The Call of Duty series has captivated gamers worldwide since its inception, offering a blend of intense action, compelling storylines, and groundbreaking multiplayer experiences. Let's dive into the chronological journey of this iconic franchise.
Call of Duty
Image: youtube.com
Release date: October 29, 2003
Developer: Infinity Ward
The first Call of Duty game, released in 2003, set the stage for the series with its focus on World War II. It included four single-player campaigns:
- American campaign
- British campaign
- Soviet campaign
- Allied campaign
Each campaign featured diverse missions inspired by historical events, totaling 26 missions including night battles, sea sabotage, and urban combat. The multiplayer mode introduced 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 World War II theme with minor changes, including automatic health regeneration for the player when taking cover. The game retained the structure of multiple campaigns:
- American campaign
- British campaign
- Soviet campaign
It also featured a documentary video at the end, highlighting the realities of World War II.
Call of Duty 3
Image: riotpixels.com
Release date: November 7, 2006
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Xbox
Call of Duty 3 shifted to a single, unified storyline and introduced new actions like rowing a boat. It was the first to feature split-screen multiplayer and included civilians in the campaign, though handguns were absent.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Image: blog.activision.com
Release date: November 5, 2007
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Marking a significant shift, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare moved to a modern setting, featuring two campaigns set in 2011:
- American campaign
- English campaign
It introduced Arcade Mode, cheat codes, and a 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 World War II, featuring:
- American campaign
- Soviet campaign
It introduced the Nazi Zombies mode, dismemberment of enemies, and character class customization.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Image: pinterest.com
Release date: February 11, 2009
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A direct sequel to Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 introduced new mechanics like climbing and underwater movement. Its multiplayer mode expanded with dual-wielding, new modes, and a deeper perk system.
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 storyline but post-World War II, introducing in-game currency, character and weapon skins, and a zombies mode.
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 with enhanced graphics and sound, achieving the most successful launch in entertainment history 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 innovated with a dual-timeframe narrative and player choices affecting the storyline, along with 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 new settings including space and alien combat, with customizable characters and destructible environments.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Image: newsor.net
Release date: November 4, 2014
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Set in the future, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare featured exoskeletons, vertical gameplay, and futuristic weapons, though it received mixed reactions.
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 introduced cybernetic enhancements, jetpacks, and wall-running, set in a futuristic world.
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 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
This remaster kept the core game intact but enhanced audio, visuals, and animations.
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 World War II setting, introducing "heroic actions" and a larger multiplayer lobby.
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, introducing a battle royale mode and increased player HP.
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 series, this game tackled modern societal issues with heavy content, new recoil mechanics, and the return of Killstreaks.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 10, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Warzone introduced a standalone battle royale experience with modes like classic battle royale, Rebirth, and Plunder, alongside new mechanics like the Gulag.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Remastered
Image: youtube.com
Release date: March 31, 2020
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: callofduty.com
This remaster focused on enhancing the original Modern Warfare 2 with updated sound, animations, and visuals.
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 between Black Ops and Black Ops II, introduced new mechanics in zombies mode and a variety of global missions.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
Image: news.blizzard.com
Release date: November 5, 2021
Developer: Sledgehammer Games
Download: Steam
Call of Duty: Vanguard returned to World War II with a focus on character backstories and a record number of multiplayer maps.
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 introduced new features like ammo sharing, an updated Gulag, and a new DMZ mode.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
Image: callofduty.fandom.com
Release date: October 28, 2022
Developer: Infinity Ward
Download: Steam
A sequel to Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II focused on new mechanics like breaching walls and revised swimming and vehicle mechanics.
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 with new combat-focused missions and a new "Slaughter" mode in multiplayer.
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 with new mechanics like smart movement and different hit reactions, set during the Persian conflict.
The Call of Duty franchise, now spanning 25 games, continues to evolve, maintaining a balance between difficulty, realism, and player engagement. Each installment builds on the success of its predecessors, offering new experiences while keeping the core elements that fans love. This series has truly become a cornerstone of modern gaming culture, uniting players across the globe.
