Can you believe that there’s been over twenty Call of Duty games? Well in the below article I will be breaking down my all time top COD titles, highlighting the best (and worst) the series has had to offer… so far.
G
Vanguard (2021)
That’s right, the worst modern Call of Duty title is Vanguard. Sledgehammer Games’ latest WW2 shooter is quite simply a disappointment.
To say that the studio had more time to work on the game, especially seen as they only worked on two modes, is concerning. It’s their worst work to date; it’s a buggy attempt at copying what made Modern Warfare (2019) successful. The campaign is worse than their previous WW2 game, and the other two modes are outshined as well.
Zombies is by far the biggest let down, as the game launched with Der Anfang which was marketed to be something that it simply isn’t. Gone is the classic round-based gameplay, and instead is replaced with a generic survival game that is far too easy and boring (Treyarch were definitely not given the time or resources needed to implement anything good here). Shi No Numa has since been remade and is a much needed and welcome addition, but there’s only a few months until the launch of MW2 (2022). Let’s hope that Treyarch take advantage of the extra year of development for COD (2024).
F
Advanced Warfare (2014)
Press F to pay respects to Advanced Warfare. A game which tried to innovate in a series going stale but kind of failed in my opinion, Advanced Warfare ended up doing more bad than good.
Advanced Warfare was different from its predecessors which was a positive first step, but then the cracks started to become apparent. The Campaign was certainly playable but was largely forgettable, as was Exo-Zombies, but the Multiplayer suffered from three major flaws which, in my opinion, make it one of the worst in the series to date.
Poor weapon balancing (ASM1 & Bal-27 were literally the only decent weapons) made the game tedious to play as it felt as though there was limited choice. This was made worse by the introduction of everybody’s favourite – loot boxes; which contained game-changing and highly sought after gun variants. On top of that the movement system changed to reflect the games’ futuristic tone, allowing players to rocket up and away during gunfights. This meant that verticality came into play more, changing map design and the way games were played to the point of frustration.
Infinite Warfare (2016)
Not a complete steaming pile of trash… but close, Infinite Warfare gained notoriety as the most ‘disliked’ Call of Duty game ever made.
This was due to the game coming hot off of the heels of two other futuristic Call of Duty games, with no breaks in-between. Fans were already burnt out on the sci-fi trend and longed to go back to “boots on the ground”… luckily they soon got their wish. The release of Infinite Warfare was partially saved by the inclusion of Modern Warfare Remastered, though that came at an additional price.
The reason it ranks above AW is that, for me, the maps were slightly better, and so was the movement system and the scorestreaks. The weapon balance was also better and I simply enjoyed the story more.
E
Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
A much more disappointing sequel when compared to the 2009 game of the same name (which ranks much higher on the list), MW2 (2022) takes multiple steps backwards from the 2019 reboot.
It’s Multiplayer (as it tends to be nowadays) that lets the game down completely. Weird changes to the formula that no one asked for, including chargeable perks during games (that skew game balance) and a Dead Silence field upgrade that emits a loud noise on activating, combined with the now common strict anti-fun skill based match making and poor maps, results in one of the least enjoyable online Multiplayer experience in franchise history. Campaign was a fun time though admittedly.
Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
Basically interchangeable with the previous game on this list, MW3 (2023) also failed to capture the magic of the originals in almost every way.
Though the game shouldn’t exist (as Activision said there would be no yearly release in 2023), it ranks slightly higher on the list than the previous instalment, thanks to a better overall Multiplayer experience.
This wasn’t exactly hard to do mind, as the glorified expansion brought back all launch maps from the original Modern Warfare 2 (I know, very confusing), walked back the changes to gameplay made from the previous year, and reintroduced staple features; such as a working mini-map, suppressors, and perks to name a few.
MWZ is fun for a few games, if a little grindy to be able to experience all the content – but again doesn’t hold a candle to Treyarch’s round-based, crew focused Zombies experiences of old.
Then we get to the Campaign… simply the worst in the entire series by far (and I’m even including Black Ops 4 in that). Missing characters from the last game, filler missions, poor writing, a short run time, and you can clearly see that this was rushed out to meet the yearly quota. Potentially setting up another sequel but at this point the game will have done quite a bit of damage to those still invested enough to play through the story.
D
Cold War (2020)
Cold War is more memorable than the other games below it on this list, if a little boring for a Treyarch title.
