Call Of Duty Tier List: All GOD Games Ranked [2023]

We will be ranking all the mainline entries in the COD Franchise in this top tier list.

Since 2003, Call of Duty has been a popular name in the first-person shooter genre and has in fact gone on to set the framework for how a shooter should look and feel. The franchise began with a single-player narrative experience but eventually grew with the addition of a very strong multiplayer mode to dominate the entire field

But as the franchise grew, the property was expanded upon and various different studios were given the opportunity to make their own entries in the series. And due to the division into various development teams, not every game in the series was made by the same people, so there are a lot of variations in tone and quality. Consequently, there are some games in the category that are difficult to forget and others that are forgettable. Thus, we created the Call of Duty tier list and ranked them accordingly.


Key Points

  • Our list only includes the mainline entries in the franchise.
  • There are a total of 19 games here and they are ranked according to their ratings and popularity.
  • In the highest ranks, we have Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2.
  • The lowest ranks will include Call of Duty Ghosts.

Call Of Duty Tier List

We will list all rankings in a short table.

S RankA RankB RankC RankD Rank
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2Call of Duty Black Ops 2Call of Duty VanguardCall of Duty Black Ops 4Call of Duty Ghosts
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3Call of Duty Black Ops 3Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
Call of Duty 2Call of Duty 3Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
Call of Duty World At WarCall of Duty World War II
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty Modern Warfare
Call of Duty Modern Warfare II

S Tier

Call of Duty tier list S tier
S Tier.

We have only mentioned the finest Call of Duty game that, to our knowledge, remains unequaled. We consider the music, visual, and overall gameplay worth of the game to be a classic triumph that was ahead of its time and retains a respectable value in the long-running genre.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the finest game in the series’ extensive history. Many fans of the COD series consider this their favorite date. We believe that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2’s plot, soundtrack, and overall gaming experience are among the many reasons it is a top-tier Call Of Duty game. Even though Call of Duty: Modern Warfare created the foundation for an incredible tale, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 went above and beyond to produce an even more engaging campaign. 

The creators of Modern Warfare 2 also focused significantly on the game’s sound effects and music. Hans Zimmer himself has a hand in creating the game’s soundtracks. In addition, tremendous effort went into developing distinct sounds for every weapon in the game. In the game, firing each weapon, regardless of whether it was muzzled or not, generated a distinct sound that gave each weapon a distinct feel. COD MW2 was the epitome of how first-person shooter video games should be in their attention to minor audio, visual, and other aspects.

Release Date
November 10, 2009
Main Story Duration
8 Hours

Read Also: KOF 98 Tier List: All Characters Ranked

A Tier

A Tier.

The A-tier of our COD Tier List includes the series’ most memorable campaigns by a wide margin. Numerous gamers still recall the missions they performed in each COD game mentioned below. This is because these Call of Duty games beautifully capture the significance of events, which also significantly affected how their narratives evolved. 

Call of Duty Black Ops 2

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 warrants a slot on our S-tier Call of Duty list, in our opinion. Despite its many flaws, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has a nice overall vibe. First, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 offered many quick-time events, which was a plus. However, many gamers found the constant occurrence of QTEs quite tiresome. In addition, we believe that COD Black Ops 2’s settings were outstanding. Players revisited several well-known incidents.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 has left a lasting impression on its gamers through the horse riding objectives and fighting. In earlier games, players had no option but to choose their weaponry before the beginning of missions. However, in Call of Duty: Black Ops 2, players could select any weapon they desired before beginning a mission. Putting aside a few annoyances, Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 was an outstanding first-person shooter for its time.

Release Date
November 12, 2012
Main Story Duration
7 Hours

 Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3

We believe that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 is well-known for its campaign and the way in which each mission flows into the next. It is the epic conclusion to the Modern Warfare series, and it brought the saga to a bombastic end. To our shock, some veteran players consider MW3 to be even better than COD M2. However, we believe that the initiative and story might have been introduced marginally more effectively.

