Best Call Of Duty Campaigns

Call of Duty is a constant presence within the first-person shooter genre, with a new game releasing every year. While the franchise started in fierce competition with titles like Medal of Honor and Soldier of Fortune, Call of Duty has quickly become a mainstream giant in the shooter space, featuring various beloved titles. Though the major selling point of Call of Duty is its Multiplayer modes and often stellar Zombies co-op experiences, it also offers a variety of different Campaigns.

Call of Duty’s Campaigns are the core of its storytelling, each providing a unique range of experiences for players to enjoy. While no Call of Duty game is made equal, each offers its own levels of enjoyment. From the somewhat poorly received entries to the best of the best, here is every Call of Duty Campaign ranked from worst to best!

Updated on November 28, 2024, by Nathan Round: Black Ops 6 has made its debut, bringing with it a thrilling Multiplayer, terrifying Zombies, and a mind-bending Campaign. With its game-breaking features and intriguing missions, Black Ops 6’s Campaign is a worthy contender as one of the greats. This list has been updated to include the Black Ops 6 Campaign, ranking it among the greatest Call of Duty Campaigns of all time.

25 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

More of a Tutorial Than a Campaign

The first entry on this list is Black Ops 4, a somewhat controversial game thanks to the fact that it did not feature a Campaign at all. Instead, it offered players the Specialist HQ, a single-player experience that introduces each player to Multiplayer’s various Specialists, all while mixing in story beats between missions with cleverly crafted cinematics. While the story told through the cinematics is quite interesting and provides some epic visuals alongside gameplay, the Specialist HQ is less of an actual standalone mode and more of a glorified tutorial for Black Ops 4’s Multiplayer.

Most players who dived into Black Ops 4 were likely unaware of the Specialist HQ, and for good reason. The mode itself is overshadowed by the game’s other three main experiences: Multiplayer, Zombies, and Blackout. Admittedly, the Specialist HQ missions aren’t the worst in terms of gameplay and can be enjoyable for fans of the Spec Ops co-op mode from previous entries in the franchise. However, the somewhat cobbled-together nature of the Specialist HQ began a negative trend of cutting back on world-building and focusing more on other projects like Blackout, which would lay the groundwork for Call Of Duty: Warzone. Though the solo content was the longest of any Call Of Duty title, it felt completely devoid of meaning, making it one of the more forgettable experiences in the franchise.

24 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Declassified

A Forgettable Title In The Overall Franchise

• Release: November 13, 2012
• Developer: nStigate Games
• Platform: PS Vita

Next up is Call Of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, a Black Ops game that joined the long list of titles on the PlayStation Vita. While Black Ops Declassified began as a downgraded port of Call Of Duty: Black Ops, the game eventually turned into something else entirely — a filler game that, for many CoD fans, never saw the light of day. Instead of simply adapting its predecessor, Black Ops Declassified serves as a loose prequel to Black Ops 2, allowing players to take on the roles of Alex Mason, Frank Woods, and a CIA operative during various operations conducted from 1975 to 1982.

At first glance, Black Ops Declassified does not seem half bad. The game adopts a similar structure to Spec Ops from the Modern Warfare series, offering players straightforward objectives and a somewhat coherent story that concludes with the death of Jose Luiz Menendez, setting up Raul Menendez’s rise to power in Black Ops 2. Despite the franchise’s strong reputation at the time, Black Ops Declassified was considered dead on arrival when it launched on the PS Vita due to its clunky controls, poorly stitched-together missions, and an extremely short 40-minute playtime.

23 Call Of Duty: World At War – Final Fronts

A Call Of Duty: World At War Port That Fails To Adapt Its Greatness

• Release: November 11, 2008
• Developer: Rebellion Developments
• Platform: PlayStation 2

While Call Of Duty: World At War is often regarded as a gritty masterpiece, Call Of Duty: World At War – Final Fronts is quite the opposite. This entry to the franchise is seen as nothing more than a downgraded PlayStation 2 port of the highly acclaimed World At War, featuring a short 3-hour Campaign, whilst refusing to adapt any of the other modes World At War is ultimately loved for. Although the game shares the same name as its sibling, it only really carries over the theme and setting, diverging significantly from the original with a completely different story.

