Call of Duty Franchise: Complete Buying & Rating Guide

Complete Series Purchasing & Rating Breakdown

Welcome back to ezzygamestats.com. This comprehensive guide breaks down every mainline entry in the legendary Call of Duty franchise. Designed for both casual newcomers and veteran completionists, this resource details where to play, how each game stacks up, historical low pricing, and whether you should buy, skip, or play via subscriptions.

HMG Golden Rules for Purchasing

Mainline Games - Value & Platform Comparison

Game Title Release Date Metacritic All-Time Low Xbox Game Pass Recommendation
Modern Warfare 4 Oct 23, 2026 TBD Premium New Release N/A yet Wait for Release
Black Ops 7 Nov 14, 2025 7.5 / 10 (IGN) Premium Release Price PC, Ultimate Only Play on Game Pass / Buy on 20-30% Sale
Black Ops 6 Nov 1, 2024 84 ₹2,239 PC, Ultimate, Premium Highly Recommended
Modern Warfare III Nov 10, 2023 56 ₹2,799 PC, Ultimate, Premium Skip / Play on Game Pass
Modern Warfare II Oct 28, 2022 79 ₹1,999 PC, Ultimate Only Skip in favor of MWIII
Vanguard Nov 5, 2021 73 ₹1,998 PC, Ultimate, Premium Avoid / Ghost Town
Black Ops Cold War Nov 13, 2020 76 ₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Best Budget Modern Pick
Modern Warfare Oct 25, 2019 81 ₹539 PC, Ultimate, Premium Must-Buy Campaign
Black Ops 4 Oct 12, 2018 85 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Buy for Zombies/Blackout Only
WWII Nov 3, 2017 79 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Buy on Sale for Story
Infinite Warfare Nov 4, 2016 77 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Underrated Masterpiece Campaign
Black Ops III Nov 6, 2015 81 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium The GOAT of Zombies Modding
Advanced Warfare Nov 4, 2014 81 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Buy on Deep Sale for Campaign
Ghosts Nov 5, 2013 73 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Skip / Try Extinction Only
Black Ops II Nov 13, 2012 81 ₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Series Peak (Campaign Only)
Modern Warfare 3 Nov 8, 2011 88 ~₹1,319 PC, Ultimate, Premium Buy on Sale to Complete Trilogy
Black Ops Nov 9, 2010 81 ₹849 PC, Ultimate, Premium Must-Play Psychological Thriller
Modern Warfare 2 Nov 10, 2009 94 ₹565 PC, Ultimate, Premium Masterpiece Campaign
World at War Nov 11, 2008 84 ~₹849 PC, Ultimate, Premium Incredibly Gritty WW2 & Zombies Origin
Call of Duty 4: MW Nov 5, 2007 92 ₹565 PC, Ultimate, Premium Revolutionary Classic
Call of Duty 3 Nov 7, 2006 82 N/A (Console Only) PC, Ultimate, Premium Skip (Not on PC)
Call of Duty 2 Oct 25, 2005 89 ~₹565 PC, Ultimate, Premium Buy on Sale for Nostalgia
Call of Duty Oct 29, 2003 91 ~₹565 PC, Ultimate, Premium Buy on Sale for History

Critical Security Warning (Remote Code Execution)

Please be aware that older classic Call of Duty titles—specifically Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009), Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Call of Duty: Black Ops II—suffer from severe, unpatched Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerabilities on official matchmaking servers. Malicious players can potentially gain remote access to your computer. If you purchase these classics, stick strictly to single-player campaigns, play offline, or utilize secure, community-run clients such as Plutonium.

Every Mainline Entry Reviewed

Click below to filter games by chronological release era.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4

Release Date: October 23, 2026 TBD Platforms
Metacritic: TBD IGN: TBD

The upcoming mainline entry in the rebooted Modern Warfare sub-series, highly anticipated to refresh the franchise's multiplayer movement and tactical ecosystem.

