Summary
Call of Dutyis the most popular franchise in the first-person shooter genre, boasting millions of loyal fans worldwide. The series spans a wide array of games, each set in different time periods. From the gritty battlefields of World War 2 tothe Gulf War of the 90s, eachCall of Dutyinstallment offers its own unique style, narrative, and setting.
Every year brings a new addition to theCall of Dutyfranchise, with some entries receiving more acclaim than others. While titles such asCall of Duty 4: Modern Warfareare often regarded asthe bestCall Of Dutygames of all time, several games haven’t received the recognition they deserve. Here are some ofthe most underratedCall of Dutygames ever released.
Call of Duty: Ghostsmarked Infinity Ward’s departure from theModern Warfareseries, featuring an all-new story set in the near future. While initially regarded as one of the least favorable entries in the series, some players oftenlook back on the game in hopes of a sequel. InCall of Duty: Ghosts, players assume the roles of different members of the Ghosts, a military faction aiming to take down the tyrannical Federation after their attack in the Middle East. The campaign is iconic,featuring a gripping opening missionthat sets the tone for the rest of the game, along withaction-packed missions like “Birds of Prey” and “Federation Day.”
Ghosts' multiplayer is also pretty great, featuring gameplay akin to other installments likeModern Warfare 3, this time withsemi-destructible environments, the ability to lean around corners when aiming down sights, and a large roster of semi-futuristic weaponry. Although the game received criticism for its large-scale maps, poor visibility, and unnecessary clutter, it is also beloved for its innovative mechanics. The game also included aroster of expertly crafted DLC maps, some of which allowed players to play as iconic characters like the Predator and Michael Myers. But that’s not all, asGhostsalso included anintriguing and innovativeco-op mode called Extinction, which, instead of serving as a carbon copy of Treyarch’s Zombies, presented its own unique story where players had to fend off waves of Cryptids.
Call of Duty: World War 2was a welcome addition to the long-running franchise, especially after three consecutive releases ofCall of Dutytitles set in the future. Though initially hyped up before its release,Call of Duty: World War 2did not quite receive the love it deserved. The game marked atriumphant return to boots-on-the-ground gameplay, along with areturn to the events of World War 2, an era that served as the roots ofCall of Duty. Featuring a campaign that took players through a myriad of real historical events and battles, the game succeeded in showcasing the ugly and gritty side of war, along with amemorable cast of charactersthat players could empathize with. But that’s not allWorld War 2had to offer.
In addition to the single-player campaign,WW2also featured multiplayer. Multiplayer offered a slower-paced experience compared to previous installments, where players could battle it out iniconic locations such as Stalingrad and Dunkirkwhile also featuring throwback maps like “Shipment 1944.” While many of the modes were carried over from previous titles,Sledgehammerintroduced the brand-new War mode, which blended narrative and objective play. Along with the addition of War mode,Call of Duty: World War 2also featured a roster of memorable weapons and Killstreaks, along with arevamp of the Perk System to Basic Training Skills, providing new and intriguing changes for players. Finally,Call of Duty: World War 2brought Zombies back to the forefront, this timefeaturing an original take on the Zombies mode, delving more into a horror theme with dark and eerie maps like “The Final Reich” and “The Darkest Shore.”
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfaremay be one of themost dislikedCall of Dutygames ever released. Although seeking to innovate, the game’s multiplayer saw thereturn of advanced movementsimilar to that inBlack Ops 3, along with thereturn of a rebranded Specialist systemreferred to as Combat Rigs, which did little to appeal to many fans of the series. Though the multiplayer aspect ofInfinite Warfarewas lackluster for many, andModern Warfare Remasteredstole much of the spotlight during the game’s release, one major redeeming part of the game was its campaign.
Infinite Warfarefeatured a stellar single-player campaignwith a compelling story, where players assume the role of Nick Reyes, who is tasked with leading the remnants of coalition forces against the relentless Settlement Defense Front following their plans to take control of the solar system. The campaign featuresepic action, space battles, zero-gravity environments, and a stellar cast of characters. Though not necessarily feeling like aCall of Dutygame,Infinite Warfare’scampaign is often regarded as one of the best in the franchise. Campaign and multiplayer aside,Infinite Warfarealsofeatured a Zombies mode enjoyed by a niche portion of the community.IWZombies did not take itself too seriously and instead focused more on standing out with its retro style, pop culture references, and wacky gameplay. The mode featured somestandout maps like “Zombies in Spaceland” and “Rave in the Redwoods,“and is a great experience for those looking to play co-op with their friends.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4received a fair amount of criticismupon its release, largely because it was thefirstCall of Dutytitle not to feature a single-player campaign. While the game did include a single-player experience in the form of the Specialist HQ, this mode served more as a tutorial for each of the Specialists inBlack Ops 4’s multiplayer experience, much to the dismay of many fans. However, campaign aside, the multiplayer mode ofBlack Ops 4was solid,carrying over the fluid movement ofBlack Ops 3but blending it with the classic boots-on-the-ground gameplayCall of Dutyis known for.
As expected,Black Ops 4retained the Specialist system fromBlack Ops 3.While it may not have sat well with some players, the Specialist system offered something players could grind for during matches beyond the usual Killstreaks. Although the campaign was abandoned,Black Ops 4sought to bring players a brand-new experience:Blackout,Call of Duty’s first Battle Royale mode. Though not reaching the same heights asWarzone, largely because the mode was not free-to-play, Blackout was an intriguing fresh take on the Battle Royale genre. Of course,Black Ops 4wouldn’t be complete without the inclusion of Zombies, which featured an all-new storyline, memorable maps like “Voyage of Despair” and “Tag Der Toten,” along with thereimagining of classic Zombies maps in the form of “Blood of the Dead” and “Classified.”
Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris one of the more recent installments in theCall Of Dutyfranchise, and while largely enjoyed by much of the fanbase, it doesn’t necessarily hold a candle to the rebootedModern Warfareseries in terms of sheer popularity. Despite being largely overshadowed by the likes ofModern Warfare 2019andModern Warfare 2,Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waris an absolute must-play forfans of theBlack Opsseries. The game features atriumphant return to historical conflicts, with the campaign delving into the tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union during the early 80s. Withreturning characters like Frank Woods and Mason,along withmemorable missions like “Fracture Jaw” and “Echoes of a Cold War,“the campaign is a blast to experience.
Aside from a quality campaign,Black Ops Cold Waralso featured a fast-paced multiplayer mode thatabandoned the Specialist system fromBlack Ops 3andBlack Ops 4in favor of a more traditional arcade experience likeModern Warfare 2019. Though the two games played eerily similarly,Black Ops Cold Warmanaged to add its own unique spin on multiplayer with its roster of unique yet familiar weapons, along with expertly crafted maps and modes. The game also featured its own integration withWarzone, taking Verdansk back to the 80s. Along with fresh multiplayer and changes toWarzone,Black Ops Cold Waralsofeatured a Zombies mode with a brand-new storyline, thrusting players into a roster of original maps like “Die Maschine,” “Mauer der Toten,” and “Firebase Z.” Though round-based Zombies was a hit,Call Of Duty: Black Ops Cold Waralsofeatured the first large-scale Zombies maps in Outbreak, which pits players against hordes of the undead on a variety of Ground War maps.
