All Call of Duty Games by Release Date

Video game franchises rarely get close to the monumental success of Call of Duty (CoD). Since its first debut in the early 2000s, the series continues to set benchmarks in the first-person shooter (FPS) genre, quickly becoming one of the best-selling franchises of all time.

With two dozens of mainline titles and spin-offs, the journey from its roots in World War II to modern and futuristic warfare is a celebration of its enduring appeal to the avid fanbase.

It doesn't matter if you're curious about the early origins or the by latest entries, this article will provide you with a complete guide to each and every game by release date.

How many Call of Duty games currently exist?

As of today (November 2024), the Call of Duty franchise includes 24 mainline games. The whole series possess expansive campaigns, addictive multiplayer modes, and co-op experiences like Zombies.

The most recent version of Call of Duty, Black Ops 6, was released in October 2024, marking the continuation of the Black Ops storyline.

A chronological list of Call of Duty Games

1. Call of Duty (2003)

• Release Date: October 29, 2003
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PC, Mac.

The series begins with a focus on WWII, offering a campaign from the perspectives of American, British, and Soviet soldiers. It introduced the franchise's hallmark of immersive, cinematic storytelling and realistic battle environments.

2. Call of Duty: Finest Hour (2004)

• Release Date: November 16, 2004
• Developer: Spark Unlimited
• Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube

A console-exclusive spin-off, this game expanded on WWII battles with a unique storyline focused on different Allied forces. Its multiplayer component was less refined but laid the foundation for future titles.

3. Call of Duty 2 (2005)

• Release Date: October 25, 2005
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: Xbox 360, PC

This installment refined the WWII setting with a more fluid experience and improved graphics. Regenerating health was introduced, which became a standard for future FPS titles.

4. Call of Duty 2: Big Red One (2005)

• Release Date: November 1, 2005
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube

Centered on the U.S. Army’s 1st Infantry Division, this title focused on personalizing the WWII experience, offering deeper storytelling and an emphasis on squad dynamics.

5. Call of Duty 3 (2006)

• Release Date: November 7, 2006
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii

Treyarch’s first foray into the series, this game focused on the Normandy landings and subsequent battles in WWII. Its campaign introduced large-scale battles and vehicular combat, while the multiplayer component was simplified for console play.

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

• Release Date: November 6, 2007
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

This revolutionary title shifted the series to modern warfare, featuring contemporary weapons, fast-paced combat, and multiplayer modes. It introduced perks and killstreaks, which became iconic to the series.

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

• Release Date: November 11, 2008
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii, PC

Returning to WWII, Treyarch introduced a grittier, darker take on the war, with brutal gameplay and the introduction of the Zombies mode, which would become a staple of future entries.

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

• Release Date: November 10, 2009
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

This sequel to Modern Warfare expanded on its predecessor with a more expansive campaign, the introduction of Spec Ops missions, and a deepened multiplayer experience. The controversial "No Russian" mission sparked debate but is now considered iconic.

9. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

• Release Date: November 9, 2010
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

Treyarch took the series to the Cold War era with a compelling narrative surrounding CIA black ops operations. Its multiplayer featured a more complex progression system and expanded on Zombies.

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

• Release Date: November 8, 2011
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

The final chapter in the original Modern Warfare trilogy, this game continued the storyline with intense firefights and refined multiplayer. It was heavily praised for its action-packed sequences.

11. Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012)

• Release Date: November 12, 2012
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC

This entry introduced branching narratives and futuristic warfare, allowing players to influence the outcome of the campaign. Its multiplayer offered enhanced tactical gameplay and introduced the popular League Play system.

12. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)

• Release Date: November 5, 2013
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

Set in a post-apocalyptic world, Ghosts introduced dynamic multiplayer maps that could change during a match. The Extinction co-op mode also debuted, offering a new take on cooperative zombie survival.

13. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)

• Release Date: November 4, 2014
• Developer: Sledgehammer Games
• Platforms: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

Set in a near-future with advanced technology, Advanced Warfare introduced exo-suits that allowed for more vertical and dynamic combat. Its futuristic weapons and jetpack gameplay became a hallmark of this title.

14. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)

• Release Date: November 6, 2015
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC

Building on its futuristic setting, this game focused on high-tech warfare, cybernetics, and artificial intelligence. It also emphasized cooperative play with a robust Zombies mode.

15. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)

• Release Date: November 4, 2016
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

The franchise ventured into space with zero-gravity combat, offering a new direction for the series. While innovative, its futuristic themes and space setting were divisive among fans.

16. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)

• Release Date: November 3, 2017
• Developer: Sledgehammer Games
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

Returning to its roots, WWII brought the series back to its realistic, gritty battlefields. It offered an emotional campaign and revitalized the Zombies mode, which now included an engaging narrative.

17. Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 (2018)

• Release Date: October 12, 2018
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

This game made the bold decision to exclude a traditional campaign, focusing solely on multiplayer modes, including Blackout, its battle royale mode. The Zombies experience was expanded with new storylines.

18. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

• Release Date: October 25, 2019
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

A soft reboot of the original Modern Warfare, this title focused on realism and more immersive, gritty combat. It included new mechanics like tactical sprinting and an emphasis on story-driven multiplayer modes.

19. Call of Duty: Warzone (2020)

• Release Date: March 10, 2020
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC

This free-to-play battle royale shook the gaming world, with large-scale matches, dynamic environments, and integration with Modern Warfare's multiplayer. Warzone's evolution shaped future battle royales.

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

• Release Date: November 13, 2020
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Set during the Cold War, this installment mixed historical events with fiction, weaving a tense narrative. Its multiplayer offered revamped perks and customization, while the Zombies mode was expanded.

21. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)

• Release Date: November 5, 2021
• Developer: Sledgehammer Games
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

A WWII title with an emphasis on global combat, Vanguard was criticized for its lack of innovation but offered solid gameplay. Its integration with Warzone provided a new map and mechanics.

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

• Release Date: October 28, 2022
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

A direct sequel to the 2019 reboot, this game featured improved AI, revamped multiplayer modes, and refined mechanics. It also introduced new co-op missions and a robust narrative campaign.

23. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 (2022)

• Release Date: November 16, 2022
• Developer: Infinity Ward
• Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Warzone 2.0 introduced a reworked map and new game mechanics, including contracts, vehicles, and enhanced team-based strategies. Its focus on evolving the battle royale experience kept players engaged.

24. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)

• Release Date: October 11, 2024
• Developer: Treyarch
• Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

The latest installment, continuing the Black Ops saga, builds on its predecessor with new multiplayer modes, more refined Zombies, and a focus on community-driven content. Its release introduces new meta-shifting gameplay features.

Innovations across the Years

1. 2007 - Multiplayer Evolution: Titles like Modern Warfare introduced killstreaks, perks, and iconic maps, setting a benchmark for multiplayer FPS games.
2. 2008 - Zombies: First appearing in World at War, Zombies evolved into a standalone phenomenon, offering unique lore, challenging maps, and endless replayability.
3. 2019 - Mobile Gaming: Call of Duty: Mobile capitalized on the growing mobile gaming market, amassing billions in revenue while delivering console-like FPS gameplay.
4. 2020 - Battle Royale and Free-to-Play: Warzone propelled the franchise into the battle royale scene, combining large-scale battles with CoD's refined gunplay mechanics.

Call of Duty earnings across all its history

As of 2024, the Call of Duty franchise has earned over $30 billion. This includes sales, in-game transactions, season passes, and related merchandise. However, the total could still rise, as not all titles have disclosed exact earnings, and some are still strongly ongoing.

Best-Earning title: The highest-earning game is Modern Warfare 2 (2009), which generated $1 billion within weeks of release, a record at the time. However, more recent games like Warzone (2020), a free-to-play title, have earned $5 billion from in-game purchases, showcasing the shift to live-service models.

Call of Duty newer titles continue to grow these amazing number, with newer releases contributing to its expanding earnings, ensuring the total will likely increase - by a lot - in the years ahead.

Which title you like the most?

The Call of Duty series has remained a cultural juggernaut for over two decades. From its WWII origins to modern and futuristic warfare, the franchise continues to push boundaries while retaining the core mechanics that made it a global sensation.

As Activision consistently innovates, fans eagerly await where the series will head next. Whether you're a fan of nostalgic campaigns or competitive multiplayer, Call of Duty remains a must-play for FPS enthusiasts.

Feature image credits: Activision

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