While there is some overlap between the stories of the two games, mainly through characters like Miller, Roebuck, and Polonsky, there are also contradictions, such as major supporting characters surviving the final battle. The story is rather forgettable, lacking character development, a clear antagonist, meaningful stakes, or any substantial payoff for the events that occur during the game’s short runtime. The gameplay is equally unremarkable, with outdated controls and an overly linear level design that simply moves players from point A to point B without any interesting events, flank routes, or set pieces. Call Of Duty: World At War – Final Fronts ultimately feels like a cash grab targeting gamers who hadn’t yet upgraded to the PS3 or Xbox 360, rather than a standalone experience worth players’ time.

22 Call Of Duty: Finest Hour

Nostalgic But Dated WW2 Call Of Duty Game

Call Of Duty: Finest Hour was the first console Call Of Duty release, and while it shares similarities with the original Call Of Duty, it follows a separate side story. In this game, players take the role of multiple characters from the Soviet, British, and American armies, battling across various historical WW2 locations. The narrative provides a nostalgic and gripping experience, one that is more akin to the likes of the first game.

However, in terms of gameplay, Finest Hour is one of the weaker entries in the series. The game suffers from clunky controls, even by the standards of its time, and poorly placed checkpoints. When put together, players are often subjected to frustrating mission resets, which truly harms the game’s overall experience. Though these issues are often attributed to the fact that Finest Hour is simply an old game ported over to consoles, titles like Call Of Duty 2: Big Red One have aged much better, suggesting the issues with Finest Hour stem more from poor game design.

21 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

A Shallow, Direct Sequel That Lacks Any Real Creative Direction

While many of the earlier spin-offs garnered criticism from fans, the Modern Warfare 3 (2023) Campaign is widely considered to be one of the weakest in Call of Duty history. From what originally appeared to be a follow-up to its imperfect but enjoyable predecessor before the game’s initial launch, the Campaign quickly fell short due to a lackluster, rushed storyline that lacked direction and creativity, combined with serious pacing issues. However, storyline aside, the biggest downfall of Modern Warfare 3’s Campaign has to be the gameplay itself.

When it came to Modern Warfare 3’s Campaign, Sledgehammer aimed to innovate by introducing semi-open world missions, known as Open Combat Missions, allowing players to complete a series of objectives however they saw fit. However, these missions felt rather generic and uninspired, lacking the depth of previous installments in the franchise and feeling more like a Warzone-inspired experience. Even the more traditional linear missions seemed rather disjointed and overly influenced by Warzone elements, which added to their blandness. A prime example is the latter half of the mission Flashpoint, which is reduced to a simple escort task with little engagement, feeling more like a Rescue Hostage Contract from DMZ than an actual story mission. Overall, the Modern Warfare 3 Campaign fails to stand out, lacking the memorable narratives and compelling gameplay that fans grew to love about the series, all while failing to emulate what made the original Modern Warfare 3 so groundbreaking.

​

20 Call Of Duty: Vanguard

A Rather Short & Unrealistic World War 2 Shooter

Call of Duty: Vanguard is a unique entry in the franchise, featuring a new cast, a fresh plot, and a large portion of the playtime spent in a prequel format. In the Campaign, players take on the role of an elite, top-secret international Special Forces team operating during World War II. Captured and interrogated, most missions involve flashbacks to the operations they conducted leading up to their capture. While this approach to character introductions is fresh, it comes at the cost of suspense, since players already know which characters survive.

The game was intended to launch a new Vanguard series, but the game received strong backlash towards its characters, mainly due to the lack of realism, despite the game being marketed as a gritty, realistic WWII shooter. While Vanguard has its highlights, such as stunning graphics, solid gunplay, and intricate missions, there are also a few problems with its execution. Each character has their own unique ability, which, though interesting, feels out of place in a game aiming for realism. Additionally, certain missions, like The Battle of Midway, suffer from clunky vehicular controls, making gameplay frustrating at times. The Campaign’s short runtime only further fuels the community’s dissatisfaction, a similar problem with Sledgehammer’s next title. Modern Warfare 3.

19 Call Of Duty 3

A Rather Repetitive World War II Game

Continuing the trend of World War II shooters, we have Call of Duty 3, Treyarch’s first attempt at making a Call of Duty game. Following the previous two entries, Call of Duty 3 takes players across various historical battles during World War II, featuring multiple playable soldiers across different Campaigns, this time adding Polish and Canadian Campaigns into the mix. The story beats are fairly similar to the previous titles and don’t necessarily add anything new, but it still brims with the charm that many first-person shooter fans were seeking at the time.

