All Call of Duty Games in Order: Chronological and release

Since 2003, Call of Duty games have been consistently released every year, making them a blockbuster in the gaming industry. The original games were centered around World War II, but the developers have continuously evolved the series.

They have changed the battlegrounds, transitioned from video game consoles to online multiplayer games that are available 24/7, and even expanded onto mobile devices. The game settings have also shifted, from the Vietnam War to present-day conflicts, and even into the future, including space.

However, with a wide range of Call of Duty games available, it can be difficult to keep track of the order in which they were released. To make things easier, we have compiled a comprehensive list of all the Call of Duty games, starting from the very first installment and ending with the latest and thrilling game released in 2023.

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How many Call of Duty games are there?

To understand the chronological order of Call of Duty games, it’s essential to know the total number of games in the series. At present, there are a total of 23 mainline Call of Duty games, which includes titles like Warzone and Warzone 2. The latest game in the series, Modern Warfare 3, was launched in November 2023.

Call of Duty Games in Release Order

• Call of Duty (2003)
• Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004)
• Call of Duty 2 (2005)
• Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)
• Call of Duty 3 (2006)
• Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
• Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)
• Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
• Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)
• Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
• Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
• Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
• Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)

Call of Duty Games in Chronological Order

1. Call of Duty: WWII (1940 – 1945)
2. Call of Duty 2 (1941 – 1945)
3. Call of Duty: Vanguard (1941 – 1945)
4. Call of Duty (1942 – 1945)
5. Call of Duty: Finest Hour (1942 – 1945)
6. Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (1942 – 1944)
7. Call of Duty: World at War (1942 – 1945)
8. Call of Duty 3 (1944)
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (1961 – 1968)
10. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (1981)
11. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (1986 – 1989, but also 2025)
12. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (1996 – 2011)
13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (1999 – 2019)
14. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2015-2027)
15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2016)
16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2016-2017)
17. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
18. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
19. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2043)
20. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2054 – 2061)
21. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2065 – 2070)
22. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2187)

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Call of Duty Games in Chronological Order

Beware of minor spoilers for the stories, characters, and relevant events of each game in the list below.

1. Call of Duty (2003)

The initial game of the Call of Duty franchise was created by Infinity Ward and released in 2003. It marked the beginning of a series of games that center around World War II, similar to popular titles like Medal of Honor. In the inaugural Call of Duty game, players experience three separate campaigns, each following a different soldier from the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union.

In the Call of Duty game series, players embark on different military campaigns throughout history. One of these campaigns follows the journey of Private Martin, an American soldier who undergoes training in 1942 and later takes part in the invasion of Normandy in 1944.

Another campaign features British Sergeant Evans, who fights in Operation Tonga during the same year. Evans receives assistance from the recurring character, Captain Price. Additionally, players also experience the campaign of Soviet soldier Alexei Ivanovich Voronin, which unfolds during the Battle of Stalingrad.

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2. Call of Duty 2 (2005)

In the follow-up to the initial game, the sequel maintains the same settings and nations but offers a fresh take on the perspective. Rather than featuring three campaigns, players now get to experience four different ones.

These include the viewpoint of a North American soldier, a Soviet Union soldier, and two from the British soldiers’ point of view. In the game, you take on the role of Private Vasili Koslov, tasked with protecting Moscow from the invading Nazi German soldiers.

Meanwhile, another character named Bill Taylor from North America joins the army to participate in the assault on La Pointe du Hoc during the historically significant D-Day. On the other hand, Sergeant John Davis and David Welsh, both British soldiers, find themselves involved in the conflict in North Africa. Davis is under the command of Captain Price.

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3. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

Following the release of Call of Duty 3, Treyarch returned a few years later to create their final installment based on the ongoing conflict that has been a central theme in the series. However, this time, the campaign was divided into two main forces: the North American and Soviet forces.

The player assumes the role of American Marine Private C. Miller during the Makin Island raid in 1942 and later in the Battle of Peleliu, where American forces confront the Japanese army. The Soviet section of the game takes place in the Battle of Stalingrad, specifically on the Eastern Front, with the player embodying Private Dimitri Petrenko.

