Best Single Playable Characters, Ranked

Call of Duty isn’t just known for its evolving metas in the beloved Multiplayer modes, as it also features a range of exciting and depth-filled characters within the many Call of Duty campaigns over the decades, to which some of these characters have been playable within the story to bring further fun and character into the lives of many.

Call of Duty has some excellent characters, but these characters that feature as playable parts of the Campaign experience are most certainly the ones that stand out from the rest, whether that’s an entirely dedicated campaign or just in a few missions.

8

Dmitri Petrenko

A Brave Soldier & Ally of Reznov Who Fought Through World War 2

• Playable in: Call of Duty: World at War

World at War committed to an interesting narrative by allowing players to experience World War 2 on two fronts. One from the American attack on the Pacific, and the other, from the Red Army as the Soviets battle Germany to Berlin. The protagonist for the Soviets was Dmitri Petrenko, a man with no voice, but whose actions defined his character throughout World War 2.

In World at War, players can directly influence the morality and brutality of war by killing surrendering Germans, or by being utterly ruthless in combat. Dmitri was impressionable due to the morality behind his war, and he was given a voice as Reznov’s friend in Black Ops, but his time as a hero was short-lived after he became a victim of Project Nova.

7

Gary “Roach” Sanderson

A Loyal Sergeant of Task Force 141 Tasked With Finding Makarov

• Playable in: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

A nostalgic protagonist for the first Modern Warfare era pre-reboot, Gary “Roach” Sanderson was a good friend to Task Force 141 who joined alongside many operations in an effort to prevent and deter World War 3 with Price, Soap, Ghost, and Frost. Despite having no voice to become a silent protagonist, Roach captured the hearts of players due to their own imprint on him.

Roach was loved for the role he played in many of the missions he featured in, and to see him betrayed and killed by Shepherd left to be burned alongside Ghost, was a tragic twist that no one saw coming, and many players are still not over.

6

Raul Menendez

The Drug Lord and Terrorist Leader of Cordis Die Who is Unstoppable

• Playable in: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

Raul Menendez may be an antagonist, but what scares most isn’t just his unbridled rage, but his understanding. Raul Menedez may be a villain, but he’s the kind of villain who has understandable motives, especially after the death of his family and his run-ins with American agents like Alex Mason and Jason Hudson.

The reason Raul Menendez doesn’t rank higher is because he isn’t a central playable character, as players can only enjoy the thrills of his carnage in the mission Time and Fate, which sees Menendez seeing red as he butchers his way through soldiers in an effort to save his sister.

5

Bell

A Former Member of Perseus, Manipulated

• Playable in: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

The protagonist for Black Ops Cold War wasn’t exactly talkative, but players could make a few decisions to influence characters thanks to the importance of choice and dialogue options like a classic RPG. This all aided in making Bell feel like a fleshed-out character, where despite their lack of voice, the player could fill in for them.

What truly made Bell an interesting playable character wasn’t just that he was a vessel for the player, but for the fact that he was a victim of the CIA. Despite his bad intentions as a member of the Soviet Union’s Perseus, he was still brainwashed to be an American patriot and led to his death by CIA agents to uncover a sinister plot for the greater good.

4

David “Section” Mason

A Proud Soldier Who Won’t Falter Through Trauma

• Playable in: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

David Mason was the son of Alex Mason and a Lieutenant Commander for America, where the choices he makes has a direct impact on the war of 2025. David Mason is a cool character with a tragic past, so playing as him and making decisions that can start a domino effect on the narrative of Black Ops 2, solidifies his role in one of the best Call of Duty titles out there.

Mason understands war, and how much war can take. After all, it cost Frank Woods his legs, his father’s life, and potentially his best friend. Yet, with the right morals, David Mason can always come out undefeated, despite the trauma that he faces.

3

John “Soap” MacTavish

A Novice Who Becomes a Captain for Task 141

• Playable in: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

John “Soap” MacTavish was the beloved protagonist who many players adored filling the shoes of in the original Modern Warfare trilogy. Soap is a character whose personality and development as a character only grew with each new entry, and his banter with Price and other members of Task Force 141 was part of his Scottish charm that just continued to elevate his appearances.

Soap is one of the rare characters who become playable throughout his series instead of just being restricted to one single game. Players attached themselves to him due to how they were him, and his silence was often filled with players’ depictions of his character and the missions he undertakes. While he does feature in a Modern Warfare reboot, the original Soap will always be the favorite Soap.

2

Alex Mason

A CIA Operative, Brainwashed by Soviets to Derail America

• Playable in: Call of Duty: Black Ops, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

The central protagonist that ties the Black Ops series together, Alex Mason was a Marine of exemplary service who joined with the CIA in an effort to assassinate Fidel Castro. Mason was subdued during this attempt, and gifted to the Soviets to become a prisoner at Vorkuta, and their lab rat for testing out brainwashing techniques that would see Mason become the catalyst for World War 3 and the murder of JFK.

Alex Mason is a great protagonist, and Black Ops features him in the spiraling center of many twists and suspenseful drama. Through a prison uprising, a solo infiltration of a top-secret facility, and a victim of the CIA’s interrogation, Alex Mason will always put his country first, and his brotherhood with Woods.

1

John Price

The No-Nonsense Captain of Task Force 141

• Playable in: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022), Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

Arguably the most iconic character in the entirety of Call of Duty’s existence through the decades, Captain John Price is the ultimate hero and one of the greatest video game characters of all time, so it’s no surprise that he features in every Modern Warfare title, in both the originals and the reboots. Selfless, hilarious, and always willing to do the right thing no matter the cost, Price is an icon like no other.

Captain Price’s sacrifices, loyalty to his team, and skills in warfare make him a vital character that every series should look to when it comes to making a cool character who knows how to be likable, even when they don’t exactly care to be likable themselves.