In terms of gameplay, Call of Duty 3 is rather repetitive, primarily focusing on boots-on-the-ground infantry combat. The game does feature some vehicular combat missions though, particularly in the Polish Campaign. Some segments can also be pretty frustrating at times due to the game’s overall difficulty, which might turn casual players away. However, the Campaign was and still is a solid experience for those looking for a more retro Call of Duty experience, even with its dated graphics and clunky controls.

18 Call Of Duty

A Classic World War II Game That Started It All

Call of Duty is the title that started it all, initially introduced as another World War II game competing with the likes of Medal of Honor. However, this title offered a gripping, action-packed experience that laid the foundation for the series. Like later entries in the Call of Duty franchise, the first Call of Duty has players taking on the roles of various soldiers in historical conflicts during World War II, including reenactments of real-world iconic events. The game did a great job of showcasing the brutality of war for its time and remains a solid experience for fans seeking a quality World War II title.

In terms of gameplay, Call of Duty feels rather janky by today’s standards, making it difficult to judge from a modern perspective because it hasn’t aged particularly well. However, the game introduced many staple mechanics now used in nearly every first-person shooter, such as aiming down sights, changing stances to go prone, and large-scale battles featuring hundreds of characters. Call of Duty is the revolutionary game that started it all, and it has a charm often missing from modern AAA shooters. Despite its age, the Campaign is worth a playthrough, as the story and intensity still hold up well, even with its rugged gameplay.

17 Call Of Duty 2: Big Red One

A Gripping Side-Story Featuring High Action & Great Characters

Call Of Duty 2: Big Red One may seem similar to Call Of Duty 2 on the surface, but it’s actually a side story within the series. Big Red One follows a single group of American World War II soldiers, with players controlling one protagonist whose rank progresses throughout the story. This is a big departure from Call Of Duty 2, where players assume the roles of multiple characters. The game features notable voice talents like Mark Hamill and several actors from Band of Brothers, with each character having their own unique personality, allowing players to form attachments as the story progresses.

This focus on a different narrative works in the game’s favor, allowing it to stand out without being directly overshadowed by Call Of Duty 2. In terms of gameplay, Big Red One is a significant improvement over older titles like The Finest Hour, offering more responsive controls and better overall experiences. The missions are also quite diverse, blending infantry combat with vehicular warfare, keeping gameplay fresh across major historical battles. Though dated by today’s standards, Big Red One is still a fun, nostalgic Call Of Duty experience for fans.

16 Call Of Duty 2

A Solid Sequel To The Original

Call of Duty 2 is often regarded as one of the best World War II shooters, and while that claim is debated, it was undeniably groundbreaking at the time, building on the successful formula of the first game. Like its predecessor, Call of Duty 2’s story brings players back to the World War II era, featuring the same playable factions in its Campaign. However, it sets itself apart by elevating the intensity of its action mechanics.

Call of Duty 2 thrusts players into gritty, action-packed frontline missions across real historical battles. The game excels in world-building for an FPS, offering dynamic NPCs and stunning landscapes that immerse players in the experience. While the controls may feel dated by modern standards, they still hold up well for those seeking a nostalgic story. This entry also solidified the series’ focus on combat and realistic warfare, which naturally carried over into later games in the franchise.

15 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 3

One Of The Most Confusing Campaigns In The Series

Black Ops 3 is often regarded as one of the best Call Of Duty games ever, with groundbreaking Multiplayer and one of the best Zombies modes in the series. It is also remembered for its rather convoluted Campaign, one which is often regarded as one of the weakest in the series. The first kicker of Black Ops 3 is that, although the game takes place in the same timeline as the previous two entries, its story has no connection to them. The narrative is further complicated by the fact that the missions don’t necessarily occur in chronological order, with most simply being simulations in the main character’s mind. This makes the storyline quite difficult to follow, requiring players to pay close attention to understand its story.

Despite the confusing narrative, Black Ops 3’s Campaign is solid, retaining the fluid gameplay of the Multiplayer mode and introducing RPG elements like Cyber Cores — customizable abilities that players can use in combat. Black Ops 3 is also one of the few Call Of Duty games to feature a customizable character. While this comes at the cost of a more relatable protagonist, it does allow players to imagine themselves within the narrative, especially since the game maintains a first-person perspective like the rest of the series.

14 Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare

An Innovative Leap Into Future Warfare

Advanced Warfare catapulted the franchise into a new era, as it was the first Call of Duty title to truly revamp the movement system with its futuristic setting. The game follows Jack Mitchell, who joins the Atlas Corporation after losing an arm in the line of duty, to fight against the KVA terrorist organization. The story offers a nice change of pace from previous entries, focusing on a single protagonist. However, it remains somewhat generic, with a predictable twist regarding the true villain and largely forgettable characters.

