The Call of Duty franchise has been a staple in the gaming world since its inception in 2003. With 19 releases and over 400 million copies sold, it’s no wonder that it holds a Guinness World Record as the best-selling first-person shooter series of all time. The latest addition, Call of Duty: Vanguard, was released on November 5, 2021. As a seasoned ScreenRant.com writer and a passionate fan of the cinematic universe, I’ve decided to take a trip down memory lane and rank the top 10 Call of Duty games based on their Metacritic scores.
10. Call Of Duty 3 – 83/100
Call of Duty 3 is often considered the black sheep of the franchise. Despite being a solid game, it’s rarely discussed and was quickly overshadowed by the Modern Warfare series that debuted the following year. Before Modern Warfare, the Call of Duty games focused on World War 2, with Call of Duty 3 being the last in that era. The series wouldn’t return to World War 2 until 2017’s Call of Duty: WWII.
9. Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 – 84/100
Recognizing that a significant portion of Call of Duty’s player base doesn’t engage with the campaign, Treyarch decided to release Black Ops 4 as a multiplayer online title. The game featured the usual multiplayer and Zombies modes, as well as a new mode called Blackout – a battle royale mode that served as the precursor for Warzone, released two years later.
8. Call Of Duty: World At War – 85/100
Call of Duty: World At War is best remembered for introducing the Zombies mode, which has become a highly anticipated and exciting feature in Treyarch-developed Call of Duty games. Released in 2008, World At War also serves as the unofficial prequel to the Black Ops series, laying the groundwork for what would become a mainstay in the franchise alongside Modern Warfare.
7. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – 88/100
The Modern Warfare series elevated the Call of Duty franchise to new heights. Modern Warfare 3, released in 2011, was the last installment in the series for eight years before its reboot in 2019. While not as critically acclaimed as its predecessors, Modern Warfare 3 remains a great game that is often overlooked by players.
6. Call Of Duty: Black Ops – 88/100
Since its debut in 2010, the Black Ops series has become Treyarch’s primary focus, with five entries released to date, including Black Ops Cold War in 2020. The series primarily explores the Cold War era, providing a stark contrast to the modern setting of Infinity Ward’s games and preventing overlap between the two.
5. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered – 89/100
Modern Warfare 1 and 2 propelled the series to new heights, becoming must-play games for fans each year. Activision eventually remastered both games, evoking nostalgia and preparing the franchise for a revamp following its futuristic era.
4. Call Of Duty 2 – 89/100
Call of Duty 2, released in 2005, continued the World War 2 theme of its predecessor. The game was well-received by critics and is still fondly remembered today, often overshadowing Call of Duty 3. With 27 levels split across four campaigns, Call of Duty 2 offers players hours of gameplay in a single playthrough.
3. Call Of Duty – 91/100
After several Medal of Honor developers left EA, they created their own World War shooter franchise – Call of Duty. This new series would go on to become one of the biggest IPs in the world, surpassing the success of Medal of Honor. Freed from the constraints of EA, the developers were able to create the game they envisioned, forever changing the gaming landscape.
2. Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 – 94/100
Often regarded as the best game in the series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 played a significant role in popularizing online gaming in the late 2000s and early 2010s. The first Modern Warfare game made online multiplayer mainstream, and by the time Modern Warfare 2 was released, it had become the standard for players. The game also helped establish the gaming genre on YouTube, with Call of Duty content driving the platform for years.
1. Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare – 94/100
2007’s Modern Warfare is the highest-rated game in the series, boasting an impressive 94% score on Metacritic. The game’s shift from the World War 2 setting to a modern era, coupled with online play, made Modern Warfare an instant hit with fans. Without this game, it’s hard to say whether the Call of Duty series would have achieved the success it enjoys today.
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