Ranking Every Call of Duty EVER! (Tier list)

Storyline (Campaign-focused takes)

• Modern Warfare (2019): Framed as a franchise restart more than a legacy continuation, arriving after a rough period for CoD popularity. Emphasis is on overall modernization and design direction rather than plot specifics.
• Infinite Warfare: The campaign is heavily praised (“excellent”). The movement is criticized for feeling too similar to Black Ops 3 (boost-jumping/wall-running feel).
• World at War: Recommended for its simple approach, with a strong campaign and strong zombies. The WWII setting and tone are highlighted more than plot details.
• Black Ops (various / Treyarch entries): Repeatedly credited for campaign and tone—especially Black Ops 1 and Black Ops 2—more than for specific plot beats.
• Modern Warfare 2 (2009): Treated as a fan-favorite modern classic—“everybody’s top-tier CoD”—focused on the overall package rather than plot specifics.
• World War II (CoD WWII): Criticized mainly for launch and timing. The argument is that later-life updates (midseason changes) made it much better, implying the story/campaign suffered due to a botched start.
• Black Ops Cold War: Generally fair, but limited by timing and competition. Pandemic/remote work constraints are cited as reasons it didn’t fully land.
• Call of Duty: Vanguard / other late-era titles: Not given positive storyline emphasis; focus is largely on reception, mechanics, and mode quality.

Gameplay highlights & major complaints (by game mentioned)

Modern Warfare (2019)

• Positives

  • Brought many players back during a weaker period for the franchise.
  • Guns praised (notably MP5/MP7).
  • Returned minimap (UAV shows enemies on it).

• Negatives / reasons for rank downgrade

  • Dead Silence: argued as essential as a perk.
  • Removed red dots: criticized because enemies could shoot from door/cover positions without clear counterplay.
  • Design changes felt like some “classic CoD” elements were lost.

Warzone (2019)

• Positives

  • Strong nostalgia and connection: Verdansk, Rebirth Island, Fortune’s Keep highlighted.
  • Helped unify the playerbase during a rough time.

• Negatives

  • Hackers and broken metas (especially DMR) prevented “S-tier perfection.”

Infinite Warfare

• Positives

  • Campaign rated as a standout.

• Negatives

  • Multiplayer/system feels like a Black Ops 3-style re-skin (specialists/boost-wall movement similarity).

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (CoD4)

• Positives

  • Huge historical impact: camo grind, killstreaks, prestige.
  • Multiplayer maps and progression systems praised.

• Negatives

  • When replayed today, it “wouldn’t fly” (outdated balance/feel: frag times, Juggernaut/M16 details).

Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

• Positives
  • Repeatedly praised as “perfect” across:
    • Single-player
    • Multiplayer maps
    • Zombies
  • Zombies set-piece moments (e.g., Circling the Stage, Easter eggs) called out as memorable.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2

• Positives

  • Possibly the best overall: campaign branching/multiple paths, multiplayer, and zombies (with Buried singled out).
  • League Play mentioned as a key competitive component.

• Strategy/structure idea

  • The creator hopes “maps are back” for a future competitive return (rumored for 2025).

Call of Duty: Black Ops 3

• Positives
  • S-tier: the creator’s most-played CoD.
  • Multiplayer: colorful design, level variety, weapon enjoyment (VMP, CudA mentioned).
  • Zombies: described as top-tier; campaign praised (“Train go boom” referenced).

Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

• Positives

  • Jetpack movement is the big draw (“jetpack kid” sentiment).
  • Map enjoyment highlighted.

• Negatives

  • First CoD with strict skill-based matchmaking, described as “sweaty.”
  • Pay-to-win weapons via supply drops (ASM1 referenced).

Call of Duty: Ghosts

• Positives

  • S&D (Search and Destroy) praised as “unbelievable.”
  • Blitz credited for boosting competitive engagement.

• Negatives

  • Overall multiplayer criticized for trying to copy Battlefield (large maps, destruction/environmental events).

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

• Positives

  • Campaign described as great.
  • Multiplayer modes praised:
    • Face-off (1v1/2v2/3v3) called among the most fun moments (with brother + friends).
    • Infection mentioned positively.