COD Modern Warfare 3 successfully ties together all three MW games and provides a perfect end to the saga. Certainly, there were a few flaws, such as recurring passages. However, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was by far the superior game in terms of enhancing the prior episode and coming to a conclusion about the series simultaneously.

Release Date
November 8, 2011
Main Story Duration
8.5 Hours

Call of Duty 2

Call of Duty 2 is undoubtedly the most famous World War II-based Call of Duty game. The narrative or campaign mode generated a World War II atmosphere uncommon in computer games. Call of Duty 2’s campaign mode lacks a cinematic atmosphere, making it less contemporary. However, even by modern standards, Call of Duty 2’s campaign mode was still respectable, with a strong emphasis on the plot, good control methods, and other little features.

Desert Rats attacking El Dabaa and rushing Point du Hoc on D-Day are my favorite scenes from Call of Duty 2. Call of Duty 2’s missions were near-perfect in terms of their core and general atmosphere. Yes, the game lacked a sprint function, which made the fighting feel sluggish most of the time. However, proceeding slowly also added to the game’s advantage.

In subsequent Call of Duty games, the shooting mechanics relied too heavily on perks and equipment. That was not the case with Call of Duty 2, though. To eliminate foes, players had to have an accurate aim. When COD 2 was launched, it was a flawless experience. Call of Duty 2 enhanced and polished practically every aspect of the first game, delivering a polished and refined Call of Duty follow-up.

Release Date
October 25, 2005
Main Story Duration
7½ Hours

Call of Duty World At War 

Sometimes the plot of these games becomes predictable and straightforward, but the release of Call of Duty: World at War radically contradicted and altered that perception. The game strips you of power, creating the impression that you are in a conflict in which you will not always be in charge.

Another benefit of COD World at War’s campaign mode was its duration. After completing the World At War campaign, you will scarcely feel like you’re in a shorter narrative mode. Mission-introduced characters were memorable and well incorporated into the game’s narrative. Moreover, Call of Duty: World at War’s historical authenticity was great. It is a commendable attempt for a 2008 video game to provide elements that later entries in the series omitted.

Overall, we believe that Call of Duty: World at War featured a campaign mode, cinematics, music, and video controls that were extremely great. All these factors make Battlefront an excellent Call of Duty-inspired successor to World War II. WAW was so popular that many gamers returned to the battle mode of Call of Duty 2, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of the second world war.

Release Date
November 11, 2008
Main Story Duration
7½ Hours

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare 

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was the very first game in the series to feature a significant adjustment to health recovery. The current iteration of the franchise attempted to bring many new elements, and for better or worse, it was able to reinvent a system that Call of Duty gamers valued.

For a 2007 computer game, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’s furious combat and crossfire features were astounding. During the primary objectives, the progression of events kept gamers on their toes. In addition, the visuals were an improvement over prior Call of Duty games. COD 4: MW also ushered in a new era for the release of shooter games during the decade. Early to mid-2000s, first-person shooter games were mostly centered on the world battle situation. That changed with the release of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. Its narrative was original and conveyed a feeling of how contemporary conflict may be.

In contrast to other first-person shooter games, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare attempted to make its story more genuine. COD 4: MW was likely the first excellent story-driven video game that did not portray Russia as the antagonist.

Release Date
November 5, 2007
Main Story Duration
7 Hours

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

COD MW was a wonderful game for its day and had little to no cause to be remade. However, the 2019 release of the remastered version made it evident that the game required a visually stunning rendition for modern fans. The game stays true to its roots by emphasizing close combat, gun noises, and narrative. Although Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered is hardly a game-changer for those who played the original edition years ago, it is a worthy upgrade. In fact, those who were unable to play it for the first time found COD: MW to be a thrilling experience that elevates the standard for gunplay and the significance of story missions in first-person shooter video games.

While it was wonderful to experience the events of Call of Duty 4: Current Warfare with modern visuals, most of the game’s core mechanics were taken from the first game, which seemed a bit obsolete. Despite that, we believe the campaign was flawless, and it merits an A on our Call of Duty tier list.