Pros
  • The next massive release featuring a gritty, modern story campaign.
  • A fresh start for the competitive multiplayer and Warzone community.
Cons
  • Unreleased; you cannot play it yet.
  • Will launch at full, premium modern pricing.
Pricing: Premium New Release
Xbox Game Pass: N/A Yet

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Release Date: November 14, 2025 Devs: Treyarch & Raven Software
IGN: 6/10 (Campaign), 8/10 (MP) Steam: Negative

Set in the year 2035, this entry follows the elite Black Ops team fighting a manipulative shadow enemy, blending classic boots-on-the-ground shooting with near-future sci-fi systems.

Pros
  • The most active and populated game right now.
  • Fully integrated into current Warzone updates with fresh weapon sandboxes.
  • Includes round-based Zombies and large-scale multiplayer matches.
Cons
  • Commanding premium, new release pricing.
  • Massive install footprint requiring extreme hard drive space.
Sale Discount: 20-30% off during major sales
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate Only

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Release Date: November 1, 2024 Modern Crossplay Engine
Metacritic: 84 IGN: 9/10 Steam: Mixed

A Cold War-era return to classic Black Ops gameplay, focusing heavily on a grounded 90s espionage storyline and the highly anticipated return of classic Round-Based Zombies.

Pros
  • Fantastic 90s spy-thriller campaign with choices and puzzles.
  • Exceptional round-based Zombies mode with deep secrets.
Cons
  • Active player base is shrinking as players move to Black Ops 7.
  • Steam reviews are Mixed due to initial launcher bugs.
MSRP: ₹5,599
All-Time Low: ₹2,239 (40-50% off)
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)

Release Date: November 10, 2023 Controversial Campaign
Metacritic: 56 IGN: 4/10 Steam: Mostly Negative

A direct sequel to MWII, featuring an updated movement system and modernized classic maps, but notoriously featuring an incredibly short, open-combat story campaign.

Pros
  • Great movement mechanics and highly competitive multiplayer.
  • Features nostalgic remastered maps from the original MW2 (2009).
Cons
  • Widely considered the lowest-rated entry in the franchise.
  • Campaign feels like a rushed, overpriced 3-hour DLC.
MSRP: ₹5,599
All-Time Low: ₹2,799
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

Release Date: October 28, 2022
Metacritic: 79 IGN: 8/10 Steam: Mixed

Continuing the story of Task Force 141 across global threat hotspots with an emphasis on tactical, heavier gunplay.

Pros
  • Decent campaign and solid gunsmith customisation.
  • Good weapon progression and multiplayer suite.
Cons
  • Sluggish, slow movement system compared to newer titles.
  • Obsolete as modern weapon and operator progression has migrated to MWIII.
MSRP: ₹4,999
All-Time Low: ₹1,999
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate Only

Call of Duty: Vanguard

Release Date: November 5, 2021
Metacritic: 73 IGN: 7/10 Steam: Mixed

A return to WWII using the Modern Warfare engine, following the origin story of global special forces.

Pros
  • Fast-paced combat built on the smooth 2019 game engine.
Cons
  • Forgettable story campaign and lackluster Zombies mode.
  • A "ghost town" multiplayer community with very low player counts.
MSRP: ₹5,399
All-Time Low: ₹1,998
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War

Release Date: November 13, 2020
Metacritic: 76 IGN: 7/10 Steam: Mostly Positive

A direct sequel to the original Black Ops, diving into early 1980s Cold War paranoia, conspiracy, and espionage.

Pros
  • Incredible psychological campaign with interactive choices and multiple endings.
  • Excellent, casual-friendly Zombies mode.
  • Outstanding budget value on sale.
Cons
  • Graphically looks like a slight step back compared to the 2019 MW engine.
MSRP: ₹3,999
All-Time Low: ₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Release Date: October 25, 2019
Metacritic: 81 IGN: 8/10 Steam: Mostly Positive

The gritty, realistic reboot of the beloved Modern Warfare sub-series that introduced a new engine, crossplay, and Warzone.

