Below these lists you will additionally discover a full Call of Duty timeline that reveals the video games in chronological order and gives a quick synopsis of every sport. Almost all of those video games are playable on Xbox, and between them they provide a staggering 29,385G in achievements (much more in case you play a number of variations of the cross-generation titles).
Call of Duty Games in Release Order
The Call of Duty video games in launch order record is pretty simple and straightforward to comply with, even when it’s fairly substantial in measurement. Since the sequence’ inception in 2003, there have been a whopping 22 Call of Duty video games launched on console and PC. There had been additionally a few cell entries – Call of Duty: Mobile for Android and iOS gadgets, and Call Of Duty: Black Op: Declassified for the PS Vita, which we’re not together with right here.
- Call of Duty (2003)
- Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004)
- Call of Duty 2 (2005)
- Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)
- Call of Duty 3 (2006)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
- Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
- Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
Call of Duty Games in Chronological Order
Putting all of the Call of Duty video games in chronological order is way trickier. We’ve had remakes, alternate timelines and video games set within the distant future, and it’s not all the time clear which video games happen in the identical universe or timeline. So, we’re going to rank them primarily based on the earliest yr {that a} mission in every sport takes place in, and never fear about which pocket universe they reside in. This signifies that some video games seem sooner than you would possibly count on within the timeline as a consequence of flashback missions.
- Call of Duty: WWII (1940 – 1945)
- Call of Duty 2 (1941 – 1945)
- Call of Duty: Vanguard (1941 – 1945)
- Call of Duty (1942 – 1945)
- Call of Duty: Finest Hour (1942 – 1945)
- Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (1942 – 1944)
- Call of Duty: World at War (1942 – 1945)
- Call of Duty 3 (1944)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops (1961 – 1968)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1981)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops II (1986 – 1989, but additionally 2025)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (1996 – 2011)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (1999 – 2019)
- Call of Duty: Ghosts (2015-2027)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2016)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2016-2017)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2043)
- Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2054 – 2061)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2065 – 2070)
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2187)
How to play by the Call of Duty video games in timeline order:
1. Call of Duty: WWII (1940 – 1945)
- Release date: November 3, 2017
- Developer: Sledgehammer Games
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
There are loads of Call of Duty video games set throughout World War 2, however most of them give attention to the later half of the battle, when the great ol’ U S of A had joined the battle. Call of Duty: WWII is usually centered on American forces in 1944-1945, following the story of Private Ronald “Red” Daniels. He’s assigned to the United States Army’s First Infantry Division and we see his story unfold because the US pushes into Europe, from D-day all the way in which to the closing days of the battle.
Despite this give attention to the latter phases of the battle, there are some scenes which happen in 1940, which suggests that is the furthest again {that a} Call of Duty sport goes (at the very least till Call of Duty: Napoleonic Warfare will get the greenlight. Do it you cowards).
2. Call of Duty: Vanguard (1941 – 1945)
- Release date: November 5, 2021
- Developer: Sledgehammer Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
The most up-to-date of the COD video games set in World War 2, Call of Duty: Vanguard follows the creation of Task Force Vanguard, a particular ops unit composed of troopers from numerous Allied nations.
The story is about throughout 1945, as Vanguard seeks to cease “Project Phoenix”, a Nazi plan to maintain the battle going regardless of the demise of Hitler, however there are a number of flashbacks to earlier factors within the battle. These flashbacks give attention to completely different members of the crew and do not run chronologically, however the earliest scene takes place in August 1941, following Private Lucas Riggs, an Australian soldier serving within the North African marketing campaign.
3. Call of Duty 2 (1941 – 1945)
- Release date: October 25, 2005
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PC, Mac
Call of Duty 2 is break up throughout three completely different tales, following troopers within the Soviet, British, and American armies. The Soviet marketing campaign focuses on the Battle of Stalingrad because the Soviets battle to repel the German attackers. The British marketing campaign is primarily set on the North African entrance earlier than closing out in Europe, whereas the American marketing campaign is of course centered on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy.
While the overwhelming majority of the sport is about between 1942 and 1945, the primary mission within the Soviet marketing campaign sneaks into December 1941, following Soviet protagonist Vasili Koslov as he runs by coaching to affix the Red Army.
4. Call of Duty (1942 – 1945)
- Release date: October 29, 2003
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: PC, Mac
The progenitor of the whole Call of Duty empire, the unique sport got here out within the distant previous of 2003 and kickstarted one of many greatest empires in gaming historical past. Twenty years on, the sequence has modified in loads of methods and but you may nonetheless see the entire DNA of contemporary COD video games right here.
