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Call of Duty Games in Order: Complete Timeline

Last Updated: November 20, 2025

A montage of key characters and scenes from the Call of Duty franchise, highlighting the various eras and conflicts depicted in the games.

The Call of Duty franchise reigns supreme in the gaming world. Since its debut in 2003, the series has transported players from the trenches of World War II to modern combat zones and beyond, creating an expansive and sometimes complex timeline. For new players wanting to jump in, or veterans looking for a chronological playthrough, figuring out where to start can be a daunting task.

This definitive guide will walk you through the entire Call of Duty saga. We'll provide a complete list of the mainline games in release order, so you can experience the series' evolution firsthand. We will also break down the major story arcs, helping you navigate the timelines of iconic sub-series like Modern Warfare and Black Ops.

All Call of Duty Games in Release Order

Playing the Call of Duty games as they were released is the best way to witness the technological and mechanical evolution of the franchise. You'll see how the series moved from a grounded World War II shooter to the fast-paced, blockbuster experience it is today. Here is every mainline Call of Duty title in order of its original release date.

  • Call of Duty (2003)
  • Call of Duty 2 (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)

Navigating the Call of Duty Story Timelines

While playing in release order is a valid approach, the narrative of Call of Duty is not one single, continuous story. Instead, it's divided into several distinct universes, each with its own characters, conflicts, and chronological order. If you want to experience the story as it was meant to be told, diving into these sub-series is the best way to do it.

The Black Ops Timeline

The Black Ops saga is a twisting narrative of covert operations, psychological warfare, and Cold War conspiracies. Its story is famously non-linear, jumping back and forth in time. For the most coherent story experience, this is the recommended chronological order.

  • Call of Duty: World at War: While a World War II game, it serves as a crucial prequel, introducing players to Sergeant Viktor Reznov, a character whose influence is central to the entire Black Ops storyline.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops: This is the true beginning of the saga, following protagonist Alex Mason as he navigates Cold War hotbeds like Cuba, Vietnam, and Soviet Russia, all while dealing with the psychological manipulation of a mysterious numbers broadcast.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War: Taking place between the events of the first and second Black Ops games, this entry dives deeper into the espionage and paranoia of the early 1980s.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops II: This game features a dual-timeline narrative. Its past segments directly follow the events of Black Ops, while its future segments in 2025 explore the long-term consequences of the Cold War conflict.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: While primarily a multiplayer-focused entry without a traditional campaign, its specialist character backstories are set between Black Ops II and Black Ops III, providing context for the world's shift towards advanced technology and cybernetics.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops III: Set decades in the future, this title explores themes of transhumanism and artificial intelligence, representing a later chapter in this timeline.
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 6: Revealed in May 2024 and set for release in October 2024, Black Ops 6 takes place in the early 1990s, following the end of the Cold War and exploring themes of government distrust.

The Modern Warfare Timelines

The Modern Warfare series redefined the first-person shooter genre and is split into two separate, distinct timelines. You cannot play from one timeline into the next, as the second is a complete reboot of the story and characters.

The Original Modern Warfare Trilogy

This is the classic, explosive storyline that introduced the world to iconic characters like Captain John Price, John "Soap" MacTavish, and the menacing ultranationalist Vladimir Makarov.

  • Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare: The game that started it all, setting the stage with a gripping campaign about stopping a radical threat in the Middle East and a brewing civil war in Russia.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2: Five years later, the conflict escalates to a global scale, leading to some of the most memorable and intense missions in the franchise's history.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: The trilogy's epic conclusion, this game follows Task Force 141 as they race to end the worldwide conflict and finally hunt down the mastermind behind the chaos.

The Rebooted Modern Warfare Series

In 2019, the series was rebooted with a more grounded and realistic take on modern combat. It features reimagined versions of classic characters but tells a completely new and separate story.

  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019): This title reintroduces Captain Price and sets up a new Task Force 141, tackling gray-area morality in a story centered on a stolen chemical weapon.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022): The direct sequel sees the newly formed Task Force 141 traveling the globe to neutralize a growing terrorist threat with ties to a powerful cartel.
  • Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023): Picking up immediately after its predecessor, this campaign focuses on a direct confrontation with the infamous villain Vladimir Makarov, who has been reintroduced into this new timeline. Despite mixed reviews regarding its campaign length and originality, it concludes this rebooted trilogy.

Standalone and World War II Games

Not every Call of Duty game fits into a larger saga. Several titles are either standalone experiences or part of the franchise's foundational World War II setting.

The Original WWII Era:

  • Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, and Call of Duty 3 are classic boots-on-the-ground shooters that established the series' cinematic feel on the battlefields of Europe.

Return to WWII:

  • Call of Duty: WWII (2017) and Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021) brought the series back to its roots with modern graphics and gameplay, telling new stories set during the historic global conflict. Vanguard, however, received generally lukewarm reception and is considered by some to be among the weaker entries in the series.

Standalone Stories:

  • Call of Duty: Ghosts presents a unique, near-future story in a war-torn America. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare and Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare took the series even further into the future, exploring advanced exosuit movement and full-blown interplanetary combat, respectively. While innovative, these futuristic titles were divisive amongst fans.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to play all the Call of Duty games in order?

Not at all. The best way to approach the series is by picking a sub-series that interests you. The rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy (2019-2023) is an excellent, self-contained starting point. Likewise, you can jump directly into the Black Ops saga beginning with Call of Duty: Black Ops.

Which Call of Duty game is the best one to start with?

For a modern experience, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is a fantastic entry point with polished gameplay and a gripping story. For those who want to experience a classic, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (the 2007 original or its remaster) is widely considered one of the best first-person shooters ever made.

Are the Modern Warfare and Black Ops timelines connected?

No, they exist in separate narrative universes. The only notable link is that Call of Duty: World at War, which serves as a prequel to the Black Ops story, shares the same WWII setting as the series' original games. However, the characters and events of the Modern Warfare and Black Ops stories do not overlap.