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The Call of Duty (COD) franchise has seen numerous entries ever since its first game back in 2003. The series is now two decades old and it is still going strong with a new game released almost every year. Although it was first introduced as Activision’s response to EA’s Medal of Honor, it has rightfully earned its spot as one of the best-selling first-person shooters ever made.
While it is well-known for its competitive online multiplayer mode, fans of single-player games know that some titles in the series also have excellent campaign missions with compelling narratives and iconic characters. Let’s go ahead and look at the best Call of Duty Campaigns you need to try.
Top 7 Call of Duty Campaigns Ranked
7. COD Infinite Warfare (2016)
Although numerous COD fans dismissed this title expecting it to feature unimaginative futuristic elements from previous entries, Infinite Warfare contains a well-written campaign featuring one of the best voice actings in the series. While the campaign is short, it still provides intense gameplay where you can hack robots, traverse through zero-gravity environments, and even pilot jackals and engage in space combat.
6. COD Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
This is the 6th installment in the series and follows the campaign of the previous entry where Task Force 141, a potent special forces unit led by Captain Soap MacTavish hunts down Vladimir Makarov, the leader of a Russian ultranationalist party. This entry delivered exactly what the fans wanted; more Modern Warfare.
5. Call of Duty (2003)
The first game which began the series is still preferred by many veterans. Although its gameplay mechanics and graphics are outdated by modern standards, it still offers a promising campaign that is loved by several fans. Players take control of an infantry soldier and get access to an array of firearms from the World War 2 era.
4. COD Black Ops: Cold War (2020)
The Black Ops series separates itself from other entries in the franchise by adding unique elements to the COD formula. Cold War contains an enticing campaign set in the early 1980s and explores the darkest times in US history. Although there are known characters like Mason and Woods, the story emphasizes your custom character Bell who is recruited by Russel Adler into the CIA. Along with the typical COD gameplay style, this entry also adds unique elements like puzzles and branching pathways,
3. COD Modern Warfare (2019)
This was the first entry in the reboot of the popular Modern Warfare Series. Although it contains most characters from previous games, this 2019 title focused mainly on adding a layer of realism in terms of gameplay. It also improved movement mechanics, allowing for more smoother traversal. The campaign follows the CIA and the British SAS forces who team up with rebels from the fabricated republic of Urzikstan and battle against Russian Armed forces and Al-Qatala, a terrorist group from Urzik.
2. COD Black Ops (2010)
This first entry into the Black Ops line-up of games is technically a sequel to 2008’s World at War and introduces the iconic Alex Mason, a CIA operative who attempts to recall his lost memories to locate and stop Soviet sleeper cells from deploying chemical weapons across the United States. The narrative is filled with numerous unexpected twists and provides an immersive gameplay experience when combined with one of the best soundtracks in a COD game.
1. COD 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
Call of Duty 4 tops our list and is widely regarded as one of the best installments in the series. This title marks the franchise’s transition from a World War 2 setting into the modern era. With this change, the game also improved upon numerous mechanics that revolutionized the FPS genre and inspired several other devs to feature its elements in their own IPs.
Along with this, the game also delved into a Russian Civil War, creating a compelling narrative that is deeply embedded into the hearts of COD veterans.