The story includes many Black Ops tropes, such as mind control, and brings some fan favourite characters back (if a bit poorly), which the studio has been doing recently to try and tie the universe together. You can even play as the “bad guy” which is fun, but the Multiplayer feels quite uninspired. The Zombies, while miles better than Vanguard’s offering, still lacks vital features, such as a ‘crew’ to get invested in – generic Multiplayer ‘operators’ just don’t do it for me.
Ghosts (2013)
In the parting words of game antagonist Gabriel Rorke, “There ain’t gonna be any Ghosts… We’re gonna destroy them together.”
How true those words were, as the game ends on a cliffhanger (spoilers, sorry), seemingly setting up a sequel which has never materialised.
The Campaign was okay, not the Modern Warfare trilogy, but okay, with stand-out moments including scaling a large glass building at night, and hunting enemies with your trusty canine friend, Riley. The Multiplayer also felt a little bland, but made interesting changes, such as the inclusion of multiple perk selections – the most of any Call of Duty game. Extinction was the third mode, and was Infinity Ward’s attempt at getting in some of that sweet Zombies action but with Cryptid aliens instead, and wasn’t too bad overall.
C
Modern Warfare (2019)
Released in 2019, Modern Warfare acts as a reboot and a prequel to the originals.
The game brings back the modern setting fans craved, with a new, realistically-gritty take on the series. This is seen through the new engine, which highlights the fantastic looking and sounding weapons, as well as returning hero Captain John Price’s mustached face.
The biggest problems with the game come in Multiplayer and Spec Ops. The co-op Spec Ops mode feels unfinished and is a shadow of its former self, which included cinematic, story-esque missions, as opposed to a sandbox littered with enemies and a few objectives. Though there are a few issues with the online component the ranking system is the worst, as classic prestige has been removed to make way for ‘seasons’ which are tailored to suit the games’ inclusion of a battle pass. While this may not seem as egregious as loot boxes, it feels unrewarding to be de-ranked, and have challenge rewards which would normally be unlocked during gameplay, forced into a premium battle pass (seen in Season One). The customisation in the games’ Multiplayer is second to none however, and building classes to take into combat remains fun.
The constant stream of new free content (new weapons in Seasons, game modes etc.) as well as the addition of a battle royale in Warzone, have indeed elevated Modern Warfare and my enjoyment of the game.
Black Ops 4 (2018)
Black Ops 4 received mixed reviews with some fans enjoying the move away from advanced movement, and some simply seeing the game as copy-paste.
While it’s true that Blackout was Call of Duty’s polished, first entry into battle royale, it became apparent that this was where most of the games’ resources were being targeted, as the mode had plenty of content and was updated frequently, while Multiplayer and Zombies players were almost left out. Blackout’s inclusion in BO4 saved it for me, as the announcement that there would be no Campaign in the game made me immediately skeptical.
Multiplayer was good, with manual health regen and a longer time to kill added, and even though more were introduced, Specialists were largely reused and tweaked slightly. Zombies, while not as memorable as in BO3, still maintained the high level of quality that you would expect from Treyarch, with a fitting farewell to the beloved original cast.
WW2 (2017)
Sledgehammer’s best COD related work to date, WW2 takes players back to the second Great War ten years after it was revisited last.
Although I didn’t care much for the Campaign (it was better than not having one… cough Black Ops 4 cough), WW2 brought it home with a good Multiplayer experience and a twisted take on Zombies.
WW2 released in what is probably the roughest state a Call of Duty game has ever been in at launch, but this was rectified when the game underwent an overhaul months later to add in more options for players to select in their custom classes. The new War mode was tons of fun too, as players from both factions fought to either advance forward or repel the other on a variety of maps.
MW3 (2011)
The weakest of the classic Modern Warfare series, MW3 still had plenty to offer, bringing the story to its epic conclusion.
Boasting a strong finale to a great Campaign, Modern Warfare 3 did everything that Modern Warfare 2 did, just slightly worse. All three modes; Campaign, Multiplayer and Spec Ops added up to a good overall experience, but fans will still probably remember MW2 more fondly.
B
Black Ops 3 (2015)
The better of the two recent futuristic Black Ops games, BO3 had the best advanced movement system while also retaining its identity, and being genuinely fun to play.
Though I thought that the Campaign was quite weak (and very confusing), Black Ops 3 shined with its Multiplayer and Zombies offerings. While it had boost-jumping and wall-running, the movement felt right for the game and was never really an issue, being able to swim and shoot was also a nice touch and a new addition. The addition of Specialists, while some did complain that they rewarded ‘noobs’ with free kills, did actually take some skill to use correctly and at the right time (except for maybe Reaper’s Scythe…), personally I loved my boy Prophet’s chain-lightning sniper rifle.
