The **Call of Duty** series is a legendary franchise renowned and cherished globally. Let's delve into the sequence of its releases, highlighting the unique features and innovations of each game.
Call of Duty
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The inaugural Call of Duty game, launched in 2003, set the stage for the series. It introduced players to World War II through four distinct single-player campaigns: American, British, Soviet, and Allied. Each campaign offered a series of missions reflecting historical events, allowing players to experience the war from different perspectives. The game included 26 missions, ranging from training to large-scale urban battles. The multiplayer mode featured team-based objectives like capturing and holding points.
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 HP regeneration and removing the health bar, which was a significant change from its predecessor. The game retained the three campaigns—American, British, and Soviet—and was celebrated for its similarity to the original, pleasing fans. The multiplayer mode remained largely unchanged, and the game concluded with a documentary video on WWII.
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, released exclusively for Xbox. It introduced new actions like rowing a boat and added split-screen multiplayer. Technical enhancements improved animation and lighting, and civilians were included for the first time, though handguns were absent 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 shift to a modern setting, set in an alternate 2011 to avert a nuclear catastrophe. It featured American and English campaigns and introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and the class system in multiplayer, which became a staple for 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, featuring American and Soviet campaigns. While the core gameplay remained familiar, it introduced the Nazi Zombies mode and enhancements like dismemberment and flamethrowers. This game laid the groundwork for the Black Ops subseries.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com
Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 continued the story from its predecessor, set in 2016. It introduced new gameplay elements like climbing and underwater movement. The multiplayer mode was enhanced with dual-wielding pistols, new modes, a deeper perk system, and the ability to call in airstrikes.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Image: youtube.com
Release date: November 9, 2010
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops shifted to a post-WWII setting, with players undertaking missions as a CIA agent. It introduced in-game currency, character and weapon skins, contracts, and a wagering game mode. The zombies mode and class system were retained.
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 continued the Modern Warfare saga, focusing on refining existing mechanics and enhancing sound and graphics. It achieved the most successful entertainment launch at the time.
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Image: youtube.com
Release date: May 2, 2012
Developer: Treyarch
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Black Ops II explored dual timelines (2025-2026 and 1986-1989), with player actions affecting the storyline and multiple endings. It introduced Strike Force missions and improved AI.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Image: youtube.com
Release date: May 1, 2013
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Ghosts offered a new story with battles on Earth and in space, including alien encounters. It allowed for character customization, female playable characters, and destructible environments.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net
Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare introduced a futuristic setting with exoskeletons, drones, and advanced weaponry. Despite these innovations, it received a lukewarm reception.
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 with cybernetic enhancements and jetpacks. It introduced specialists, wall-running, and underwater combat.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Image: wsj.com
Release date: November 4, 2016
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare took players to Mars, with a focus on new exoskeletons and customizable upgrades in multiplayer.
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 preserved the original game's core while enhancing audio, visuals, and animations. It added 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 its roots with a WWII setting, introducing "heroic actions," medkits, and NPC assistance. Multiplayer featured new modes and increased lobby sizes.
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, focusing on standalone missions and introducing a battle royale mode. It increased player HP and introduced a "fog of war" system.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Image: store.steampowered.com
Release date: May 30, 2019
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare rebooted the subseries with a focus on modern societal issues, including controversial content. It introduced increased recoil, bipods, and the Killstreaks system, along with a revised Spec Ops mode.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone was a standalone project featuring battle royale modes (Classic, Rebirth, and Plunder) without traditional single-player or multiplayer modes. It introduced the "downed" state, the Gulag, and vehicle usage.
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 sound, animations, and visuals, 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
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War set in 1981, offered a diverse single-player campaign and introduced changes to the zombies mode, including loadouts, tactical items, and armor upgrades.
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 with a focus on character backstories and a record 20 multiplayer maps, maintaining familiar gameplay 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 was integrated with Modern Warfare II, featuring new mechanics like shared ammo and an updated Gulag. It introduced the DMZ mode for faction-based tasks.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II continued the fight against terrorism and drug trafficking, introducing wall breaching, revised swimming and vehicle mechanics, and a detailed character customization system.
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 elements from its predecessors, offering more combat-focused missions and 24 multiplayer maps. It introduced the "Slaughter" mode, featuring three teams of three players.
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 set in the 1990s, reintroduces new mechanics like obstacle climbing, slide tackles, and a smart movement system. The zombies mode now features separate rounds.
The **Call of Duty** franchise, with 25 games to date, continues to captivate players worldwide. Each annual release brings eagerly awaited innovations while maintaining a balance between difficulty, realism, and player interaction. The series has successfully united gamers of all ages and interests, cementing its place as one of the most popular shooters in the gaming world.
