Call of Duty RANKED!
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Developers: Infinity Ward (2003-Present), Treyarch (2005-Present), Sledgehammer Games (2011-Present)
Publisher: Activision Formats: PC, PS2, PS3, PS4, Wii, WiiU Xbox, Xbox360, Xbox One Main Entries: 13 Spin Off's: 10 |
Ben Hughes
@potatoes351 |
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When Call of Duty debuted on PC back in 2003, I don't think anybody could have foreseen what was going to come from it. Selling well over 100 million units over 10 games and having billions of hours of gameplay clocked online by millions of players. Call of Duty has become a phenomenon, not just a mega franchise.
With 11 main entries now under its belt from 3 development studios, its a very long running series with its 12th game recently announced to be in development from Treyarch.
For the purpose of this list only the main entries in the series will be considered, so entries like Black Ops: Declassified or Call of Duty Online will not be counted.
With 11 main entries now under its belt from 3 development studios, its a very long running series with its 12th game recently announced to be in development from Treyarch.
For the purpose of this list only the main entries in the series will be considered, so entries like Black Ops: Declassified or Call of Duty Online will not be counted.
13. Call of Duty 3
Developer: Treyarch, Year: 2006, Format: PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
The third entry in the series takes our bottom spot for a number of reasons. After being the third entry to set itself in WWII, the story began to feel stale and at times even seemed to be making a joke of the tragic time it was set in through its over reliance on flashy set pieces and quick time events.
The only entry not to be released on PC, it was also the most simple entry in the series, actually managing to take a step back from Call of Duty 2. Despite this, it remained a popular multiplayer game on Xbox Live for many years.
The third entry in the series takes our bottom spot for a number of reasons. After being the third entry to set itself in WWII, the story began to feel stale and at times even seemed to be making a joke of the tragic time it was set in through its over reliance on flashy set pieces and quick time events.
The only entry not to be released on PC, it was also the most simple entry in the series, actually managing to take a step back from Call of Duty 2. Despite this, it remained a popular multiplayer game on Xbox Live for many years.
12. Call of Duty: World At War
Developer: Treyarch, Year: 2008, Format: PC, PS2, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
Treyarch again have managed to nab a bottom spot on our list! At least not all their games were bottom feeders. That being said, World At War was actually a reasonably solid entry, but its the time it was released at that really made World at War a below average affair.
Having released the year after Call of Duty 4, going back to WWII felt like a step back for the series in several respects. Its campaign, though solid, is nothing memorable and provides nothing you haven't already seen before in a WWII shooter.
Introducing us to Zombies mode was one of its better decisions, but despite that, its one of the series weaker entries.
Treyarch again have managed to nab a bottom spot on our list! At least not all their games were bottom feeders. That being said, World At War was actually a reasonably solid entry, but its the time it was released at that really made World at War a below average affair.
Having released the year after Call of Duty 4, going back to WWII felt like a step back for the series in several respects. Its campaign, though solid, is nothing memorable and provides nothing you haven't already seen before in a WWII shooter.
Introducing us to Zombies mode was one of its better decisions, but despite that, its one of the series weaker entries.
11. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
Developer: Treyarch, Year: 2012, Format: PC, PS3, WiiU, Xbox 360
This is actually becoming a little silly now isn't it? The 3rd entry in a row from Treyarch to be on the bottom of our list!
Black Ops 2 was the franchises biggest selling entry to date and was also one of the most innovative, however there is good reason as to why it is this low down. Again, much to do with the timing of Black Ops 2 was why it received critical praise, having had Modern Warfare 3 release the previous year which was also not a series high point.
Black Ops 2's story mode was one of the best examples of a story that had been constructed through cool set pieces, with the story only being in place to connect these moments together. It was muddled and confusing, not to mention utterly boring, and featured some of the poorest examples of allowing you to choose how to you play the missions ever seen in a game; often giving you the choice of using weapon A or weapon B to go into a scenario with and claiming this as changing the way the game played.
Its multiplayer may have been in the right place, but in this list, that is no saving grace.
This is actually becoming a little silly now isn't it? The 3rd entry in a row from Treyarch to be on the bottom of our list!