Zombies also carried on from the ground work that the previous Black Ops games had laid, expanding on the universe, adding in new items like Gobblegums, and providing Jeff Goldblum with his very own Call of Duty cameo appearance – definitely a reason to play.
A
World at War (2008)
Following on from the ground-breaking COD 4, Treyarch needed to pull something great out of the bag, and they did with World at War.
Though I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time, looking back World at War had one of the best and most difficult Campaigns of any Call of Duty game. WAW was a memorable experience that sets the tone for not only the rest of the game (Multiplayer, and the new at the time Zombies mode), but for the future of the series.
Multiplayer was simplistic, like COD 4, offering three killstreaks – recon plane instead of a UAV, artillery in place of an airstrike, and the beloved attack dogs instead of helicopter support. The maps were just as good as the game before it, as were the weapons (though camos would have been nice), and tanks were even added to some maps! Then came Zombies, an Easter-egg for finishing the story and a simple mode; survive wave after wave of undead by buying guns off of walls, unlocking new areas and trying the random box enough times to get the ray-gun. It took off in a big way; so much so that Treyarch included more with map packs, bringing in a crew in place of faceless soldiers, and kick-starting a fandom that would last for the next decade.
Black Ops (2010)
Following on from Modern Warfare 2, they again had their work cut out for them, but rose to the challenge with the release of Black Ops.
Revolving around the actions of SAD operative Alex Mason and his partner Frank Woods, the game focuses on the chemical weapon Nova-6 and the CIA’s quest to get answers from the incapacitated protagonist.
The Multiplayer is up there as one of the best ever, with great maps, killstreaks, guns and customisation. Black Ops was just fun to play, and the Zombies mode continued this with plenty of post-launch content. It was also the birthplace of Nuketown, a Multiplayer map which has had a rendition in every Treyarch title since.
MW2 (2009)
Possibly the most recognisable Call of Duty game of all time, Modern Warfare 2 (2009) was universally beloved by the community, and for good reason.
Everyone played this game. MW2 was a universal success, uniting series vets and new-comers alike with addicting gameplay, spectacular maps, a brilliant continuation of the story, and over-powered weapons and killstreaks. The Spec Ops, while not as fun to play as Zombies, was still really addictive here – trying to beat your scores in story-esque missions.
The game also had it’s Campaign remastered alongside Modern Warfare (2019), so you can go back and relive the adventures of Ghost, Soap and Price.
S
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007/2016)
The OG. My first foray into the world of first-person shooters, and I’m sure many others’ too, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare reinvented the series, dragging it out of World War Two and into the modern setting.
COD 4: Modern Warfare opens with rookie John “Soap” MacTavish as he is introduced to the man himself – Captain Price and Gaz, before embarking on the mission “Crew Expendable.” What follows is the start to a tense, emotional, action-packed Campaign spanning the next 3 (or 4) games in the series. Players will definitely recall “All Ghillied Up” as a younger Lieutenant Price stalks the radioactive grounds of Chernobyl alongside his mentor Captain MacMillan, as they prepare to assassinate Imran Zakhaev.
Now onto the Multiplayer. Back in 2007 this was the hottest thing since Halo, allowing players to run and gun, earn killstreaks, and even unlock new camos for their favourite weapons. The maps, which are now regarded as ‘classics’ were also really fun to play on, with the likes of Shipment, Vacant and Crash reappearing in multiple other Call of Duty titles.
Black Ops 2 (2012)
While Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare almost takes the crown, my all-time favourite game in the franchise (and probably most played) goes to Black Ops 2.
While the story was good; a nice continuation of the Black Ops timeline, Multiplayer and Zombies was where it was at. Black Ops 2 was also unique in that it even featured multiple endings depending on the players’ actions in-game, including a touching reunion between Woods and Mason.
I spent countless hours grinding to master prestige (my first ever) on BO2 and earning diamond camo, because the game was simply fun to play. It was a casual experience which also rewarded skilled players who knew the maps with extremely powerful scorestreaks (the best of any COD game to date). Using streaks like the VSAT and the Swarm while playing on maps with near perfect flow just kept me coming back for more (the DLC maps were also among some of the best). Zombies was also top-notch, debuting some of my favourite maps in the series such as Buried, Mob of the Dead and Origins.
The above Call of Duty tier list doesn’t contain any games from the PS2 era, as well as any spin-off titles such as Black Ops Declassified or Call of Duty Mobile.
So that’s the Call of Duty tier list! Where would you place your favourite games? Share your lists in the comments or over on Facebook & Twitter.
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