarch
Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, PC
Black Ops II is where Treyarch truly began to experiment. Set across multiple timelines, it introduced branching narratives and multiple endings—still a rarity in the franchise.
The campaign’s Strike Force missions added strategic depth, while player choices had tangible consequences for the story’s outcome. In multiplayer, the Pick 10 loadout system revolutionized customization, influencing nearly every Call of Duty that followed.
While not every experiment landed perfectly, Black Ops II stands out as a confident blend of innovation and tradition, and one of the most replayable entries in the series.
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Remastered available)
Few sequels have faced as much pressure as Modern Warfare 2 (2009)—and even fewer have come as close to meeting it.
The campaign raises the stakes with globe-spanning missions and unforgettable moments, from snow-covered gulags to controversial narrative choices. Multiplayer introduced some of the most iconic maps in FPS history, including the endlessly replayable Rust.
While balance issues and design excesses prevent it from taking the top spot, Modern Warfare 2 remains one of the most influential shooters ever made—and a defining game of its generation.
3. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)
Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Black Ops 6 represents one of the series’ most confident modern evolutions. Set during the Gulf War in the 1990s, it blends real-world history with conspiracy-driven storytelling and psychological horror.
Non-linear levels, elaborate heists, and surreal sequences give the campaign a distinctive identity. Multiplayer introduces refined “omnimovement,” improving fluidity without devolving into chaotic excess. Zombies mode, with two content-rich maps at launch, rounds out an impressively complete package.
In many ways, Black Ops 6 proves that Call of Duty can still meaningfully evolve—even decades into its lifespan.
2. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
Developer: Treyarch
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii
Treyarch’s Black Ops remains one of the most stylish entries in the franchise. Its Cold War setting allows for moral ambiguity, psychological twists, and a narrative that’s as strange as it is memorable.
The campaign’s Vietnam missions, MKUltra themes, and iconic soundtrack choices give it a tone unlike any other Call of Duty. Multiplayer introduced fan-favorite modes like Gun Game, while Zombies continued to grow into a cultural phenomenon.
More than a decade later, Black Ops still feels distinct—and endlessly quotable.
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Developer: Infinity Ward
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC (Remastered available)
There was Call of Duty before Modern Warfare—and then there was everything after it.
Released in 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare redefined console shooters. Its modern setting, cinematic campaign, and revolutionary multiplayer progression system set a new industry standard.
Missions like All Ghillied Up, Death From Above, and Charlie Don’t Surf remain iconic, blending spectacle with surprising restraint. Multiplayer’s mix of unlocks, perks, and impeccably designed maps created an addictive loop that still influences FPS design today.
The 2016 remaster only reinforces its legacy. If you play just one Call of Duty game, this is the one.
Final Thoughts
The Call of Duty franchise has had its ups and downs, but its highs are unmatched. From genre-defining classics to bold modern experiments, these ten games represent the very best the series has to offer.
As we look ahead to the future of Call of Duty, one thing remains clear: few franchises have delivered as many unforgettable moments—or shaped the shooter genre as profoundly. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering them for the first time, these are the entries that truly define Call of Duty.