Pros
  • Revolutionary reboot featuring an incredible cinematic campaign.
  • Pioneered modern COD reload animations and tactical movement.
Cons
  • Launch multiplayer maps were criticized for encouraging camping.
MSRP: ₹5,399
All-Time Low: ₹539
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4

Release Date: October 12, 2018 No Campaign
Metacritic: 85 IGN: 8.5/10 Steam: N/A (Battle.net)

The first mainline entry to completely abandon the single-player campaign, focusing instead on traditional multiplayer, Zombies, and Battle Royale.

Pros
  • Introduced "Blackout", the franchise's first and highly polished Battle Royale.
  • Feature-rich Zombies launch maps.
Cons
  • Completely lacks a single-player campaign story mode.
MSRP: ~₹4,499
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: WWII

Release Date: November 3, 2017
Metacritic: 79 IGN: 8/10 Steam: Mostly Positive

Bringing the franchise back to its roots with boots-on-the-ground combat across the European theater of World War II.

Pros
  • Welcome return to traditional boots-on-the-ground gameplay after years of futuristic mechanics.
Cons
  • Multiplayer and map design felt too safe and restrictive for some veteran players.
MSRP: ~₹4,499
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2016
Metacritic: 77 IGN: 7.7/10 Steam: Mostly Positive

The peak of the futuristic era, featuring a high-stakes campaign set across the solar system with advanced exo-movement.

Pros
  • Highly praised, cinematic space-opera single-player campaign.
Cons
  • Released at the peak of "jetpack fatigue", leading to massive backlash against multiplayer.
MSRP: ~₹4,499
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Release Date: November 6, 2015
Metacritic: 81 IGN: 9.2/10 Steam: Very Positive

A deeply futuristic entry featuring cybernetically enhanced soldiers, wall-running, and a massive, celebrated Zombies mode.

Pros
  • Boasts one of the deepest and most feature-rich Zombies modes in history.
  • Full Steam Workshop support for custom modded maps.
Cons
  • Cooperative story campaign is widely considered confusing and convoluted.
MSRP: ~₹4,499
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Release Date: November 4, 2014
Metacritic: 81 IGN: 9.1/10 Steam: Mixed

The game that introduced exo-suits, fundamentally altering the franchise's movement system with boosting and verticality.

Pros
  • Successfully shook up the formula with fast-paced vertical exo-suit movement.
Cons
  • Introduced highly controversial "supply drop" loot boxes to the multiplayer.
MSRP: ~₹4,499
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Ghosts

Release Date: November 5, 2013
Metacritic: 73 IGN: 8.8/10 Steam: Mostly Negative

Set in a devastated near-future America following an orbital strike, introducing a dog companion and the Extinction co-op mode.

Pros
  • Introduced the unique, alien-survival "Extinction" mode as a fun alternative.
Cons
  • Campaign suffered from clichéd writing.
  • Color palette was criticized for being drab and muted.
MSRP: ~₹3,999
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Release Date: November 13, 2012 Hackers / RCE Risk
Metacritic: 81 IGN: 9.3/10 Steam: Very Positive

Blended a late 1980s Cold War narrative with a near-future 2025 setting, introducing branching storylines and incredible multiplayer map design.

Pros
  • Widely considered the peak of the franchise.
  • Branching campaign storylines with multiple endings.
Cons
  • Multiplayer matchmaking is overrun by hackers and RCE security flaws.
MSRP: ₹4,499
All-Time Low: ₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

Release Date: November 8, 2011
Metacritic: 88 IGN: 9/10 Steam: Very Positive

The blockbuster conclusion to the original Modern Warfare trilogy, bringing the massive global conflict to a climactic end.

