The Best of Call of Duty Games: Advancing Trends

The past decade brought us many great Call of Duty titles from the beginning of the Black Ops sub-franchise to a number of spin-off games. Of course, Call of Duty is as successful as it is criticized for rehashing the same thing every year, but you shouldn’t fix what isn’t broken right?

In this second article on the list of the best Call of Duty games, we look at the recent titles that have carried us through a new generation of gamers. If you missed our earlier article on the early golden days of Call of Duty, you can check it out below:

The Best of Call of Duty Games: Gold Days of Old

If you’re already one of our many readers enjoying our reviews on the older Call of Duty titles (and maybe cast the same vote as me), let’s continue onto titles that have been redefining the meaning of war.

Call of Duty 7: Black Ops (2010)

Treyarch decided that it was time to move on from World War II and focus more on a different war in history: The Cold War. Black Ops still took the mechanics that made Modern Warfare so successful while also bringing back the zombie mode from World at War. Call of Duty: Black Ops was released in 2010 by Treyarch for 7th generation consoles.

Call of Duty 8: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

Two developers decided to get together, Infinity Ward and Sledgehammer Games, to make one of the best-selling Call of Duty titles in the franchise. In 2011, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was released and has since sold 30 million copies. The success obviously comes from their previous Modern Warfare installments with the addition of survival co-op mode that made the zombie modes of previous games popular. Unfortunately for OS X and Nintendo Wii players, this would be the final title available to them. Modern Warfare 3 garnered mostly positive reviews on top of its resounding commercial success.

Call of Duty 9: Black Ops II (2012)

In November of 2012, Treyarch released the sequel of their successful Black Ops title with a game that sported campaigns in two different time periods, Call of Duty: Black Ops II. Like the original Black Ops, its successor also included its popular zombie mode and was released on 7th generation consoles, the Xbox One, Microsoft Windows, and the Nintendo Wii U. While it didn’t change too much from the original Black Ops, it didn’t really need to, seeing as it kept generally positive reviews.

Call of Duty 10: Ghosts (2013)

Call of Duty: Ghosts was developed by Infinity Ward and released in 2013 to both the 7th and 8th generation consoles, along with the Nintendo Wii U and Microsoft Windows. This title is best known for adding the ability to control an animal for the first time. While it didn’t change too much from previous Call of Duty titles, it did dive into a little more into the science fiction aspects of Modern Warfare 4.

Call of Duty 11: Advanced Warfare (2014)

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare was released in 2014 across the 7th and 8th generation consoles, as well as Microsoft Windows. This was the first Call of Duty title developed solely by Sledgehammer games and took a better look into the science fiction aspects of the Call of Duty titles by introducing more advanced warfare (get it?) tactics, including the use of an exoskeleton suit, cloaking, and portable shields. This was also one of the first to use an engine completely built-up from scratch. Other than an average review from USGamer, this title garnered reviews that are generally positive.

Call of Duty 12: Black Ops III (2015)

Treyarch decided to move a little more into the future with Black Ops 3. Released in November of 2015 across the 7th and 8th generation consoles and Microsoft Windows, the game sported similar multiplayer, but with an enhanced campaign. The best part about Black Ops III was, of course, its improved zombie mode from previous titles. Unfortunately, it was also the last Call of Duty title released on the 7th generation consoles. While reviews for the title were a little lower than previous titles, they were still generally favorable.

Call of Duty 13: Infinite Warfare (2016)

Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare was the first Call of Duty title released on 8th generation consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) and followed Advance Warfare’s direction of focusing on more science fiction. The game sported cool interplanetary combat and a solid campaign and zombie mode. The reviews for Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare were also generally favorable.

Call of Duty 14: WW2 (2017)

Call of Duty: World War II goes back to, you guessed it, the World War II setting. This title was developed by Sledgehammer Games and sported a more traditional Call of Duty gameplay after years of checking out the future. Released in November 2017 to 8th generation consoles and Microsoft Windows, the zombie’s mode stayed relatively unchanged while the campaign stuck to a more traditional (more slow-paced) first-person-shooter style. Call of Duty: World War II had mixed reviews, but they were mostly favorable.

With this pattern of jumping back and forth between stories taking places in the past, present, and future, we’re looking forward to seeing the commercially successful future of the Call of Duty franchise. But until then, My vote for the best Call of Duty game among recent titles goes to:

Where the Call of Duty series gradually advance from today’s themes to futuristic themes, Black Ops II is the title that truly attempts to push things forward with an advance, sci-fi theme that has been tried, tested, and bored lots of people today. Black Ops II surprisingly brings the future into a new light!

What about you? Which is the best Call of Duty game for you among the recent titles? Let us know in the comments below!

We’re not done with the list of Call of Duty games yet! The next article shall review mobile titles in the Call of Duty franchise, and again, we will talk about five of the best titles we’ve played on our phones.

The Best of Call of Duty Games: Bringing Wars Everywhere