The Call of Duty universe has already seen a pretty ridiculous amount of groundbreaking developments related to it less than three months into 2022.

From Microsoft striking a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson reportedly being in talks to make a Call of Duty movie, a Modern Warfare 2 reboot and a Warzone sequel being confirmed, and the series planning to skip an annual release for the first time since 2004, there's simply been a nauseating amount of headlines to stomach for COD fans so far this year.

As such, now would probably be as great of a time as ever to break down, reflect and chronicle some of the best titles from the iconic first-person shooter series.

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Top 5 Call of Duty Games of All Time

Of course, the concept of trying to make a list of the "best" Call of Duty titles of all time is impossible. However, hopefully, many can agree that at the very least, each of these entries has an argument to be in the conversion at all. Here are five of the best Call of Duty games of all time, according to DBLTAP.

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

Call of Duty: World at War (2008) / Image courtesy of Treyarch

Kicking off the list is Treyarch's World at War. Though not explicitly connected by name, this game is the first title in the Black Ops storyline and was the first in the series to feature a zombies mode. At the time, World at War was especially praised for its gore mechanics, which highlighted a more realistic intensity and violent nature of combat.

4. Call of Duty: Warzone (2020)

Call of Duty: Warzone (2020) / Image courtesy of Infinity Ward

Warzone, albeit not a core title in the series, deserved to make this list just based on its downloads, monthly active users (MAUs), revenue generated and digital footprint alone. In their 2020 Annual Report, Activision reported that Warzone brought in over 100 million players through to December 2020 since its March 2020 launch — over three times the number of people that played Call of Duty in 2018 — and that it's clear that they have since been increasingly dependent on their ability to "develop, enhance, and monetize" free-to-play games.

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

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) / Image courtesy of Infinity Ward

Perhaps the defining title of the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360's "golden days," Modern Warfare 2 (2009) serves as perhaps one of the few times in pop culture where a sequel is able to live up to and surpass expectations. With a jaw-dropping campaign, the introduction of a game-ending killstreak and a handful of legendary multiplayer maps, MW2 is where many Call of Duty legends were born.

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

Call of Duty: Black Ops II (2012) / Image courtesy of Treyarch

MW2 was the undisputed king of Call of Duty multiplayer — at least until Black Ops II (2012) came around. The first game in the series to feature futuristic warfare technology and a vibrant, colorful vibe, BO2 stole the hearts of fans across multiplayer, campaign and zombies alike. Likely the most well-rounded, complete entry in the entire series.

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

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) / Image courtesy of Infinity Ward

Sitting a No. 1 has to be Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007). It was the first game in the series to branch out of the World War II era, one of the champions for establishing online multiplayer play on consoles and remains the point in which the Call of Duty franchise took off.

For more on Call of Duty, be sure to check out our list on the Top 5 Highest Selling Call of Duty Games of All Time.

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