In terms of gameplay, Advanced Warfare’s Campaign is criminally underrated, featuring fun, fluid mechanics that let players boost through the environment using their trusty Exo Suit. Unfortunately, the game is filled with missed opportunities, offering different gadgets and equipment that are only used in a few missions, even though they could have been useful throughout. Despite this flaw, Advanced Warfare’s Campaign is a unique experience, one that had some fans hoping for a sequel.

13 Call Of Duty: Ghosts

One Of The Most Underrated Campaigns In The Series

Call Of Duty: Ghosts is undoubtedly one of the most underrated titles in the franchise, and this extends to its gripping Campaign. At the time of its release, Ghosts was widely considered the worst Call Of Duty game, a position it no longer holds unchallenged. However, despite the initial reception, Call Of Duty: Ghosts featured a solid Campaign that diverged from the Modern Warfare storyline Infinity Ward had been developing previously. While it may not be the best in the series, the Ghosts Campaign is often regarded as one of the greats by a niche portion of the community, leaving some fans still hoping for a sequel.

Call Of Duty: Ghosts has one of the best opening missions of any Call Of Duty, effectively setting the tone for the rest of the game. The game focuses more on the family dynamics of its main characters rather than the military politics and historical conflicts seen in previous entries, but it is still jam-packed with blockbuster action. Although the gameplay can sometimes be repetitive, particularly during standard shoot-em-up style missions and skirmishes, Ghosts is now often viewed as one of the franchise’s more underappreciated Campaigns, which has only gotten better with time.

12 Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare

An Action-Packed & Ground-Breaking Sci-Fi Story

It’s safe to say that Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is one of the most disliked entries in the series, largely due to its outlandishly futuristic setting, which feels more like Halo than Call of Duty. While Multiplayer received little praise, the game’s Campaign stands out, telling a gripping story of Captain Nick Reyes, who is suddenly thrust into command aboard the Retribution and must lead a war against the Settlement Defense Front, a faction aiming to control the Solar System. The characters in Infinite Warfare are some of the most well-developed and likable in the series, and the story itself is both creative and inspiring.

Beyond the compelling narrative, Infinite Warfare’s Campaign also features excellent gameplay. It blends epic space battles and vehicular combat in zero-gravity environments with classic boots-on-the-ground action, allowing players to transition seamlessly between these experiences on certain levels. The gunplay is solid as well, offering a wide range of powerful weapons, creative gadgets, and dynamic environments that players can use to their advantage in combat. Despite the game’s overall negative reception, its Campaign is widely regarded as one of the best, one which is definitely worth playing.

11 Call Of Duty: WW2

A Solid Return To Call Of Duty’s Roots

Call of Duty: WW2 was released at the perfect time. With players growing tired of several back-to-back futuristic titles, it’s no surprise that WW2 became one of the most anticipated Campaigns of its time, promising to return to Call of Duty’s roots with a World War II setting. Unlike many other games set in the same period, WW2’s story follows a single group of characters from the 1st Infantry Division, mostly focusing on their operations across various European locations. This more grounded approach allows players to connect better with the characters, something previous Campaigns set in the same era struggled to achieve.

In terms of gameplay, Call of Duty: WW2 doesn’t necessarily introduce many innovative features, but the smooth combat makes for a great experience, despite the Campaign being somewhat light on content. There are a few standout aspects, such as the squad system that lets players request med packs and other supplies from their teammates, large-scale battles, and sparingly used tactical stealth missions. For those looking for a solid World War II game, WW2’s Campaign is a strong contender with a compelling story to enjoy.

10 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

A Solid Sequel With A Great Story & Characters

Modern Warfare 2 is one of the stronger entries in the series, continuing the grounded and gritty tone established in the first game. In this installment, players finally get to experience a more fleshed-out, rebooted version of Task Force 141, who team up with the Special Forces unit Los Vaqueros as they attempt to track down terrorist leader Hassan Zyani, who plans to deploy American missiles as an act of revenge against the United States. The game features some of the most likable characters in Call of Duty history and tells a superb story that, while borrowing some creative liberties from the original Modern Warfare 2, successfully sets itself apart from its predecessor.

The gameplay in Modern Warfare 2’s Campaign is a mix of over-the-top action and tactical shooter elements. The game incorporates similar stealth missions from Modern Warfare (2019) while also offering more fast-paced sequences. However, some areas fall short, such as the Prison Break mission, which features forgettable segments that feel more like a top-down strategy game than a first-person shooter. Despite this, many of the missions are top-notch and a blast to play, making Modern Warfare 2 a great experience for those looking to continue the Modern Warfare story.

