Where to Start · Call of Duty
Where to Start with Call of Duty
Call of Duty is Activision's military FPS franchise running since 2003 — the best-selling video game franchise of all time and the series that defined console multiplayer shooters for a generation. The franchise has three distinct eras: the World War II era (CoD 1 through World at War), the modern warfare era (Modern Warfare through Black Ops II), and the current era of annual releases across multiple studios.
Each game tells a standalone story with new characters — no prior knowledge required for any entry. The single-player campaigns vary dramatically in quality; the multiplayer is the primary draw for most players.
If you only play one Call of Duty game
Play Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007). It is the game that transformed the franchise and the FPS genre — the killstreak reward system, the create-a-class loadout system, the Prestige progression, and a single-player campaign with All Ghillied Up as one of gaming's greatest stealth missions. Modern Warfare defined what console shooters became for the next decade. The 2019 reboot (also called Modern Warfare) is the best modern entry point if you want current generation production values.
The Black Ops series
Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) has the best story-driven campaign in the franchise — Cold War era, Mason's interrogation framing device, and a twist that recontextualises the entire game. Black Ops II (2012) added branching campaign paths and meaningful choices to the CoD formula. Black Ops Cold War (2020) continues the Black Ops storyline in the 1980s. The Black Ops series is the most story-invested branch of the franchise and the best starting point if campaigns matter more than multiplayer.
Modern Warfare (2019) — the best modern entry
Modern Warfare (2019) by Infinity Ward is the most polished modern Call of Duty — realistic tone, excellent gunplay, and Warzone integration that kept the game relevant for years. The campaign is morally serious by CoD standards. Modern Warfare II (2022) and III (2023) continued the storyline. All three are on PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC.
Warzone — the free entry point
Call of Duty: Warzone is the free-to-play battle royale mode available on PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC without purchasing any CoD game. If you want to experience the modern CoD formula and gunplay without committing to a purchase, Warzone is the answer. The current version integrates with Modern Warfare II and III content.
World War II era
Call of Duty: World at War (2008) is the best WWII era entry — Treyarch's direction, the Pacific campaign alongside the Eastern Front, and the introduction of Nazi Zombies cooperative mode. CoD: WWII (2017) is the most recent WWII return — competent but unremarkable. The original CoD 1 and 2 are PC classics with excellent campaigns. United Offensive expansion for CoD 1 is particularly strong.
What to skip
Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013), Infinite Warfare (2016), and Advanced Warfare (2014) are the weakest entries in the franchise. The futuristic movement mechanics of AW and IW divided the fanbase and the campaigns are forgettable. Not recommended as entry points.
Multiplayer first — Most players spend the bulk of their time in multiplayer and live modes. Treat campaigns as era-specific highlights — quality swings year to year, but the competitive loop is what defines Call of Duty for many.
What platforms you need
Modern Warfare (2019), MWII, MWIII — PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC. Black Ops Cold War — PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC. Warzone — free on PS4/PS5/Xbox/PC. Black Ops (2010) — PS3/Xbox 360/PC backward compatible on Xbox Series.
Recommended order
CoD 4: Modern Warfare for the genre-defining classic. Modern Warfare 2019 for the best modern entry. Black Ops for the best campaign. Warzone for free modern gunplay. Black Ops II for branching campaign innovation.