RELATED: Plot Holes In The Call Of Duty Series That Were Never Explained
Each game in the franchise has its own beauty, some are masterpieces, while others missed the mark. But all of them are generally enjoyable to play, especially for those die-hard fans of the CoD franchise.
Updated on September 27, 2021, by Scott Vengel: Even to this day, Call of Duty remains one of the top-selling franchises in the FPS genre. Featuring several games, from beloved classics like Call of Duty: Black Ops to new releases like Black Ops 4, the series continues to expand with new features and storylines. Just this year, Call of Duty: Vanguard was released, offering a new take on the old-age WW2 theatres. While ratings on this new addition to the franchise are still developing, IMDB has recently updated their ratings with the two games added in 2020: Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War. As such, this article will be updated to include these new additions to the franchise.
18 Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 - 5.5
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
There are some elements that hold back the game, making it far from a masterpiece, but overall, even those who hate it didn’t mind playing it through.
The gunplay was one of the best in the franchise, but there are some elements that are hard to look past and really let the game flop. Otherwise, it was a financial success for the developers. This shows, that even the worse rated CoD game is worth a try.
17 Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare - 6.2
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox One
Infinite Warfare was a mediocre review on IMDB. But on other platforms, feedbacks are much more positive. This is one of the few Call of Duty games where the campaign is way better than the multiplayer gameplay.
Almost all good review is about the story and the beauty of the game. So for those who like to focus on the campaign and story of CoD games, this is the one to beat. Otherwise, it’s not one player revisit often after playing it through.
16 Call Of Duty: Ghosts - 6.6
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Ghosts is a game that follows all aspects of the original Call of Duty games. Although the developers didn’t stray far from their existing formula, Ghosts is still very exciting and a great game to play that fans love to revisit. The reason for its mediocre rating is that the story seems forced at times, the multiplayer is downright confusing because of the unnecessarily big maps, and it all seems a little too familiar.
15 Call of Duty: Warzone - 6.7
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S
Free-to-play games have become incredibly commonplace all over the FPS genre. No model in these types of games is more commonly seen than the battle royale, with classics like PUBG and Fortnite paving the way for the genre. In 2020, Call of Duty also introduced their own addition to the genre: Call of Duty: Warzone.
Available on a variety of Xbox and PlayStation systems, as well as on Windows for PC gamers, the game offered a new take on the multiplayer side of the franchise. Up to 150 players can play in a match, and the game being free makes for very little reason to not give it a try.
14 Call Of Duty: Black Ops III - 6.9
Available On: Microsoft Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
The twin pillars of this game are the multiplayer modes and the zombies. It demonstrates a lot of interesting ideas, has a beautiful score, and is genuinely a fun game to play with.
RELATED: The Complete Call Of Duty: Black Ops Storyline Explained
Some of the negatives include the boring story campaign and its lack of connection to previous games. The story is repetitive, and the pacing is off. But those who stuck with it say that the multiplayer gameplay is one of the best in the series.
13 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War - 7.0
Available On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Compared to World War 2, the Cold War isn’t a common time period for a Call of Duty game to focus on. Granted, some classics like Call of Duty: Black Ops do take place during the Vietnam War. But, no game has done the Cold War quite like Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War.
The campaign acts as a link between Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops II, explaining in greater detail how the dynamics of the Cold War lead to the subseries’ eventual conclusion. However, even greater than the narrative elements of the game’s story, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War revitalized the multiplayer side of the series by offering new map dynamics and game modes.
12 Call Of Duty 3 - 7.2
Available On: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox, Xbox 360
The main defect in this game is the length of the story which is almost non-existent. It has only 13 chapters, and those too are very short, some taking only 10 minutes. But despite this critique, most agree on the fact that the story itself was great.
Most of the bad reviews are based on the fact that fans kept comparing it to the fan-favorite second game. But it’s understandable, that whatever follows one of the best in the franchise will get some subpar ratings.
11 Call Of Duty: Advanced Warfare - 7.2
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Advanced Warfare is a classic Call of Duty game. It has a gripping and addictive story and is fun enough to make players’ hands sore. It also presents a lot of new and fun ideas to the gameplay. The villain had a great storyline, and overall, the entire game is beautiful.
