Call of Duty Games Tier List: Every Entry Ranked
Twenty-plus years, one franchise, a lot of arguments about which Modern Warfare is actually the good one. We're ranking every mainline Call of Duty release, from the original 2003 shooter to the latest Black Ops entries, plus the standalone spinoffs like Warzone and Mobile that most people have actually played more than the campaigns.
This is based on what fans and critics tend to agree on across forums, reviews and years of "remember when CoD was good" debates, with our own take where the community splits down the middle. Grab your energy drink, here's how it shakes out.
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SS Tier: The ones that defined the genre
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
This is the one people mean when they say 'Call of Duty used to be good.' Killstreaks, Create-a-Class, Crash and Vacant, a campaign with Piece of Cake and All Ghillied Up in it. Everything after this game is reacting to it one way or another.
About Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
The 2007 game that moved the series into the modern era and changed shooters permanently, with its killstreaks, perks and create-a-class multiplayer system.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2007
- Setting
- Modern day
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Treyarch's Cold War debut nailed tone, campaign twists, and Kino der Toten in one package. Nuketown alone kept lobbies full for over a decade, and the brainwashing reveal still gets brought up in 'best CoD twists' arguments.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops
Treyarch's 2010 Cold War-era entry, remembered for its campaign twists, Zombies maps like Kino der Toten, and the combat training/theater features.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2010
- Setting
- Cold War
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Love it or hate No Russian, this was the cultural peak of the franchise. Terminal, Favela and Rust defined an era of multiplayer, and it sold like nothing else in gaming at the time.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
The 2009 sequel to CoD4, famous for its blockbuster campaign, the controversial 'No Russian' mission, and multiplayer that dominated living rooms for years.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2009
- Setting
- Modern day
AA Tier: Excellent, no real weak spot
Call of Duty: Black Ops II
Branching campaign paths were a genuinely bold swing for a yearly shooter, and Mob of the Dead is still name-dropped as one of the best Zombies maps ever made. Strike Force missions were clunky, but the rest holds up remarkably well.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops II
A 2012 entry that pushed the series into near-future settings with branching campaign paths based on player choices, plus the widely loved Mob of the Dead Zombies map.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2012
- Setting
- Near future / Cold War
Call of Duty: World at War
Grim, unflinching WWII campaign paired with the mode that became a franchise institution: Nazi Zombies. Der Riese and the Pacific setting gave the series a rawness it hadn't shown before.
About Call of Duty: World at War
Treyarch's 2008 return to WWII, known for its brutal tone and for introducing the Nazi Zombies mode that became a franchise staple.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2008
- Setting
- World War II
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
A real bounce-back after a rough stretch, with omnimovement making traversal feel fresh again and a campaign that leaned into 90s espionage with some style. Fans who'd checked out came back for this one.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
The 2024 entry from Treyarch, set partly in the 1990s, that returned to omnimovement mechanics and was generally well received as a bounce-back for the series.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2024
- Setting
- 1990s
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
The reboot that took the series seriously again, with a campaign willing to sit in uncomfortable territory and multiplayer that eventually fed into Warzone. Gunfight and the slower TTK split some players, but most agree this was a needed reset.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
Infinity Ward's reboot of the Modern Warfare sub-series, praised for its gritty campaign tone and for laying groundwork that led directly into Warzone.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2019
- Setting
- Modern day
Call of Duty 2
A tight, well-drilled WWII sequel that showed up right as the Xbox 360 launched and made the most of it. Regenerating health was new here, and the multiplayer maps are still fondly remembered by anyone who played this on original Xbox Live.
About Call of Duty 2
Infinity Ward's 2005 sequel and an early Xbox 360 launch title, refining the WWII shooter formula with the series' first regenerating health system.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2005
- Setting
- World War II
Call of Duty
The one that started it all. It lacks the polish of its sequels but it set the template for military shooters with a gripping WWII campaign across multiple Allied perspectives. A solid, foundational entry that still holds up as a piece of gaming history.