Black Ops 2 was the franchises biggest selling entry to date and was also one of the most innovative, however there is good reason as to why it is this low down. Again, much to do with the timing of Black Ops 2 was why it received critical praise, having had Modern Warfare 3 release the previous year which was also not a series high point.
Black Ops 2's story mode was one of the best examples of a story that had been constructed through cool set pieces, with the story only being in place to connect these moments together. It was muddled and confusing, not to mention utterly boring, and featured some of the poorest examples of allowing you to choose how to you play the missions ever seen in a game; often giving you the choice of using weapon A or weapon B to go into a scenario with and claiming this as changing the way the game played.
Its multiplayer may have been in the right place, but in this list, that is no saving grace.
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
Developer: Treyarch, Year: 2015, Format: PC, PS4, Xbox One
Treyarch...again. To get an all round understanding of why Black Ops III is this low down, you only need to read the summary I provided above of Black Ops II. Yet again, the story was nonsensically complex, with characters that you fail to care about or even remember exist. It's multiplayer was however one of the better suites in the series, providing some well designed maps as well as a new class system allowing players to choose a play style that best fitted them.
A marginal improvement over BOII, but barely.
Treyarch...again. To get an all round understanding of why Black Ops III is this low down, you only need to read the summary I provided above of Black Ops II. Yet again, the story was nonsensically complex, with characters that you fail to care about or even remember exist. It's multiplayer was however one of the better suites in the series, providing some well designed maps as well as a new class system allowing players to choose a play style that best fitted them.
A marginal improvement over BOII, but barely.
9. Call of Duty: Ghosts
Developer: Infinity Ward, Year: 2013, Format: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
The 10th entry in the series also marked a new beginning for it, presenting an entirely new story line.
Following the occupation of the U.S from South America, you play as a soldier in a resistance movement to take back the U.S.
A much more focused story than any previous Call of Duty's, with an emphasis on family and brotherhood. It is a shame then that none of the characters are overly memorable and that even when it released it felt relatively dated.
To top it all off the multiplayer was a step back to Modern Warfare 3's and the survival mode it included was pretty dull. That being said, still a much more enjoyable experience than any of the previous entries.
The 10th entry in the series also marked a new beginning for it, presenting an entirely new story line.
Following the occupation of the U.S from South America, you play as a soldier in a resistance movement to take back the U.S.
A much more focused story than any previous Call of Duty's, with an emphasis on family and brotherhood. It is a shame then that none of the characters are overly memorable and that even when it released it felt relatively dated.
To top it all off the multiplayer was a step back to Modern Warfare 3's and the survival mode it included was pretty dull. That being said, still a much more enjoyable experience than any of the previous entries.
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Developer: Infinity Ward & Sledgehammer Games, Year: 2011, Format: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
With World War 3 in full swing, it was up to our favourite S.A.S members to save the day, despite one of them being on their death bed and the other not being there for half of the last game.
Modern Warfare 3 was good for one thing and that was tying up the loose ends left from Modern Warfare 2, allowing us to kill the bad guy and save the day.
Whilst its story was more entertaining than Black Ops 2's was, as well as more memorable, MW3's failure was mostly in part to its troubled development, causing the collapsing Infinity Ward to call in help from Sledgehammer Games to get the game finished and out the door before it never saw the light of day.
Luckily, the list from here on out is a bit better.
With World War 3 in full swing, it was up to our favourite S.A.S members to save the day, despite one of them being on their death bed and the other not being there for half of the last game.
Modern Warfare 3 was good for one thing and that was tying up the loose ends left from Modern Warfare 2, allowing us to kill the bad guy and save the day.
Whilst its story was more entertaining than Black Ops 2's was, as well as more memorable, MW3's failure was mostly in part to its troubled development, causing the collapsing Infinity Ward to call in help from Sledgehammer Games to get the game finished and out the door before it never saw the light of day.
Luckily, the list from here on out is a bit better.
7. Call of Duty
Developer: Infinity Ward, Year: 2003, Format: PC, PS2, PSN, XBLA
The first entry in the series was for a while a PC exclusive. Created to knock Medal of Honor off the top spot for best WWII shooter, Call of Duty provided a much grittier and realistic tale of war than MoH had been offering in recent entries. Just a few years later and it ran the other franchise into submission and claimed the top spot for itself. Top job Call of Duty!
