Let's be real for a second. If you grew up with a controller in your hands, the phrase "enemy UAV overhead" probably triggers a specific kind of pavlovian response in your brain. For over two decades, Call of Duty hasn't just been a video game; it’s been a seasonal event, a digital water cooler, and occasionally, a punching bag for the entire internet.
Whether you're a veteran who remembers the "Medal of Honor killer" days of the early 2000s or a newcomer who just got steamrolled in a Warzone lobby, keeping track of this series is a nightmare. There are reboots of sequels, sequels to reboots, and enough spin-offs to fill a C-130.
Honestly, the sheer volume is staggering. We’re looking at over 20 mainline entries and a dozen weird experiments on handhelds that most people totally forgot existed. Here is the actual, no-nonsense rundown of every title that helped define the modern shooter.
The World War II era where it all began
It’s easy to forget that before the drones and the sliding mechanics, Call of Duty was a gritty, boots-on-the-ground WWII sim. The original Call of Duty (2003) was a massive deal because it didn't just give you one hero; it jumped between American, British, and Soviet perspectives. It felt cinematic at a time when most shooters felt like shooting galleries.
Then came the sequels. Call of Duty 2 (2005) was the game that basically sold the Xbox 360 to the masses. It was loud, smoke-filled, and gorgeous. By the time Call of Duty 3 (2006) rolled around, developed by Treyarch, the fatigue was starting to set in. People were tired of the trenches. They wanted something new.
- Call of Duty (2003) - The PC original.
- Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004) - The first console spin-off.
- Call of Duty 2 (2005) - The HD revolution.
- Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005) - A focused narrative on one unit.
- Call of Duty 3 (2006) - The first Treyarch-led mainline entry.
The Modern Warfare revolution
Everything changed in 2007. If you weren't there, it’s hard to describe the cultural earthquake that was Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. It moved the fight to the present day, introduced the "killstreak" system, and made Captain Price a household name.
Infinity Ward followed it up with Modern Warfare 2 (2009), which remains one of the most controversial and beloved games in history. "No Russian," anyone? It was peak blockbuster gaming. The trilogy wrapped up with Modern Warfare 3 (2011), which broke sales records even if some critics felt it was just more of the same.
While that was happening, Treyarch snuck in World at War (2008). It went back to WWII, but it gave us something much more important: Zombies. What started as a hidden Easter egg became a pillar of the franchise that some fans care about more than the actual multiplayer.
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The Black Ops mind games
If the Modern Warfare games were Michael Bay movies, the Black Ops series was a Christopher Nolan thriller. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) introduced Alex Mason and a plot involving brainwashing and the Cold War. It was weird, dark, and incredibly stylish.
Black Ops II (2012) took a huge risk by jumping into the near future of 2025. It added branching paths to the story—actual choices that mattered! To many, this is still the "G.O.A.T." of the series because the multiplayer balance was near perfect.
Then things got... experimental.
- Black Ops III (2015) went full sci-fi with cyborgs.
- Black Ops 4 (2018) made the shocking move of deleting the single-player campaign entirely to focus on "Blackout," their first attempt at a Battle Royale.
- Black Ops Cold War (2020) returned to the 80s, serving as a direct sequel to the first game.
- Black Ops 6 (2024) brought us into the 90s Gulf War era.
- Black Ops 7 (2025) recently hit shelves, though its reception has been a bit of a rollercoaster.
The "Jetpack" years and the identity crisis
There was a period where Call of Duty didn't quite know what it wanted to be. We call these the "advanced movement" years. Advanced Warfare (2014) introduced the Exo-suit, allowing players to double-jump and dash mid-air. It was fast. It was polarizing.
Infinite Warfare (2016) took it even further—literally into outer space. The trailer for this game is famously one of the most disliked videos in YouTube history, which is a shame because the campaign was actually fantastic. But fans were done with the future. They wanted to go back.