About Call of Duty
The game that started it all, released in 2003 by Infinity Ward. A World War II shooter built on the Quake III engine, it focused on squad-based combat across American, British and Soviet campaigns.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2003
- Setting
- World War II
BB Tier: Solid, dependable, well liked
Call of Duty: Black Ops III
The movement systems were polarizing, but the Zombies mode here might be the deepest the series has ever done, and the co-op campaign design was more ambitious than people gave it credit for at the time.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops III
Released in 2015, this entry leaned fully into futuristic movement systems and co-op campaign design, alongside a deep Zombies mode.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2015
- Setting
- Future
Call of Duty: Warzone
Not a numbered entry, but for a lot of players this is simply what Call of Duty is now. Verdansk was a genuine phenomenon in 2020, even if the game has had a rockier ride since with engine changes and map fatigue.
About Call of Duty: Warzone
The free-to-play battle royale spinoff launched in 2020, built initially on the Modern Warfare (2019) engine and still running as its own ongoing platform.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward / Raven Software
- Released
- 2020
- Model
- Free-to-play
Call of Duty: Mobile
Shockingly deep for a free mobile game, stitching together maps and operators from across the whole series' history. It's not trying to be a prestige release, but it's stuck around and kept a huge audience engaged for years.
About Call of Duty: Mobile
The 2019 mobile entry that packed in maps, modes and characters from across the entire franchise history into a surprisingly deep free-to-play package.
- Developer
- TiMi Studios
- Released
- 2019
- Model
- Free-to-play
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Connecting back to the 2010 original was a smart move, and the campaign's branching choices gave it some replay value. Multiplayer launched a little rough, but Zombies fans came around on Die Maschine eventually.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Treyarch's 2020 entry, connecting back to the original Black Ops storyline with 1980s Cold War espionage and branching campaign choices.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2020
- Setting
- Cold War
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Exo-suits made movement genuinely different, and love it or not, this entry tried something. Kevin Spacey chewing scenery as Jonathan Irons gave the campaign a hook most CoD stories don't bother with.
About Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Sledgehammer Games' 2014 entry introduced exoskeleton movement and starred Kevin Spacey in a prominent campaign role.
- Developer
- Sledgehammer Games
- Released
- 2014
- Setting
- Near future
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
A faithful glow-up of the 2007 original, and for plenty of players this was the version they actually played. It can't beat nostalgia for the original release, but the maps still play exactly as well as you remember.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
A 2016 remaster of the original 2007 Modern Warfare, rebuilding visuals while keeping the core campaign and multiplayer maps that defined the genre.
- Developer
- Raven Software
- Released
- 2016
- Based on
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Call of Duty: WWII
A back-to-basics return that fans largely welcomed after a few years of jetpacks and wall-running. The campaign's Normandy opening is one of the stronger set pieces the series has done, even if the back half loses steam.
About Call of Duty: WWII
Sledgehammer Games' 2017 return to the franchise's original setting, bringing back boots-on-the-ground combat and traditional killstreaks.
- Developer
- Sledgehammer Games
- Released
- 2017
- Setting
- World War II
CC Tier: Fine, but you can feel the fatigue
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Closing out the original Modern Warfare trilogy felt more like contractual obligation than a creative leap. It's competent and the multiplayer sold fine, but ask anyone to describe a standout moment and you'll get a shrug.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
The 2011 closer to the original Modern Warfare trilogy, wrapping up the Makarov storyline while multiplayer leaned on the formula fans already knew.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward / Sledgehammer Games
- Released
- 2011
- Setting
- Modern day
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
Dropping the single-player campaign was a genuinely divisive call, and Blackout was a fine first stab at battle royale, but this one feels more like a transitional experiment than a destination in its own right.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
A 2018 entry notable for dropping a traditional single-player campaign entirely, focusing instead on multiplayer, Zombies, and the Blackout battle royale mode.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2018
- Setting
- Near future
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Visually sharp and the campaign had its moments, but the slower, more tactical multiplayer and map design were a constant source of fan arguments all year. People still play it, but nobody defends it with the passion of the 2019 game.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
Infinity Ward's follow-up to the 2019 reboot, bringing back Task Force 141 with a glossier presentation but a multiplayer that split opinion over its movement and map design.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2022
- Setting
- Modern day
Call of Duty 3
The first mainline entry without Infinity Ward at the wheel, and it shows in how little anyone remembers specific moments from it. Solid WWII shooting, nothing that's stuck in the culture the way CoD2 did.
About Call of Duty 3
Developed by Treyarch in 2006, this was the first mainline entry not made by Infinity Ward and stuck with the WWII setting, focusing heavily on the Normandy breakout.