The first entry in the series was for a while a PC exclusive. Created to knock Medal of Honor off the top spot for best WWII shooter, Call of Duty provided a much grittier and realistic tale of war than MoH had been offering in recent entries. Just a few years later and it ran the other franchise into submission and claimed the top spot for itself. Top job Call of Duty!
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops
Developer: Treyarch, Year: 2010, Format: PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
The only remaining Treyarch entry on this list, Black Ops was an unexpected move for the series. Heading into the Cold War, it followed black ops agents on secret missions from the President of the United States, the kind of stuff that's more confidential than C.I.A level stuff.
Allowing you to assassinate dictators, stop missile strike launches and attack various military bases with a full out arsenal of awesomeness. Black Ops was a little crazy, a little risky and a lot of greatness; it just goes to show that all you need to make a series fresh again is a little mix up.
The only remaining Treyarch entry on this list, Black Ops was an unexpected move for the series. Heading into the Cold War, it followed black ops agents on secret missions from the President of the United States, the kind of stuff that's more confidential than C.I.A level stuff.
Allowing you to assassinate dictators, stop missile strike launches and attack various military bases with a full out arsenal of awesomeness. Black Ops was a little crazy, a little risky and a lot of greatness; it just goes to show that all you need to make a series fresh again is a little mix up.
5. Call of Duty 2
Developer: Infinity Ward, Year: 2005, Format: PC, Xbox 360
Releasing at a time when all that there was available was WWII shooters, Call of Duty 2 managed to stand out from the crowd by introducing industry changing mechanics such as regenerative health. It was a fast paced, yet respectful WWII shooter that was not only entertaining but also extremely fun to play, the best of the WWII entries on this list.
Releasing at a time when all that there was available was WWII shooters, Call of Duty 2 managed to stand out from the crowd by introducing industry changing mechanics such as regenerative health. It was a fast paced, yet respectful WWII shooter that was not only entertaining but also extremely fun to play, the best of the WWII entries on this list.
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Developer: Infinity Ward, Year: 2009, Format: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
Modern Warfare 2 set the world on fire after its announcement. Being sequel to arguably one of the best FPS' in recent memory, MW2 set the stakes higher and went all out to make it the biggest and most exciting CoD entry to date; and by God did it work.
Combining an exciting storyline that tells the story of how the U.S & Russia start WW3 and how the British are sent in to clear the mess up (as usual, right lads?). It was thrilling, it had plot twists a plenty, it had more explosions than a Michael Bay film and it was a brilliant and worthy sequel to Call of Duty 4.
Modern Warfare 2 set the world on fire after its announcement. Being sequel to arguably one of the best FPS' in recent memory, MW2 set the stakes higher and went all out to make it the biggest and most exciting CoD entry to date; and by God did it work.
Combining an exciting storyline that tells the story of how the U.S & Russia start WW3 and how the British are sent in to clear the mess up (as usual, right lads?). It was thrilling, it had plot twists a plenty, it had more explosions than a Michael Bay film and it was a brilliant and worthy sequel to Call of Duty 4.
3. Call of Duty: Advanced warfare
Developer: Sledgehammer Games, Year: 2014, Format: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Now this was one of the biggest surprise successes of 2014. By the 11th entry in a franchise that had done little to change up the formula, much of the industry thought all hope was lost, but new developer Sledgehammer Games left not only a statement that call of Duty was long from gone, but left a standard for all following entries to surpass.
After losing your friend and your arm in a battle for the U.S Army, you are offered to join ATLAS Private Military thanks to your impressive battlefield skills with the promise of an advanced prosthetic arm for your troubles. However when ATLAS begins to become power hungry and attempts to claim the United States for itself, you must fight for your country against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Being perhaps the most innovative entry in this entire list, Advanced Warfare utilises Exo-Suits to allow you to traverse the battlefield in a whole new way, vertically. I mean, its set in the future, if you didn't have some kind of robotic suit what kind of game would it be?
