GameOrder.gg — Call of Duty Checklist
GameOrder.gg — free franchise play orders and collector guides
Print date:
Franchise Directory
The Call of Duty franchise has 22 entries. Play in Release Order for newcomers, Chronological Order for lore completionists.
Your progress is saved in your browser — no account needed.
| OwnedYour shelfOwn | # | Title | Year | Platform | CIBComplete In BoxCIB $ | WarningsFakes · Region · Audio | Find / Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of DutyEssential | 2003 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 2 | Call of Duty: United OffensiveOptional | 2004 | PC | —— | — | ||
| 3 | Call of Duty 2Essential | 2005 | Xbox 360 | —— | — | ||
| 4 | Call of Duty 3Optional | 2006 | PS3 | —— | — | ||
| 5 | Call of Duty 4: Modern WarfareEssential ⓘ | 2007 | PS3 | SimpleWhat is CIB? →— | ⚠️ Rental | ||
| 6 | Call of Duty: World at WarRecommended | 2008 | PS3 | —— | — | ||
| 7 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Essential ⓘ | 2009 | PS3 | Simple— | ⚠️ Rental | ||
| 8 | Call of Duty: Black OpsEssential ⓘ | 2010 | PS3 | Simple— | ⚠️ Rental | ||
| 9 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Recommended | 2011 | PS3 | —— | — | ||
| 10 | Call of Duty: Black Ops IIEssentialDELISTED ⓘ Xbox 360 marketplace closed. PS3 digital still available but waning. | 2012 | PS3 | Simple— | — | ||
| 11 | Call of Duty: GhostsOptional | 2013 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 12 | Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareOptional | 2014 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 13 | Call of Duty: Black Ops IIIRecommended | 2015 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 14 | Call of Duty: Infinite WarfareOptional | 2016 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 15 | Call of Duty: WWIIOptional | 2017 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 16 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 4Optional | 2018 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 17 | Call of Duty: Modern WarfareEssential | 2019 | PS4 | —— | — | ||
| 18 | Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarRecommended | 2020 | PS5 | —— | — | ||
| 19 | Call of Duty: VanguardOptional | 2021 | PS5 | —— | — | ||
| 20 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIRecommended | 2022 | PS5 | —— | — | ||
| 21 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare IIIRecommended | 2023 | PS5 | —— | — | ||
| 22 | Call of Duty: Black Ops 6Optional | 2024 | PS5 | —— | — |
Spot an error or missing game? Let us know →
Essential marks the installments that carry the spine of Call of Duty's main story and world-building — the ones collectors and lore-focused players treat as must-play for the core narrative. On GameOrder, Essential titles include Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2.
Recommended entries meaningfully enrich the franchise — strong stories, fan favorites, or connective tissue that pays off after the essentials, without being strictly required. Recommended picks here: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, and Call of Duty: World at War.
Optional games are fair to skip for continuity; they are side paths, experiments, or lighter fare that fans can pick up when they want more, not when they need the main plot. Optional tagged titles: Call of Duty 3, Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Call of Duty: Black Ops 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Call of Duty: Ghosts, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: United Offensive, Call of Duty: Vanguard, and Call of Duty: WWII.
Spinoff titles sit apart from the primary saga — different genres, timelines, or branding — and are best treated as extras after you know the heart of the series. No Spinoff tags appear on these rows.