- Developer
- Treyarch
- Released
- 2006
- Setting
- World War II
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
The space setting got review-bombed before launch out of sheer fan panic, which is a little unfair since the campaign (and Captain Reyes) earned real praise from people who gave it a shot. Still, it's the entry most people skipped entirely.
About Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Infinity Ward's 2016 space-set entry, which faced backlash for its setting before release but earned praise for its campaign from many who actually played it.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2016
- Setting
- Space / future
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
Too recent to have settled into a firm reputation yet, continuing Treyarch's current run but without the same splash as Black Ops 6. on how reception settles once the community has had more time with it.
About Call of Duty: Black Ops 7
The latest mainline entry in the Black Ops line, continuing the recent run of annual releases from Treyarch.
- Developer
- Treyarch
DD Tier: Missteps the fanbase mostly skips
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
Reused Modern Warfare II assets, a campaign widely criticized as rushed, and remastered 2009 maps that felt more like a nostalgia play than new content. Even CoD die-hards called this one a cash-grab turnaround.
About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
A fast-turnaround 2023 sequel that reused assets heavily and brought back remastered multiplayer maps from the 2009 original, which drew criticism for its short campaign.
- Developer
- Sledgehammer Games
- Released
- 2023
- Setting
- Modern day
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Another WWII entry arriving just a few years after WWII already did it, with a campaign nobody talks about and multiplayer that got overshadowed almost immediately by Warzone Pacific. It came and went with barely a ripple.
About Call of Duty: Vanguard
Sledgehammer Games' 2021 WWII entry, built around a fictional multinational special forces unit, generally seen as one of the series' more forgettable outings.
- Developer
- Sledgehammer Games
- Released
- 2021
- Setting
- World War II
Call of Duty: Ghosts
Riley the dog is more memorable than most of the human cast, which tells you something. The engine was aging, the story was forgettable, and this is usually the answer when people argue about the series' low point of the 2010s.
About Call of Duty: Ghosts
Infinity Ward's 2013 entry, notable for a new setting and the dog companion Riley, though it's generally seen as a lower point for the series.
- Developer
- Infinity Ward
- Released
- 2013
- Setting
- Near future
FF Tier: Just not it
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
A console spinoff made without Infinity Ward's involvement, and it plays like it. Stiff controls and barebones multiplayer made this the one entry most longtime fans have genuinely never finished.
About Call of Duty: Finest Hour
The first console-only Call of Duty, developed by Spark Unlimited and released in 2004. It brought the WWII formula to PS2, Xbox and GameCube without the series' usual developer at the helm.
- Developer
- Spark Unlimited
- Released
- 2004
- Setting
- World War II
How we ranked them
We weighed campaign quality, multiplayer longevity, map design, innovation at the time of release, and how well each game has aged in community memory. Sales numbers matter less here than whether people still boot the game up or talk about it fondly years later. Spinoffs and live-service entries were judged on their own terms, not against campaign-driven numbered entries.
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Rank these yourselfFAQ
What is the best Call of Duty game of all time?
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is the most widely agreed-upon answer. It reset the entire shooter genre in 2007 and its multiplayer maps are still referenced today.
What is the worst Call of Duty game?
Call of Duty: Finest Hour, the 2004 console spinoff, is generally considered the weakest entry due to its clunky controls and lack of the series' signature multiplayer polish.
Is Call of Duty: Black Ops II underrated?
Among fans, no, it's often cited as a top-tier entry thanks to its branching campaign and Zombies mode. It holds up better than several games released after it.
Is Warzone considered a real Call of Duty game?
It's a standalone battle royale spinoff rather than a numbered entry, but it's been many players' main way of experiencing CoD since 2020, so we ranked it alongside the rest.
Which Modern Warfare reboot is better, 2019 or 2022?
The 2019 Modern Warfare reboot is generally seen as the stronger of the two, with a more talked-about campaign and multiplayer, while Modern Warfare II (2022) split the fanbase on movement and map design.
More rankings
Image credits
- Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Black OpsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Black Ops IICover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: World at WarCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty 2Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Black Ops IIICover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: WarzoneCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: MobileLogo: Unknown authorUnknown author, CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · License · Source
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare RemasteredCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: WWIICover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty 3Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Infinite WarfareCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)Cover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: VanguardCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: GhostsCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of Duty: Finest HourCover: Wikipedia · Source
- Call of DutyCover: Wikipedia · Source