Release Date
November 4, 2016
Main Story Duration
6 Hours

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Before the advent of Call of Duty: Black Ops, the espionage, depiction of engaging warfare, and fighting in COD games were never flawless. So Black Ops features the greatest cold war tale, mission settings, and the game’s overall campaign riddles are brilliant.

Black Ops has, in our opinion, the finest narrative in the entire series. The depiction of black ops missions carried out behind enemy forces by the CIA covert is, perhaps, a work of brilliance, as most online participants concur.

Release Date
November 9, 2010
Main Story Duration
7 Hours

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Call of Duty: Cold War is a must-have experience. Theeiteration paid careful attention to its game and task design, but the general atmosphere of fighting in the Cold War era harkens to the early 1980s, yet the written representation of people and their engagement in the plot demonstrate the developers’ efforts.

The Cold War plot maintains a very natural flow and a deep sense of immersion. However, the obstacles and many decision points force you to retry some missions or portions of them to make new choices. These hurdles help compensate for Call of Duty Cold War’s shorter campaign length. You get a sense of success and adventure by replaying chosen missions and devoting yourself to viewing another conclusion.

The sound design was also something to behold. Regardless of vehicles, weaponry, or movement sound kinds, it is evident that every section has been given the appropriate amount of care in this regard.

Release Date
November 13, 2020
Main Story Duration
5½ Hours

Call of Duty Modern Warfare

The great aspect of the 2019 remake of MW is that it allows players to revisit one of the most iconic games in the series. It takes place in a modern and realistic setting and follows a conflict against the rebellious people of Urzikstan. 

The special Ops mode is fantastic and features cooperative play. Along with that, there is a post-launch update that shows a free-to-play mode called Warzone. The single-player mode relies mainly on tactically based choices where each player is assigned a reward at the end. On the other hand, the multiplayer mode has a far more tactical style, including the main focus on map exploring, realism mode, and breaching the door.

Release Date
October 25, 2019
Main Story Duration
6 Hours

Call of Duty Modern Warfare II

Like the previous Modern Warfare 2, the game also takes place in a realistic setting. It involves Mexican Forces and Task Force 141, as together they seek out the terrorist Hassan Zyani, who has American missiles. It runs on a new version of the IW engine along with a multiplayer and free-to-play mode. 

The game received many positive reviews from critics as it was a huge success for the makers.  It was the fastest game in the COD series to reach 1 billion$ in revenue. The game has many design changes that improve the quality of the game even more. These changes include the advanced AL systems and co-op mode. These movement tactics and new features include mantle, dive to prone, and the removal of slide canceling.

Release Date
October 28, 2022
Main Story Duration
8 Hours

B Tier

Call of Duty tier list B tier
B Tier.

The COD games are categorized in B ran of our Call Of Duty Tier List, with Vanguard representing the middle ground. They are not the best, but neither are they the worst. Even though you play these games nowadays, some may feel conflicted after experiencing their story modes. We did not find the gameplay of these games to be over the top or lackluster. Still, we think these Call of Duty video games are rather good.

Call of Duty Vanguard

The primary selling point for Call of Duty: Vanguard was the ability to play as unique individuals with compelling backstories and histories. In principle, this was a fantastic idea, but as the campaign was launched, its mode fell short of expectations. We believe it did not even come close to Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 if the setting of World War II is considered.

We believe that Vanguard’s campaign has several significant flaws. To begin with, the majority of game parts prohibit exploration and instruct you to proceed in one direction. That essentially eliminates the spirit of exploration and the possibility of discovering an Easter egg or goodie. Secondly, there are times when the campaign delivers three or four cutscenes consecutively, shattering the player’s immersion while directing the character.

The campaign mode of Vanguard similarly removes decision alternatives, and there is a distinct lack of options for freely traversing missions. The only positive aspects of the game are the contemporary visuals, outstanding sound design, and compelling character histories. It earns a spot in the B tier because, despite its minor advantages, the gameplay is anything but ideal.