The multiplayer gameplay is also one of the greatest in the series, most players still revisit Advanced Warfare when craving for some action. The negative reviews mostly focus on the repetitive story and the fact that most players didn’t care for the main character.
10 Call Of Duty: WWII - 7.8
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Call of Duty: WWII is a beloved classic in the series. For those who’ve lost their faith in the series, this is the game that rekindled their original love and appreciation for Call of Duty. This game has one of the best and most emotional stories of all the others.
The multiplayer mode is not at all bad, but most people love it for the beauty of the story. The only truly bad reviews are judging the zombie gameplay and some lags throughout it.
9 Call Of Duty: Black Ops II - 8.0
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii U
Call of duty: Black Ops II was a big leap in the series, but fans loved the outcome. The story of both old and new characters was much more gripping and much stronger than players were expecting, making people really feel for them.
Some say it’s the last classically great CoD game, but reviews say otherwise, as according to the IMDB ratings, it’s still far from the best game in the franchise.
8 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - 8.0
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Modern Warfare 3 was just what fans would expect. The story was fast-paced, taking about 6 hours to complete, the maps were linear, the plotline was “okay”. The multiplayer gameplay is also great in this game.
However, the maps in this game are sadly very hard to handle as a sniper. Overall, there were a lot of improvements in the game that fans loved, but nothing else was out of the ordinary. It’s a classic, close to home, comfortable.
7 Call Of Duty: World At War - 8.2
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
World at War brings back the WWII theme and is very similar to Call of Duty 4. Fans say it has the best story in the series. It’s diverse, it’s lengthy, and it captures the audience.
RELATED: Call Of Duty: World At War Maps, Ranked
The graphics are stunning, the gameplay is challenging, and people love its multiplayer mode. Map-pack enhancements are available, making it versatile and lovable for a long time. It brings an entirely new perspective to WWII, making it one of the best games in this theme in history.
6 Call Of Duty: Black Ops - 8.3
Available On: Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360, OS X
The zombie story started from this game, making it a classic, and also the best in the zombie theme. It has a great story, the multiplayer mode is incredibly fun, and the graphics are amazing.
A lot of people dislike it because it brings a whole new style, which is not the signature of CoD. But more open-minded fans don’t mind this change in style, because they executed it so well.
5 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare - 8.4
Available On: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
This is the CoD most people remember the most. It’s brutally raw, shockingly beautiful, and somewhat traumatic. It’s almost like being in a movie.
The sound editing and voice acting is spectacular, and the score is beautiful. It’s truly an epic first-person shooter game that stays with players. Some people even dare to say that it’s better than the original.
4 Call Of Duty 2 - 8.5
Available On: Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360, OS X
Call of Duty 2 is a classic. Understandable, because it’s one of the first in the 2003 series, introduced in 2005. Of course, its graphics and enhancements can’t compete with the new ones, but it’s still home to the fans.
The story tackles the brutality of World War II, putting players right in the middle. This timeless game still has one of the highest ratings because of its classic beauty and simple storyline. Players to this day enjoy it.
3 Call Of Duty - 8.6
Available On: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
This 2003 classic brings true Saving Private Ryan vibes. People loved it then, and people love it now.
Although it can’t compete with the latest ideas and graphics, it still holds its place in every fan’s heart. In its time, it was known as the best war game in history, and arguable the best is still amongst the Call of Duty series.
2 Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - 8.8
Available On: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Another early classic that true fans remember and often revisit. The story is gripping, the graphics are great, and it’s nostalgic for anyone who knows the franchise.
It’s fun, it’s a classic, it’s a safety blanket for all fans out there. When many fans are asked what their favorite game is in the series, they’ll say Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.
1 Call Of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - 9.0
Available On: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii
The best CoD rating on IMDB belongs to Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Even people who don’t like first-person shooting games have fallen in love with the fun multiplayer and the emotional storyline.
Its graphics are outstanding even comparing to today’s games, and the story keeps players on the edge of their seats. The biggest selling point is the capturing storyline that is possibly the best in the series. Truly a timeless classic in the world of gaming.
MORE: Every Call Of Duty Game Released In The Last Decade, Ranked By The Strength Of Their Multiplayer Maps