Now this was one of the biggest surprise successes of 2014. By the 11th entry in a franchise that had done little to change up the formula, much of the industry thought all hope was lost, but new developer Sledgehammer Games left not only a statement that call of Duty was long from gone, but left a standard for all following entries to surpass.
After losing your friend and your arm in a battle for the U.S Army, you are offered to join ATLAS Private Military thanks to your impressive battlefield skills with the promise of an advanced prosthetic arm for your troubles. However when ATLAS begins to become power hungry and attempts to claim the United States for itself, you must fight for your country against seemingly insurmountable odds.
Being perhaps the most innovative entry in this entire list, Advanced Warfare utilises Exo-Suits to allow you to traverse the battlefield in a whole new way, vertically. I mean, its set in the future, if you didn't have some kind of robotic suit what kind of game would it be?
2. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Developer: Infinity Ward, Year: 2016, Format: PC, PS4, Xbox One
When it was first revealed the Infinite Warfare trailer became the 2nd most disliked YouTube video of all time! It's crazy to think then that it actually turned out to be one of the franchises all time best entries. Set in the far future where the battle is no longer for countries or resources, but instead for control of the entire solar system; Infinite warfare allows you to travel to different planets, fly spaceships and take the standard FPS gameplay into the void for some awesome zero gravity combat sequences.
It features one of the series best written story lines, some of the most memorable characters of the series and the ability to tackle missions in any order you like (sort of) thanks to the introduction of a central mission hub and side missions.
The multiplayer too is one of the most balanced the series has ever offered, playing similarly to Black Ops III's but ironing out the creases. The new zombies mode also does away with all the seriousness of the mode and showcases it for what it truly is, a fun over the top survival mode rife with pop-culture references and colourful visuals. Infinite Warfare put Call of Duty back on the map after a wobbly few years.
When it was first revealed the Infinite Warfare trailer became the 2nd most disliked YouTube video of all time! It's crazy to think then that it actually turned out to be one of the franchises all time best entries. Set in the far future where the battle is no longer for countries or resources, but instead for control of the entire solar system; Infinite warfare allows you to travel to different planets, fly spaceships and take the standard FPS gameplay into the void for some awesome zero gravity combat sequences.
It features one of the series best written story lines, some of the most memorable characters of the series and the ability to tackle missions in any order you like (sort of) thanks to the introduction of a central mission hub and side missions.
The multiplayer too is one of the most balanced the series has ever offered, playing similarly to Black Ops III's but ironing out the creases. The new zombies mode also does away with all the seriousness of the mode and showcases it for what it truly is, a fun over the top survival mode rife with pop-culture references and colourful visuals. Infinite Warfare put Call of Duty back on the map after a wobbly few years.
1. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Developer: Infinity Ward, Year: 2007, Format: PC, PS3, Wii, Xbox 360
If you didn't see this coming you are blind. Call of Duty 4 revolutionised the first person shooter back in 2007 by moving the genre from WWII to the present day. It popularised the modern military shooter and did so with greatness. Following the U.S Army and British S.A.S as they track down a terrorist group and attempt to stop them from using nuclear weapons on the western world, CoD4 was a heartpounding, cinematic experience like no other at its time.
Its multiplayer was also revolutionary thanks to its streamlined matchmaking system and robust ranking & customisation options that have been used in multiple multiplayer suites since (no seriously, that mechanic pretty much became popular from this game, no matter what game/genre it is you are playing).
If you have not played Call of Duty 4 yet, do yourself a favour and play it now...no seriously do it.
If you didn't see this coming you are blind. Call of Duty 4 revolutionised the first person shooter back in 2007 by moving the genre from WWII to the present day. It popularised the modern military shooter and did so with greatness. Following the U.S Army and British S.A.S as they track down a terrorist group and attempt to stop them from using nuclear weapons on the western world, CoD4 was a heartpounding, cinematic experience like no other at its time.
Its multiplayer was also revolutionary thanks to its streamlined matchmaking system and robust ranking & customisation options that have been used in multiple multiplayer suites since (no seriously, that mechanic pretty much became popular from this game, no matter what game/genre it is you are playing).
If you have not played Call of Duty 4 yet, do yourself a favour and play it now...no seriously do it.