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4. Call of Duty 3 (2005)

Treyarch, a different game developer than Infinity Ward, took on the challenge of creating Call of Duty 3, the first game in the series that they developed. Set in 1944, the game portrays the intense battles of World War II in the village of Chambois, France, during the Battle of Normandy.

Players can experience the war from the perspectives of armies from Britain, Poland, the United States, Canada, and France as they fight against the Nazi forces of Germany. It’s worth noting that this particular game is not available for PC gaming.

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5. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)

After fourteen years since its initial release, Sledgehammer Games took the Call of Duty franchise back to its roots with a World War II setting. This installment marked a significant change in the series, as it featured a single protagonist named Ronald “Red” Daniels, leading a devoted squad.

As players assume the role of Red, they engage in intense battles against Nazi German forces throughout various European locations, starting from Normandy and culminating in Germany. Although Call of Duty: WWII includes a few flashback sequences set in 1940, positioning it as the first game in the chronological order, the primary storyline predominantly occurs in 1944.

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6. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)

Sledgehammer Games, the developer of the latest installment in the Call of Duty franchise, has returned to its roots with a World War II setting. This time, the game offers a unique perspective by presenting multiple characters on various fronts of the war.

The primary goal is to uncover the secrets of Project Phoenix, a covert Nazi initiative that could potentially alter the course of the war in favor of Germany. While Vanguard includes flashback sequences that take place in 1941, the majority of the campaign is set in 1945, towards the end of the war.

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7. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Treyarch, the game developer, took a different approach with Black Ops by shifting the time period from 1961 to 1968. This installment of Call of Duty explores the Cold War and a portion of the Vietnam War, providing players with a unique experience.

The game follows the story of Alex Mason, a CIA operative who is assigned the mission of recollecting past events in order to locate Soviet sleeper agents. These agents are scattered throughout the United States and are planning to unleash a deadly chemical weapon known as Nova 6.

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8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, serves as a bridge connecting the storylines of the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2 games. In this installment, players assume the role of the main character known as “Bell,” with the ability to customize their name, gender, and other personal details, such as dialogue choices.

The game is set in the year 1981 and features a collaboration with familiar characters from previous games, including Alex Mason, Frank Woods, and Jason Hudson. Guided by CIA operative Russell Adler, players join an elite team tasked with capturing a Soviet operative known as “Perseus,” who poses a significant threat to the United States.

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9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

The next installment in the Black Ops series features a storyline that unfolds in two different time periods. In the first timeline, players will follow the protagonist, Alex Mason, as he embarks on a mission several years after successfully thwarting the plans of the Nova 6 organization.

Set in 1986, Jason Hudson enlists Mason’s help in locating the whereabouts of Frank Woods, who mysteriously disappeared in Cuando Cubango, Angola.

The second timeline focuses on David Mason, Alex’s son, as he takes on the mission of tracking down Raul Menendez in the year 2025. Menendez is the leader of Cordis Die, a terrorist group that has sparked the Second Cold War.

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10. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

Modern Warfare, the most recent installment in the Call of Duty series, breaks away from the traditional Allies vs Axis conflict. The game takes place in 2011 and revolves around the execution of Yasir Al-Fulani, the president of a fictional Middle Eastern country, by Khaled Al-Asad, the leader of a revolutionary party.

At the same time, Russia is experiencing a civil war instigated by Imran Zakhaev, an arms dealer. To prevent a global crisis, Captain Price leads a squad consisting of the main character, John “Soap” MacTavish, in their mission to intervene.

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11. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Taking place five years after the previous installment, Modern Warfare 2 follows the narrative of Vladimir Makarov, an Ultranationalist who carries on the legacy of Imran Zakhaev. As it turns out, this extremist group has taken control of Russia, providing Makarov with the means to carry out terrorist acts against the United States.

In order to counter this threat, familiar characters such as Captain Soap and Captain Price team up with Sergeant Gary “Roach” Sanderson, Lieutenant Simon “Ghost” Riley, “Nikolai,” and a group of other operatives to put an end to Makarov’s covert scheme.