Release Date
November 5, 2021
Main Story Duration
6 Hours

Call of Duty Black Ops 3 

Even though Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is a sequel to COD: Black Ops 2, the plot in the installment was inferior to that of its predecessor. Despite that, due to several new upgrades and features, it is still one of the best entries. Its gameplay mechanics and stages were great but the campaign was a bit convoluted. Although the addition of futuristic tech went a long way in making the whole game seem more appealing, it wasn’t enough.

Many would argue that the narrative lacked substance and was unclear. Nevertheless, we believe that Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 had a solid plot since it had two concurrent stories. The real game is essentially a large-scale representation of historical events. However, the tale seemed rather out of place in the Call of Duty world and, at times, appeared extraneous.

Overall, Call of Duty: Black Ops 3’s new features and minor adjustments make it one of the best COD games. COD BO3 may have been a jewel of a first-person shooter had Treyarch handled the storytelling and execution better.

Release Date
November 5, 2015
Main Story Duration
8 Hours

Call of Duty 3

Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty 3, the sequel to COD 2, did not achieve the anticipated degree of renown. The campaign was likewise set during World War II, which was a fantastic setting. Nonetheless, Treyarch hastened the creation of Call of Duty 3, which they created. COD 3 was released nearly eight months after the previous installment.

Even though the story’s setting was identical to the previous entry, Call of Duty 3 brought numerous aspects to the franchise that were lacking. First and foremost, it added the much-requested sprint function, which allows you to rush through places to enhance the fighting experience. The game was a true follow-up to Call of Duty 2 due to several additional distinguishing features. Nevertheless, the pitting of Axis versus Allies and the entire backdrop of World War II were not intriguing enough, and because of that, we believe that Call of Duty 3’s campaign occupies a medium position on the list.

Release Date
November 7, 2006
Main Story Duration
6 Hours

Call of Duty World War II

With the release of World War II, the Call of Duty series returned to its roots after a very long absence, but the campaign mode was just decent. A few problems prevented it from becoming one of the finest in the entire franchise.

Initially, the conquest mode was brief, lasting between five and seven hours. Completing it will not take very long, even if you actually played in the toughest setting. In addition, the World War II scenario was enhanced with next-generation visuals. The previous Call of Duty games with a World War II scenario either lacked cinematics or had worse visual quality. This changed with the release of Call of Duty: World War II. The high-quality and fluid visuals did enhance immersion.

The game’s combat sequences reminded us of “Saving Private Ryan” and “Band of Brothers,” which was another thing we appreciated about Call of Duty: World War II. They were well-written and maintained the gamers’ immersion. However, each narrative mission’s mission ideas, linearity, and the general atmosphere seemed monotonous and repetitious.

Release Date
November 3, 2017
Main Story Duration
7 Hours

C Tier

C Tier.

The narratives of the games in the C rank of our COD tier list are unimpressive. The campaigns here are not the worst, but they are not the best either. We believe the key reason for a less remarkable campaign was that their previous had a complicated campaign, which developers sought to rectify by creating simple, concise, yet effective advertisements.

Call of Duty Black Ops 4

Call of Duty Black Ops 4 features a specialist HQ that focuses on the backstories of the character called Specialists. In the game, the multiplayer mode does not feature automatic health regeneration along with the introduction of a new ballistics system. The game does not have a single-player mode; we can only play in multiplayer mode. It has 10 Specialists named Firebreak, Nomad, Seraph, Battery, Prophet, Ruin, Crash, Torque, Ajax, and Recon. It allows two specialists at a time to emphasize the role of every character in the team. 

There is no automatic healing which is now replaced by manual healing. The weapons here have predictive recoil patterns and a mixed ballistic system. The ballistic system has severe projectile damage and a hitscan. Many weapons have an Operator Mod, which modifies the weapon’s work.

