Call of Duty (CoD) is one of gaming’s most influential first-person shooter franchises. Since the series’ 2003 debut, developers Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games and collaborators have produced dozens of entries across WWII, modern, near-future, and sci-fi settings. The franchise has shaped multiplayer shooters, introduced staples like progression systems and Zombies co-op, and spawned a persistent live-service ecosystem (including Warzone). For the 2025 edition of this ranking, we evaluate every major entry, weigh long-term player sentiment, and factor in how each game aged into 2025 — including the most recent Black Ops releases.
How We Ranked the Call of Duty Games (Methodology)
To make this ranking transparent and useful, each entry was scored across these categories:
- Campaign (25%) — narrative, pacing, memorable missions, emotional impact.
- Multiplayer (30%) — maps, gunplay, movement, modes, balancing, map rotation, and meta.
- Co-op / Zombies (15%) — quality and longevity of cooperative experiences.
- Innovation & Influence (15%) — new mechanics, systems, or cultural impact.
- Longevity & Community (15%) — live service support, modding/competitive scene, and whether players still return.
We combined objective measures (sales milestones, review consensus) with subjective but widely shared fan sentiment, and adjusted for how well each title held up over time.
Worst to Best: Complete Call of Duty Ranking (2025 Edition)
Note: this list focuses on mainline console/PC releases and the franchise’s major free-to-play entry. Mobile spin-offs, handhelds, and remasters are excluded unless they meaningfully changed the fandom (e.g., Modern Warfare remaster).
1. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
Vanguard aimed to return to WWII but suffered from uneven campaign missions and a multiplayer that felt like an iteration rather than a reinvention. Patch-driven fixes helped, but Vanguard remains one of the more forgettable mainline entries — a solid example of competent production values that lacked identity.
Why it ranks low: inconsistent tone, lacklustre meta, and launch balancing problems that took many seasons to correct.
2. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
Ghosts had a promising multiplayer engine on consoles but a weak single-player narrative and forgettable characters. Its maps and modes provided entertainment, but it didn’t innovate the way Modern Warfare or Black Ops titles did.
3. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
Infinite Warfare divided fans with its sci-fi setting. While its campaign is among the franchise’s most polished (cinematic and ambitious), the futuristic direction turned many long-time players off. Strong single-player; weaker purchase sentiment at launch.
4. Call of Duty 3 (2006)
A solid WWII experience on consoles, but compared to Infinity Ward’s groundbreaking earlier titles and subsequent Treyarch innovations, CoD3 is overshadowed — historically important on console launches but not top-tier for legacy.
5. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
A welcome return to boots-on-the-ground combat after futuristic entries, WWII excelled in cinematic single-player and authentic presentation, but its multiplayer and live-service approach faced mixed reception.
6. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)
Notable for intentionally dropping the single-player campaign to double down on multiplayer, Black Ops 4 delivered with a rich multiplayer and the Blackout battle royale mode—an important transitional title that prepared the franchise for battle royale and live-service models.
7. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)
Modern Warfare III (2023) refined modern gunplay and seasonal support. While some criticised its campaign brevity, the multiplayer and integration with Warzone continued the modern-era momentum.
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)
A technical and gunplay leap for the rebooted Modern Warfare sub-series. Excellent weapon feel, a responsive sandbox, and top-tier multiplayer maps — though some map choices and initial balancing drew gripes.
9. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
Advanced Warfare introduced boost movement and future-tech toys with a charismatic performance by Kevin Spacey (then attached to the title). Its campaign is engaging, and its movement system influenced later CoD entries — divisive at release, influential later.
10 Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
World at War brought back gritty WWII combat and introduced Zombies mode — a co-op formula that Treyarch would refine into a major franchise pillar. Its campaign is atmospheric, and its legacy is immense for co-op fans.
11. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
The 2019 Modern Warfare reboot reworked the engine, introduced realistic gunplay, and delivered a tense campaign. It set a new standard for visuals and sound design and remains a fan favourite for its grounded approach.
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Strong narrative moments, branching choices, and a robust Zombies offering make Cold War an important Black Ops chapter. Multiplayer remained solid, and the game’s campaign choices rewarded replays.
13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
The classic Modern Warfare 2 is still remembered for its iconic missions and blockbuster multiplayer. Its cultural footprint — the maps, killstreaks, and controversies — cemented it as a touchstone for competitive and casual players alike.
14. Call of Duty 2 (2005)
A leap forward for WWII shooters at release, CoD2 delivered cinematic pace and introduced many players to modern multiplayer fundamentals. Historically important.
15. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Often credited with rewriting multiplayer FPS expectations, CoD4 modernised class/progression and spawned the modern competitive FPS template. The campaign and multiplayer still hold up and influence designs across the industry.
16. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)
Black Ops 2 combined an addictive multiplayer with branching narrative choices in single-player. It balanced experimental storytelling and tuned competitive play, making it one of Treyarch’s best.
17. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
A taut Cold War story, memorable characters, and stacked Zombies maps — Black Ops established Treyarch’s signature style and gave players a compelling mix of campaign and co-op.
18. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
As the climax of the original MW trilogy, MW3 delivered an epic, if flawed, campaign run and refined the multiplayer formula into a polished, fast-paced experience.
19. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)
Black Ops 3 perfected advanced movement in Treyarch’s vision and delivered an enormous Zombies offering. Its depth and replayability make it a fan favourite on modern consoles.
20. Call of Duty: Warzone / Warzone 2.0
Warzone changed the franchise’s reach. As a free-to-play battle royale that tied into mainline releases, it became a cultural phenomenon — reshaping how players experienced CoD. Warzone’s lifecycle has shifted over time (including mobile wind-downs and technical pivots), but its impact on discovery and crossplay remains huge.
21. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)
Black Ops 6 (released October 25, 2024) brought new omnidirectional movement and refined Zombies and multiplayer loops, landing massive launch numbers and positive reception among many critics and players. Its innovations and strong launch make it a higher-tier modern entry.
22. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025) — Top Spot
Treyarch’s 2025 Black Ops 7 (released November 14, 2025) builds on the momentum of Black Ops 6 and delivers the franchise’s most ambitious Black Ops experience. Between expanded campaign ambition, refined movement systems, deep Zombies content, and a multiplayer sandbox that blends classic and modern CoD sensibilities, it’s the 2025 #1 pick. Official materials and release info confirm its 2025 launch and Treyarch’s leading role.
Best Call of Duty Game in 2025: Why Black Ops 7 Stands Out
Black Ops 7 sits at #1 for several reasons:
- Campaign ambition: narrative stakes, player-choice beats, and cinematic mission design.
- Multiplayer depth: maps that reward tactical play and a weapon meta that balances power and customisation.
- Zombies & Co-op: Treyarch’s largest and most modular Zombies offering to date, with seasonal support and community challenges.
- Technical polish & launch: strong launch metrics and cross-platform integration placed it at the centre of CoD culture for 2025.
Best Call of Duty Games by Category (Bonus Rankings)
Expanding coverage helps readers searching for specific “best of” angles — and improves long-tail SEO.
Best Campaigns
- Black Ops (2010) — character-driven Cold War drama.
- Modern Warfare (2007) — cinematic, tense missions.
- Black Ops 2 (2012) — branching storyline and multiple endings.
- Modern Warfare (2019) — gritty reboot realism.
- World at War (2008) — raw wartime tone.
Best Multiplayer Games
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) — revolutionised multiplayer.
- Black Ops 2 (2012) — balanced and addictive.
- Black Ops 3 (2015) — deep customisation and movement.
- Modern Warfare 2 (2022) — modern gunplay and netcode.
- Black Ops 7 (2025) — contemporary balance with creative map design.
Best for Zombies / Co-op
- Black Ops 3 (2015) — massive Zombies content.
- Black Ops (2010) — classic Zombies maps.
- World at War (2008) — origin of Zombies mode.
- Black Ops 6 (2024) — modern Zombies systems.
- Black Ops 7 (2025) — the most expansive Zombies suite to date.
Best for Beginners
- Warzone — free-to-play, drop-in, learn guns and map awareness quickly.
- Modern Warfare (2019) — forgiving matchmaking and clear progression.
- Black Ops Cold War — accessible loadouts and vanilla-style maps.
Best on Platform (PS / Xbox / PC)
- Modern Infinity Ward and Treyarch titles typically provide parity across consoles and PC, while PC often benefits from higher framerates and wider FOV support. Newer titles (2024–2025) maintain crossplay and cloud features to smooth platform differences.
Final Verdict
Call of Duty’s legacy is complex: a blend of technical innovation, memorable single-player moments, and multiplayer systems that have shaped the competitive shooter genre for two decades. This 2025 ranking honours that history while recognising recent Treyarch entries for evolving the franchise into new movement, multiplayer, and co-op territory. Whether you’re chasing campaign stories, perfecting aim in ranked multiplayer, or surviving the Zombies apocalypse, the “best” CoD depends on what you value most —campaign depth, multiplayer longevity, or sheer cultural impact.
FAQs
Q: What is the best Call of Duty game ever?
A: Historically, titles like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) and Black Ops (2010) are often named the best due to influence and staying power — but for 2025, Black Ops 7 ranks at the top for innovation and community engagement.
Q: Which Call of Duty has the best story?
A: Black Ops (2010) and Black Ops 2 (2012) are lauded for narrative; Modern Warfare (2007) is also prized for its cinematic missions.
Q: Which CoD has the best Zombies mode?
A: Treyarch titles dominate. Black Ops 3 and the modern Black Ops sequels are favourites for their depth and content in Zombies.
Q: Is Call of Duty still popular in 2025?
A: Yes — CoD remains a flagship FPS franchise with major releases (including Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7 in 2024–2025) and a substantial active community, plus the continued cultural weight of Warzone’s influence.
Q: What is the newest Call of Duty game?
A: As of November 2025, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is the latest mainline release.