9 Call Of Duty: World At War

A Dark & Gritty Masterpiece

World At War is without a doubt the darkest Call Of Duty Campaign to ever be released, taking players back to the World War II era following Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare just a year prior. World At War sees players battling in a wide variety of real-world historical battles near the conclusion of World War II, as players switch between American and Soviet soldiers throughout the game. The Campaign is gritty to say the least, showcasing the true horror of wars, blending real historical footage with terrifyingly violent sequences on groggy battlefields.

World At War’s Campaign is an addictive tour through a variety of iconic wartime locations, where players genuinely can’t help but gasp at points. The game takes players across large-scale battles with hundreds of enemies, much like previous entries like Call Of Duty 2, only this time cranking up the action tenfold with chilling setpieces, iconic weapons, and intense vehicular warfare sequences. In many respects, World At War feels like the last hurrah for a long-gone era of COD, one which would be abandoned until the franchise finally returned to its roots with Call of Duty: WW2.

8 Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

A Fast-Paced Spy Thriller With Compelling Missions

Black Ops Cold War is the second Call of Duty game set in the current shared Call of Duty universe, canonically tying the previous Black Ops timeline to the newly launched Modern Warfare series. Although it shares the same universe as Modern Warfare, the game has its own story, thrusting players into the Cold War era of the 1980s. Unlike previous Black Ops games, this installment moves away from fan-favorite Alex Mason, focusing instead on a mysterious character known as Bell, who assists CIA operatives like Russell Adler in tracking down an international espionage threat known as Perseus.

Black Ops Cold War’s gameplay leans more toward being a spy thriller than an action-packed war shooter, featuring many stealth-oriented missions where players often progress through levels with their weapons holstered. However, the game still includes explosive action sequences, such as vehicular warfare, open combat, and high-octane chase scenes. It also introduces RPG elements reminiscent of Black Ops 3, including character customization that impacts gameplay, the ability to make different choices throughout the story, and, for the first time since Black Ops 2, multiple endings. Black Ops Cold War’s Campaign is a strong entry in the series, effectively reigniting excitement for the Black Ops titles following the release of Black Ops 4.

7 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

A Dark & Gritty Return To The Modern Era

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019 launched a brand-new era of Call Of Duty, one where all future games will take place in one interconnected universe. Of course, this would mean that Modern Warfare would serve as a reboot to the original to launch this new universe, and while some fans might’ve been skeptical of this decision, the Modern Warfare Campaign is one of the best the series has to offer. Modern Warfare saw the series return to a more modernistic setting, using gritty conflicts as a basis for its story, along with seeing the return of characters like Captain Price — only this time a more rugged version that fits quite well with the theme of the story.

Modern Warfare’s Campaign is a fantastic, graphically-advanced masterpiece, and is truly one of the more immersive entries on this list. Gameplay-wise, Modern Warfare somewhat leans into being more of a tactical shooter, slowing down the pace for many of its missions for players to methodically progress through the levels. This is particularly emphasized in missions like Clean House, where players will stealthily move through a building filled with both hostiles and civilians, leading to some difficult decisions during its playthrough. Modern Warfare is also just as action-packed as its predecessors, featuring fast-paced missions where players go in guns blazing. All in all, Modern Warfare’s Campaign is an excellent entry to the franchise, one that honors the original whilst also launching a brand-new trilogy.

6 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

A Solid Conclusion To The Original Modern Warfare Series

Modern Warfare 3 is the third and final installment of the original Modern Warfare series. Following directly after the events of Modern Warfare 2. Task Force 141, alongside former Spetsnaz operator Yuri, aims to stop Makarov from prolonging World War III. While the premise is epic, the first half of the story progresses somewhat slowly, with players facing less significant villains while playing as Delta Force. However, the plot gains momentum in the latter half once Makarov comes back into the scene.

Gameplay-wise, Modern Warfare 3 remains similar to its predecessors, offering satisfying gunplay, action-packed missions, and over-the-top blockbuster moments. Many missions take place on the ground, where players combat invading Russian forces, but there’s also variety. For instance, players control an AC-130 in Iron Lady and use Juggernaut suits in select missions. With some of gaming’s most intense interrogation scenes and a thrilling finale, Modern Warfare 3 stands as a strong entry in the franchise.