Release Date
October 12, 2018
Main Story Duration
9 Hours

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

The campaign of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare is mediocre. COD Infinite Warfare was a passable video game due to the presence of notable characters in its narrative. The game’s narrative demonstrates that Infinity Ward made an attempt to bring the character to life. However, for a forthcoming Call of Duty video game, COD Infinite Warfare does not have as many features as it should have.

Most first-person shooter games on next-generation consoles initially included destructible surroundings, walls, and buildings. This idea was absent from the next-generation Call of Duty game Infinite Warfare. Its campaigns and narratives are largely forgettable compared to the previous Call of Duty games’ campaigns, tales, and dramatic in-game events.

The art style, aesthetics, and plot of Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare were among its strengths. During missions, the characters exhibited a feeling of reality and purpose. They were not inserted in the game’s narrative without reason and had a specific function. Throughout COD Black Ops 3, people have been anticipating the return of the feature.

Release Date
November 4, 2016
Main Story Duration
7 Hours

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare had a combat system with a quick tempo, which was a little improvement over its predecessors. It has the addition of new tech-based weapons. However, there were several issues with the game’s battle mode that, if handled correctly, may have resulted in a more engaging story mode.

The most significant issue with Advanced Warfare was it’s subpar single-player. Even if you are currently playing the narrative mode, the cliches and predictability of the plot will cause you to quit playing the campaign mode.

Release Date
November 3, 2014
Main Story Duration
7 Hours

D Tier

Call of Duty tier list D tier
D Tier.

In the D Tier we have only placed one Call of Duty video game since, in our opinion, that’s the only COD game that fails to create a compelling or interesting campaign.

Call of Duty Ghosts

We believe that the campaign duration of Call of Duty: Ghosts was extremely short or appeared short compared to games published before Ghosts. Second, the expert mode of COD Ghost’s campaign did not present the same difficulty as prior COD titles. Completing the game’s story mode at veteran difficulty seemed more like an ease than a challenge.

On the whole, the campaign seemed lifeless, as did the overall narrative experience. Even if you completed the narrative mode’s objectives, you would find them extremely forgettable. We believe Call of Duty: Ghosts’ plot was a touch more generic than expected, despite continuing the contemporary warfare trilogy’s tradition.

The makers advertised the game as including a character absent from the game. It was disappointing to see the Call of Duty campaign: Ghosts fail in the area most COD games are known for.

Release Date
November 5, 2013
Main Story Duration
6 Hours

Comparison Table

GamesTierRelease DateMain Story Duration
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2SNovember 10, 20098 Hours
Call of Duty Black Ops 2ANovember 12, 20127 Hours
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3ANovember 8, 20118.5 Hours
Call of Duty 2AOctober 25, 20057½ Hours
Call of Duty World At WarANovember 11, 20087½ Hours
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 4ANovember 5, 20077 Hours
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare RemasteredANovember 4, 20166 Hours
Call of Duty: Black OpsANovember 9, 20107 Hours
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold WarANovember 13, 20205½ Hours
Call of Duty Modern WarfareAOctober 25, 20196 Hours
Call of Duty Modern Warfare IIAOctober 28, 20228 Hours
Call of Duty VanguardBNovember 5, 20216 Hours
Call of Duty Black Ops 3BNovember 5, 20158 Hours
Call of Duty 3BNovember 7, 20066 Hours
Call of Duty World War IIBNovember 3, 20177 Hours
Call of Duty Black Ops 4COctober 12, 20189 Hours
Call of Duty: Infinite WarfareCNovember 4, 20167 Hours
Call of Duty: Advanced WarfareCNovember 3, 20147 Hours
Call of Duty GhostsDNovember 5, 20136 Hours

Verdict

Since the original Call of Duty video game was launched in 2003, we have been playing the series. Creating ranking lists is never simple since they are always subjective. We acknowledge that the COD tier list rating system we have compiled may not represent your opinion of each game in the series. Consequently, the average rating of Call of Duty video games on our list is debatable and open to criticism. 

We hope that you found the article to be useful, and we welcome constructive criticism in the comments below. Also keep in mind that as new entries in the series keep coming out, we will be updating the article