Activision listened and gave us Call of Duty: WWII (2017). It was a "return to roots" that felt a bit safe, but it cleared the palate for what was coming next.
The modern reboot era and Warzone
In 2019, Activision hit the reset button. Modern Warfare (2019) wasn't a remake; it was a gritty reimagining. It introduced a new engine that made the guns feel heavy and dangerous. More importantly, it birthed Warzone (2020).
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Warzone changed everything. It was free-to-play, it had cross-play, and it launched right as the world went into lockdown. It turned Call of Duty into a platform rather than just a game.
Since then, we’ve seen a rapid-fire succession of titles:
- Vanguard (2021): Another WWII trip that most fans sort of ignored.
- Modern Warfare II (2022): Not to be confused with the 2009 version, though it brought back the same characters.
- Modern Warfare III (2023): A controversial release that many felt started its life as an expansion pack.
- Warzone 2.0 / Warzone Mobile: The evolution of the battle royale ecosystem.
List of all Call of Duty games: The definitive timeline
To make this easy, here is the chronological list of every mainline release including the latest entries from 2025.
The Early Years
Call of Duty (2003)
Call of Duty 2 (2005)
Call of Duty 3 (2006)
The Golden Era
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
World at War (2008)
Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Black Ops (2010)
Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
Black Ops II (2012)
The Divergence
Ghosts (2013)
Advanced Warfare (2014)
Black Ops III (2015)
Infinite Warfare (2016)
WWII (2017)
Black Ops 4 (2018)
The Modern Reboot & Warzone Era
Modern Warfare (2019)
Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Vanguard (2021)
Modern Warfare II (2022)
Modern Warfare III (2023)
Black Ops 6 (2024)
Black Ops 7 (2025)
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Why Black Ops 7 changed the strategy
You've probably noticed a trend: a new game every single year like clockwork. But 2025 was a turning point. Black Ops 7 launched to massive hype but actually saw a significant sales dip on platforms like Steam—down nearly 82% compared to the previous year according to industry analysts like Circana.
The market finally hit a breaking point. "Franchise fatigue" isn't just a buzzword anymore; it’s a reality Activision is facing. Because of this, the internal strategy has shifted. Reports from GamesIndustry.biz and recent developer blog posts suggest that 2026 might be the first year in decades without a "premium" annual release. The focus is shifting toward "meaningful innovation" rather than just hitting a November deadline.
What most people get wrong about the series
One of the biggest misconceptions is that all these games are connected in one giant timeline. They aren't. You have the "Modern Warfare" reboot universe, which is separate from the original 2007-2011 trilogy. Then you have the "Black Ops" timeline, which actually does weave through World at War, Cold War, and even the newer Modern Warfare games in weird, subtle ways through Warzone lore.
Another myth? That Call of Duty is "dying." Even in a "down" year like 2025, the series still pulls numbers that most developers would sell their souls for. It’s the third best-selling video game franchise of all time, topped only by Mario and Tetris.
How to actually play through the series today
If you’re looking to dive into this list of all Call of Duty games, don’t try to play them all in order. You’ll burn out by 2005. Instead, pick a "flavor."
If you want the best storytelling, start with the Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops II duology. If you want the most polished, modern experience, the Modern Warfare (2019) reboot is the gold standard for gunplay. For those who just want to hang out with friends, Warzone remains the most accessible entry point because, well, it’s free.
The franchise is at a crossroads right now. With Microsoft now at the helm after the Activision-Blizzard acquisition, the future looks like it might finally involve more breathing room between releases. Whether that leads to better games or just a different kind of monetization remains to be seen.
Your Next Steps:
- Check out Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 if you have Game Pass; it’s widely considered a return to form for the series' movement and campaign depth.
- Avoid buying the older titles (pre-2012) at full price on digital stores—they rarely go on sale, but when they do, you can grab them for a fraction of the cost.
- If you’re a lore nerd, watch a "timeline explained" video for the Black Ops series before jumping into the newer titles, as the character connections are getting increasingly dense.