Set throughout World War 2, the earliest mission within the sport is about on August 10, 1942 because the protagonist of the American marketing campaign, Private Martin, completes primary coaching. After that, nearly all of the sport is about in 1944-1945 as Allied forces push the Nazis again.
Fun truth: loads of the dev crew for the unique Call of Duty had beforehand labored on the Medal of Honour sequence, and COD was codenamed “Medal of Honor Killer”. It’s protected to say that it succeeded in that aim.
5. Call of Duty: World at War (1942 – 1945)
- Release date: November 11, 2008
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, PC
In a uncommon break from the limitless cycle of North Africa, D-Day, Germany that WW2 COD video games can’t appear to flee, Call of Duty: World at War opens within the Pacific Theater. The opening mission takes place on August 17, 1942. You fill the boots of American Marine Private C. Miller, a prisoner on Makin Island, as he makes his escape and assists within the US assault on the island.
From there, issues transfer again to acquainted territory as we bounce views to Russian Private Dimitri Petrenko through the Battle of Stalingrad, however the US aspect of the story does keep within the Pacific and avoids the cinematic attract of D-Day, as a substitute specializing in the Battle of Okinawa.
6. Call of Duty: Finest Hour (1942 – 1945)
- Release date: November 16, 2004
- Developer: Spark Unlimited
- Platforms: Xbox, PS2, Gamecube, PC
While it was the second sport within the franchise, Call of Duty: Finest Hour holds the celebrated honor of being the primary Call of Duty sport on consoles. It’s primarily based on the unique Call of Duty, however it follows a separate story and has its personal distinctive marketing campaign.
Like the unique, Call of Duty: Finest Hour is break up into three campaigns that comply with the Soviets, British, and Americans respectively. The earliest mission takes place in September 1942 through the Battle of Stalingrad. From there the missions progress into the African entrance and into Europe, earlier than culminating within the Allied crossing of the Rhine.
7. Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (1942 – 1944)
- Release date: November 1, 2005
- Developer: Treyarch, High Voltage Software
- Platforms: Xbox, PS2, Gamecube
Much like Finest Hour was the accompaniment to the unique, Call of Duty 2: Big Red One serves as a side-story for the second sport. Weirdly although, whereas Call of Duty 2 got here out on the Xbox 360, Big Red One solely got here out on the unique Xbox, alongside the PS2 and PC. Make no mistake although, this isn’t an growth pack, it’s a full launch and deserves a spot on our record.
The identify sounds bizarre, however the sport is known as after the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, nicknamed “Big Red One” due to the brand on their patch. The sport follows them by their half within the North African marketing campaign beginning in November 1942, and the invasion of Sicily in 1943, earlier than transitioning to the D-Day landings on Omaha seashore and culminating with their push into Germany itself.
8. Call of Duty 3 (1944)
- Release date: November 7, 2006
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii
Call of Duty 3 is extra centered than the opposite World War 2 period video games, happening totally inside 1944 through the Normandy breakout. We truly skip previous D-Day and be a part of the motion a bit in a while, taking part in as British, Canadian, American, and Polish forces all through their push by occupied France.
It’s good to see a highlight shone on a few of the lesser-seen components of the battle right here, with the French Resistance, Canadians, and Polish forces all getting some main screentime.
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (1961 – 1968)
- Release date: November 9, 2010
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, Mac
A little bit of a time bounce right here as we leap forwards 15 years from the top of World War 2 and straight into the midst of the Cold War with Call of Duty: Black Ops. Unlike most COD tales that are unfold throughout a number of campaigns, we solely obtained the one central story right here, although we nonetheless bounce between three completely different protagonists: US soldier Captain Alex Mason, CIA agent Jason Hudson, and a Russian soldier named Viktor Reznov.
The common vibe of the story is completely different to most COD video games; it’s extra of a spy-thriller than a typical battle sport. The sport opens with Mason being interrogated by unknown forces in 1968, and many of the sport takes place as flashbacks to his earlier missions, with the opening mission taking us again to 1961.
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1981)
- Release date: November 13, 2020
- Developer: Treyarch, Raven Software
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
We’re now firmly within the Cold War period. It’s 1981 and the Soviets have taken on the mantle of America’s foil away from the Nazis. A Soviet agent codenamed Perseus is making an attempt to destabilize the world and it is as much as you to cease them… until you don’t really feel prefer it.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War stands alone from different COD video games in that there are a number of outcomes to the marketing campaign, relying on the participant’s selections throughout its missions. You can both put a cease to the Soviet plot, or be sure that it occurs. There are additionally some gameplay perks which you could select, turning Black Ops Cold War right into a sort-of mini role-playing expertise.
11. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (1986 – 1989, but additionally 2025)
- Release date: November 13, 2012
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC
This entry is a bit far and wide, since Call of Duty: Black Ops II has two distinct story arcs that it follows and a non-linear construction to the marketing campaign means which you could sort out most of it in any order you’re feeling like. The “modern-day” sections of the sport happen in 2025, however there are a number of flashback missions that happen through the late Eighties.
The modern-day sections of the sport comply with David Mason, son of unique Black Ops protagonist Alex Mason. Younger Mason is working for a US Spec Ops crew searching down a terrorist known as Raul Menendez, whereas the flashback missions mirror this story, displaying Papa Mason’s makes an attempt to trace down the exact same Menendez again within the 80s.
12. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (1996 – 2011)
- Release date: November 5, 2007
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, Mac
The unique Modern Warfare, to not be confused with the remake that we’ll get to in a second. Ironically the sands of time have meant that Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare isn’t fairly as trendy because it as soon as was, however it’s nonetheless the most effective Call of Duty video games of all of them.
The overwhelming majority of the sport takes place in 2011 in a fictional and unnamed nation within the Middle East, the place a terrorist coup is underway. Add a Russian civil battle and stolen nuclear weapons into the combination and also you’ve obtained a full bingo card of online game threats to the US to tackle. We see the motion from the views of US Marine Paul Jackson and Sgt. “Soap” MacTavish of the British SAS.
The COD video games bloody love a flashback although, so there’s a bounce again to 1996 for one of many sport’s most iconic missions, “All Ghillied Up”. Undoubtedly one of many excessive factors of the sequence, and arguably the sport that propelled Call of Duty to the stardom it enjoys at present.
13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (1999 – 2019)
- Release date: October 25, 2019
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
No, you’re not in The Matrix and this isn’t déjà vu. The reboot Call of Duty: Modern Warfare shares nearly the identical identify as its predecessor, however it has a vastly completely different plot to the unique. Some of the characters are the identical, however that’s about it.
Chief amongst the modifications are the dates, as Infinity Ward needed to deliver the sport into the fashionable period (once more). As a outcome, nearly all of the sport is about in 2019, and the flashback assassination mission has been bumped up just a few years too, now happening in 1999.
This time round, we comply with a CIA agent known as Alex as he makes an attempt to cease a terrorist group known as Al-Qatala. They steal some chemical weapons and use them to assault London, dragging the SAS into the image within the course of. From there, we head off to the fictional nation of Urzikstan (hey at the very least it obtained a reputation this time) to crew up with some rebels and battle in opposition to, you guessed it, these dastardly Russians, as soon as once more.
14. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2015-2027)
- Release date: November 5, 2013
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Wii U, PC
It’s alternate timeline time. Call of Duty: Ghosts is predominantly set within the not-too-distant way forward for 2027, however there are a number of key flashbacks that happen in 2015 and 2017. During 2017, the US will get shot by its personal tremendous house railguns after they’re captured by the Federation — a coalition of principally each central and south American nation. Several main cities are destroyed together with Los Angeles, San Diego, Phoenix, Houston, and Miami, and the US will get kicked proper down the superpower pecking order.
From there we bounce ahead ten years to 2027, the battle between the US and the Federation has reached a standstill. You take management of the Ghosts, a US Spec Ops crew making an attempt to save lots of what’s left of the nation from the Federation’s newest plot.
15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2016)
- Release date: November 10, 2009
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Wii U, PC
Things are about to get actually sophisticated now, so keep on with us. This entry is for the primary iteration of Modern Warfare 2, which launched in 2009, and is about in 2016. Not to be confused with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, which makes use of roman numerals, and launched in 2022.
Infinity Ward’s battle on my submitting system apart, Modern Warfare 2 takes place 5 years after the unique sport and follows Soap MacTavish, now a captain within the SAS, as he tries to search out the terrorist chief of Russia, Vladimir Makarov. Things escalate at an alarming fee when Russia launches a full-scale invasion of the US, and what follows is a basic story of betrayals, backstabbing, and explosions.
Remastered variations had been launched on Xbox One, PS4, and PC in 2020.