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12. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

The conclusion of the initial Modern Warfare trilogy reaches its peak as the search for terrorist Vladimir Makarov comes to an end. Captain Price’s group reorganizes, now joined by Yuri, a former member of the Russian Special Forces known to Nikolai.

Captain John “Soap” MacTavish is also part of the team for the ultimate mission. Makarov manages to capture Boris Vorshevsky, the Russian president who was on the verge of establishing peace with the United States. By threatening the president’s daughter, Makarov obtains access to nuclear launch codes, once again becoming a global threat.

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13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

The Modern Warfare series was given a reboot in 2019 by Infinity Ward. They introduced a fresh timeline that featured familiar characters such as Captain Price. The story takes place in a fictional republic called Urzikstan, which is being invaded by a Russian army.

At the same time, a terrorist group known as Al-Qatala, hailing from Urzikstan, launches attacks on various countries worldwide. Captain Price, along with his Task Force 141 and the Urzikstan Liberation Force, strive to reduce tensions and resolve the conflict.

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14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

Set in the year 2022, the game Modern Warfare II continues the narrative of the previous Modern Warfare reboot. It brings back familiar characters from Task Force 141 and introduces Farah Karim, the leader of the Urzikstan Liberation Force.

While Al-Qatala remains a threat, the focus shifts to Quds Force, a revolutionary group in Iran led by Hassan Zyani. Zyani receives support from both Al-Qatala and a Mexican cartel based in the fictional city of Las Almas.

Together, they plan to carry out acts of terrorism against the United States following the assassination of General Ghorbrani, a prominent Iranian military leader.

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15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)

Continuing the story from the previous installment, Modern Warfare III follows the adventures of Task Force 141, featuring familiar faces like John Price, Simon “Ghost” Riley, Kyle “Gaz” Garrick, and John “Soap” MacTavish.

The game reintroduces Ultranationalist terrorist Vladimir Makarov as the main villain, who previously appeared in Modern Warfare 3 released in 2011.

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16. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)

In 2013, Infinity Ward developed a standalone game called Call of Duty Ghosts. Unlike previous titles, this game has limited connections to its predecessors. The game revolves around a special operations group known as Ghosts, who are assigned to carry out covert missions.

Set in the year 2027, the game takes place after a decade of conflicts in the Middle East and an oil crisis. A South American force called the Federation of the Americas has declared war against the United States.

As a player, you must work with your new team to put an end to Gabriel T. Rorke, the former leader of the Ghosts.

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17. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)

The first game in the Call of Duty series to take place in the future is Advanced Warfare. Developed primarily by Sledgehammer Games, it is set in the year 2054. The protagonist, Jack Mitchell, starts off as a member of the United States Marine Corps but later joins the private military corporation Atlas after a life-changing accident.

The main enemy in this game is a Chechenian separatist group called KVA, led by Joseph “Hades” Chkheidze. Advanced Warfare stands out from previous entries with its futuristic gameplay elements, such as the use of exoskeletons that grant soldiers unique abilities.

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18. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)

The final installment of the original Black Ops series is also based in a futuristic setting. Specifically, it takes place in the year 2065 during a Third Cold War between the Common Defense Pact and the Winslow Accord. This conflict showcases advanced technology such as robotic drones, cyborg supersoldiers, unmanned air forces, and other technological advancements.

You, along with Jacob Hendricks and the cybernetics division, form a black ops team that has been assigned the mission of stopping a potentially hazardous conflict from escalating further. Your objective is to investigate an unusual occurrence in Singapore, while also keeping an eye out for the 54 Immortals, a notorious criminal organization.

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19. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)

Infinite Warfare stands out as the Call of Duty game that takes players into the far future. Set in the 2080s, the game introduces the United Nations Space Alliance, formed as a result of humans depleting Earth’s natural resources.

This alliance embarks on the colonization and resource exploitation of other planets, while being protected by the Solar Associated Treaty Organization, a military force that fights against the oppressive regime known as the Settlement Defense Front, which operates from Mars.