• Core opinion

  • Defends the game against the “it’s DLC of MW2” argument.

COD: WWII (Call of Duty: WWII)

• Positives (late-life)

  • Midseason improvements: reduced/removed higher-ups/dev direction changes described; made it “fun.”
  • DLC maps/guns/outfits praised.

• Negatives (launch)

  • Called one of the worst launches.
  • Competing with Fortnite at the same time.
  • Also criticized for slow/limited sprint early and overall blandness at release.

COD: Black Ops 4

• Positives

  • Blackout and the concept are praised, but not maximized.

• Negatives

  • Multiplayer didn’t “hit.”
  • Specialist burnout from BO3 era.
  • Pay-to-win crate issues (fixed late).
  • No campaign; overall missed the mark for the creator (still playing Fortnite more at the time).

COD: Cold War

• Positives

  • TTK appreciated; decent campaign and multiplayer improved toward the end.

• Negatives

  • Felt “too late” to matter because the creator was already focused on Modern Warfare 2019 + Warzone.
  • Movement mismatch with MW2019 cited.

COD: COD (original), COD: Black Ops (etc. early entries)

• COD 2

  • Rated C.
  • Praised for early FPS impact (split-screen 1v1 with a friend), but doesn’t hold up today (no sprinting).

• COD 1

  • Rated D.

• COD 3

  • Rated D, described as fun but not best in the series.

COD: Warzone 2

• Criticism

  • Too similar to Warzone 1’s problems, but with a focus toward a DMZ crowd.
  • Creator rejects this as “not Call of Duty.”

• Overall

  • Not given a favorable stance.

COD: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

• Positives

  • Step up from Warzone 2: feels like “Warzone 2.2.”
  • Slide cancel and improved gunplay called out.

• Negatives

  • Battle royale feels stale; no meaningful “switch up.”
  • Resurgence (e.g., Rebirth) presented as the preferred direction.

COD: Vanguard

• Rank given: F

Key strategies / play tips mentioned

• Perk critique (Modern Warfare 2019)

  • Dead Silence should be a perk (implied as a necessary tool for stealth play).

• Minimap / red-dot design (Modern Warfare 2019)

  • Removing red dots hurt counterplay by enabling players to shoot from cover/doors without clear intel.
  • Minimap/UAV helps identify threats.

• Competitive mode preference (Ghosts)

  • Points to S&D and Blitz as what “opens” competitive engagement.

• Preferred BR format

  • Resurgence described as the healthiest direction (and that Rebirth returning could improve feelings about Warzone).

Tier list outcomes explicitly stated (as given)

• Modern Warfare (2019): B
• Warzone (2019): A
• Infinite Warfare: D
• COD4 (Modern Warfare Remastered/CoD4): A
• COD3: D
• Modern Warfare 3 (2011): B
• COD Mobile: Not ranked (creator hasn’t played)
• Advanced Warfare: B
• Ghosts: C
• Black Ops 2: S
• Modern Warfare 2 (2022) / “worzone 2.2” portion: no full-letter rank for the whole game, but described as “a step up.”
• WWII: C
• COD 2: C
• Black Ops 4: C-
• Black Ops 1: S
• Black Ops 3: S
• World at War: S (described as “simple” and top-tier)
• Cold War: C
• COD 1: D
• Vanguard: F
• Modern Warfare 3 (2023): A? (creator avoids A; implies more like B due to DLC stigma and bad campaign)
• Warzone 2 / Warzone 2 DMZ direction: criticized (no formal tier letter given in that moment)
• COD (original MW2 “favorite”): described as highly rated, but no precise letter grade for MW2 (2009) is clearly stated in this excerpt.

Gamers / sources featured (mentioned by name)

• Dr Disrespect (mentioned for Advanced Warfare map involvement)
• Mason (referenced during “Modern Warfare 2” soundtrack moment)
• Treyarch (studio referenced positively; not a player)
• Infinity Ward (studio referenced negatively)
• Treyarch fanboy / Treyarch Fanboy (descriptor by creator)
• Boston Breach (CDL team) (creator says they work for this team now)
• Fortnite (referenced as influencing reception; also described as competing at the time)
• Activision Blizzard: no direct mention