Pros
  • Epic, action-packed conclusion to the iconic story.
Cons
  • Multiplayer server counts are low today.
MSRP: ~₹2,999
All-Time Low: ~₹1,319
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Black Ops

Release Date: November 9, 2010 Psychological Thriller
Metacritic: 81 IGN: 8.5/10 Steam: Very Positive

A gripping psychological thriller that takes players deep behind enemy lines during the height of the 1960s Cold War.

Pros
  • Masterpiece storyline focusing on Alex Mason.
  • Classic Cold War setting with iconic weapons.
Cons
  • PC matchmaking requires community clients due to security bugs.
MSRP: ₹3,599
All-Time Low: ₹849
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Release Date: November 10, 2009
Metacritic: 94 IGN: 9.5/10 Steam: Very Positive

The iconic sequel that exploded the franchise's popularity, known for its intense campaign and legendary multiplayer maps.

Pros
  • Generational masterpiece defining early multiplayer progression.
  • Legendary map layouts (Rust, Terminal, Favela).
Cons
  • Highly vulnerable to hacker exploits on official servers.
MSRP: ₹1,799
All-Time Low: ₹565
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty: World at War

Release Date: November 11, 2008 First Zombies Mode
Metacritic: 84 IGN: 9.2/10 Steam: Very Positive

A dark and gritty return to World War II that importantly introduced the highly successful Nazi Zombies mode.

Pros
  • Darkest, grittiest campaign in Call of Duty history.
  • The origin place of Zombies mode.
Cons
  • Co-op lobbies are mostly unpopulated today.
MSRP: ~₹1,799
All-Time Low: ~₹849
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

Release Date: November 5, 2007
Metacritic: 92 IGN: 9.4/10 Steam: Very Positive

The groundbreaking shift from WW2 to modern combat that revolutionized the entire gaming industry's multiplayer progression.

Pros
  • The grandfather of modern first-person shooters.
  • Superb level design (e.g. All Ghillied Up).
Cons
  • Visually looks dated compared to the modern Remastered edition.
MSRP: ₹1,799
All-Time Low: ₹565
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty 3

Release Date: November 7, 2006 Console Exclusive
Metacritic: 82 IGN: 8.8/10 Steam: N/A

The first Treyarch-developed mainline game, emphasizing large-scale vehicular combat on the Western Front.

Pros
  • Expanded vehicular warfare for the console multiplayer ecosystem.
Cons
  • Rushed development cycle.
  • Never officially released for PC players.
MSRP: Console Only
All-Time Low: N/A
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty 2

Release Date: October 25, 2005
Metacritic: 89 IGN: 9.3/10 Steam: Very Positive

An influential Xbox 360 launch title that popularized regenerating health in modern first-person shooters.

Pros
  • Defined the next-gen WW2 shooter experience in 2005.
  • Outstanding pacing and multiple campaign fronts.
Cons
  • Mechanics are very basic compared to today (e.g. lacks sprint).
MSRP: ~₹1,799
All-Time Low: ~₹565
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Call of Duty (2003)

Release Date: October 29, 2003 The Original
Metacritic: 91 IGN: 9.3/10 Steam: Very Positive

The WW2 shooter that started it all, featuring multiple Allied perspectives (US, British, Soviet) and cinematic, team-based set pieces.

Pros
  • Pioneered cinematic, squad-based military action.
Cons
  • Visually and mechanically very dated today.
MSRP: ~₹1,799
All-Time Low: ~₹565
Xbox Game Pass: PC, Ultimate, Premium

Pro-Tip: When to Buy and Should You Wait?

Activision rarely offers discounts on legacy titles outside major seasonal sales. If you are eye-ing any of the classic campaigns, wait for the upcoming Steam Summer Sale (June 25 – July 9, 2026). Historically, older titles drop by 50% to 67%, bringing them down to their all-time lows. Alternatively, since almost all mainline titles (excluding newer flagships) are on Xbox Game Pass, subscribing to Game Pass Ultimate remains the absolute best value proposition to play these campaigns.

Written By

Harshal Mevada
hmoos7 Gaming harshal_oo7islive harshalmevada.com