If you’re into Call of Duty and want to play through the whole story, you’re probably scratching your head wondering where to even start. I mean, there are like 20 more games around different wars, timelines, and even some crazy future stuff. It’s honestly pretty confusing trying to figure out what order makes sense. This guide on how to play Call of Duty games in order breaks down two ways to tackle this gaming marathon. They’ll give you totally different vibes, but you are going to have a blast either way!
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Why Playing Call of Duty Games in Order Matters
Playing the Call of Duty games in order is actually pretty cool because you get to see how much better they’ve gotten over time. You’ll notice how the controls feel way smoother in newer games, and the stories get way more intense and complex. You can also spot how different storylines connect, which is honestly satisfying when you catch those little references.
The tricky part is that Call of Duty games don’t always follow a straightforward timeline. Some games will throw you into flashback missions that happened decades before the main story, and others just jump around between different time periods in the same campaign. This is why choosing your playing order really depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for.
How to Play Call of Duty Games in Chronological Order
The chronological way starts you off in World War II and takes you all the way to the distant future. It’s pretty cool because you literally get to see how war changes over time in the Call of Duty world, from basic rifles and tanks to robots and space battles.
| Game Title | Set in Year(s) |
|---|---|
| Call of Duty: WWII | 1940 – 1945 |
| Call of Duty 2 | 1941 – 1945 |
| Call of Duty: Vanguard | 1941 – 1945 |
| Call of Duty | 1942 – 1945 |
| Call of Duty: Finest Hour | 1942 – 1945 |
| Call of Duty 2: Big Red One | 1942 – 1944 |
| Call of Duty: World at War | 1942 – 1945 |
| Call of Duty 3 | 1944 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops | 1961 – 1968 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War | 1981 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops II | 1986 – 1989, 2025 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 | 1991 |
| Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare | 1996 – 2011 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare | 1999 – 2019 |
| Call of Duty: Ghosts | 2015 – 2027 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | 2016 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 | 2016 – 2017 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II | 2022 |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III | 2023 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 | 2043 |
| Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare | 2054 – 2061 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops III | 2065 – 2070 |
| Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare | 2187 |
How to Play Call of Duty Games in Release Order
The release order approach is basically like living through the whole Call of Duty journey the way fans actually did over the past 20+ years. You start with the very first Call of Duty from 2003, and then you get to see how each new game learned from the last one and kept getting better.
| Game Title | Release Year |
|---|---|
| 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: Black Ops 6 | 2024 |
Also Read:
- How to Play Call of Duty Mobile on a PC?
- All Call of Duty Mobile Icons and Symbols Meaning – Complete Guide
- Warzone Season 1: Best Meta Weapons You Should Be Using
The Best Way to Play CoD for First-Timers
If you’ve never touched a Call of Duty game and the idea of playing more than 20 games sounds crazy, don’t worry! Here is our recommendation:
- Start with Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. This is the perfect point to start. The campaign is amazing and teaches you everything you need to know while keeping you hooked with an awesome story. The controls feel natural, and the missions switch things up. Plus, this game basically set the standard for what Call of Duty should be.
- Try Call of Duty: World at War next to see the World War II stuff.
- Then check out Call of Duty: Black Ops for some Cold War action. These three will show you what the franchise is all about across different eras.
You can actually skip the really old games from 2003 to 2006, unless you’re cool with clunky graphics and controls that feel ancient. Also, avoid the weird future ones like Infinite Warfare until you know what you’re getting into. Once you’ve beaten those three games above and you’re hooked, then you can figure out if you want to go full chronological order or just play them as they came out.