16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2016-2017)
- Release date: November 8, 2011
- Developer: Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC
The finale of the unique Modern Warfare trilogy picked up instantly following the top of the final sport, and sees SAS baddasses Soap and Price teaming up with Russian loyalists to assist finish the battle between the US and Russia. Eventually Russian forces are despatched packing from US soil and the Russian president tries to name off the entire thing, however will get kidnapped by the dastardly Makarov.
Russia escalates issues by invading Europe too. Try to not fear about the place they discovered the manpower and sources to invade many of the world concurrently and simply benefit from the over-the-top carnage. Makarov will get what’s coming to him in the long run, in pretty grim style too.
17. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Release date: October 28, 2022
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
Following on from the 2019 reboot, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II takes place totally inside 2022. We be a part of up with Task Force 141, who we noticed getting assembled, Avenger’s model, on the finish of the final sport.
Soap and the boys are out to cease an Iranian terrorist known as Major Hassan Zyani in what seems to be fairly the globe-trotting journey. We go to actual cities Amsterdam and Chicago, together with a pretend Mexican metropolis and two fictional Middle Eastern international locations — Urzikstan making its return, and the United Republic of Adal.
18. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
- Release date: November 10, 2023
- Developer: Sledgehammer Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
It’s time to complete the struggle. The most lately launched entry on this record, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III wraps up the reboot storyline and takes place totally inside 2023.
Price and the gang are on the hunt for Vladimir Makarov, who has been one way or the other spearheading world terrorist operations from his cozy cell within the Gulag since he obtained captured in 2019’s Modern Warfare. Makarov will get busted out of jail by a Russian personal army firm and it’s as much as Task Force 141 to cease him earlier than he can enact his evil schemes.
19. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2043)
- Release date: October 12, 2018
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Ah sure, the Call of Duty that made everybody very offended by not together with a single-player marketing campaign. Instead, we obtained our story delivered by the three multiplayer sport modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, and the brand-new Blackout mode, a battle royale mode that served because the precursor to at present’s wildly well-liked Warzone.
There are a sequence of instructional missions at Specialist HQ which happen in 2043, whereas the multiplayer carnage of Blackout itself is nebulously within the 2040s after that time.
20. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2054 – 2061)
- Release date: November 4, 2014
- Developer: Sledgehammer Games
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC
This isn’t simply common warfare, that is Advanced Warfare. Advanced Warfare is the primary correct Call of Duty marketing campaign that takes place within the distant future, each chronologically and by launch order.
We take management of Private Jack Mitchell of the US Marines within the yr 2054, the place his first mission doesn’t go properly. His finest good friend dies and he loses his arm, which will get him discharged from the marines. But when a non-public army company known as Atlas gives him a candy robotic arm and a brand new profession, he jumps on the alternative. From there we comply with Mitchell’s profession inside Atlas over a five-year span as he slowly uncovers the sinister reality behind his charismatic employer.
21. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2065 – 2070)
- Release date: November 6, 2015
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC, Mac
Call of Duty: Black Ops III is a direct follow-up to Black Ops II, regardless of the hefty 40-year time bounce. The sport is about in 2065 – 2070 and reveals us the aftermath of the drone strikes that rocked the world in 2025. Since then, there was a renewed give attention to floor fight, with cybernetically-enhanced troopers and robots ruling the battlefield.
We’re an unnamed protagonist this time round, and boy do we’ve got a nasty time within the opening mission, getting our arms ripped off by a Grunt fight robotic. Thankfully that is the long run, so we get some candy robotic arms. From there we bounce ahead to 2070 and discover ourselves embroiled within the Third Cold War between two superpowers — the Winslow Accord and the Common Defense Pact.
22. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2187)
- Release date: November 4, 2016
- Developer: Infinity Ward
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is probably the most futuristic of the COD video games, happening within the far-flung way forward for 2187 — that’s extra in keeping with Star Trek’s timeline than the remainder of the COD video games. Humanity has colonized a lot of the photo voltaic system. And but, battle by no means modifications, as we discover ourselves embroiled in a brutal battle after a breakaway faction known as the Settlement Defense Front launches a shock assault on Earth, crippling the United Nations Space Alliance. We take command of Lt. Nick Reyes as he rallies the united states’s remaining forces and takes the struggle to the enemy.
Unlike most COD video games, Infinite Warfare has elective aspect missions which you could embark on alongside the core story missions. You function from the united states Retribution, an area warfare service which serves as your hub between missions. Infinite Warfare takes benefit of its distinctive setting with some house dogfights, zero-G, and ship boarding actions, and it’s actually one of the vital underrated titles within the sequence.
