Look at the Call of Duty timeline to see how the games and storylines connect. This helpful guide will show you how to track characters, events, and missions across the series with a simple timeline. Follow and understand how each mission fits into the bigger picture.
Call of Duty isn't just a game. It is an important piece of video game history, and that too is an understatement. It is hard to think of action or shooting games without mentioning this legendary series. Since its inception in 2003, Call of Duty has become one of the most successful franchises. It completely revolutionized single-player campaigns and online battles.
Call of Duty game entries have explored battles from the past, present, and future. In this guide, we'll explore the order and conflict of each release. Perfect for anyone looking to binge-play some Call of Duty.
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Call Of Duty Timeline
Over the years, there have been quite a few reboots and subseries in the Call of Duty franchise. It's hard to keep such a long campaign straight. However, if you want to play the game in an order that makes some kind of sense, the simplest timeline to follow is of real-life history. With that in mind, let's start breaking it down.
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Call of Duty: WWII Era Games
Call of Duty: WWII
- Release date: November 3, 2017
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
The first game in timeline order is WWII. It was released nearly a decade and a half after its first release in 2003. Well, this first entry takes place in 1940, which is the earliest date in the COD timeline. This game also features zombie mode. The best part of it is the Nazi zombies and wiping them out is even better.
Call of Duty: Finest Hour
- Release date: November 16, 2004
- Platforms: Xbox, PS2, Gamecube, PC
Fun fact: Did you know this was the first game in the series made for consoles? Yep - and it launched on the original Xbox and PlayStation 2.
Call of Duty: Finest Hour also gets shuffled around in the timeline. After considering its earliest point, we have decided to place it here. This game is split into three campaigns. The campaigns follow the American, British, and Soviet soldiers taking center stage. The earliest mission takes place during the Battle of Stalingrad in September 1942.
Call of Duty: World at War
- Release date: November 11, 2008
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Nintendo Wii, PC
This is one of the Call of Duty greats, and how can it not be? Considering it was the first game to give us zombie mode. Other than that, this also breaks the endless cycle of WW2 COD games. Its epic campaign is set in the Pacific Theatre against the Imperial Japanese.
The game opens with a mission set on August 17, 1942. The story follows the escape of American Marine Private C. Miller, a prisoner on Makin Island. From there, we see how he assists the US assault on the island.
Call of Duty 2
- Release date: October 25, 2005
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PC, Mac
Again, we've placed the game here, going by the earliest mission date, which is 1942. This is the sequel to the original game. It gives us four different lead characters of different nationalities. All focusing on the Nazi regime.
The majority of the game is set between 1942 and 1945. However, the first mission of the Soviet campaign briefly sneaks into December 1941.
Call of Duty
- Release date: October 29, 2003
- Platforms: PC, Mac
Now we go back to the beginning of the game that made history, the myth, the legend, the original Call of Duty. More than twenty years have passed since its release, and the game is still as popular as ever. Looking back, it would be safe to say that the series has changed in many ways. However, its DNA can still be traced back to the original.
Call of Duty 3
- Release date: November 7, 2006
- Platforms: PlayStation 2, Xbox, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii
This one takes us back to World War 2 again, where all the missions are set in 1944. You'll find yourself in the middle of Operation Cobra, as the Allies fight their way out of Normandy.
Call of Duty: Big Red One
- Release date: November 1, 2005
- Platforms: PS2, Gamecube, Xbox
Fun fact: This game gets its name from a real-life Army Infantry Division. It was called the Big Red One because of the logo on their patch.
Big Red One is a side story for the second game. But make no mistake, as it's a full release and deserves its separate spot on the list. Taking place around 1944, the game follows different missions, eventually leading to the soldiers' push into Germany.
Call of Duty: Vanguard
- Release date: November 5, 2021
- Platforms: Xbox Series, PS5, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
This is the most recent COD game set in World War 2. The story takes us back to 1945, following the lives of five soldiers. As the war nears its end, they're brought together to form Task Force Vanguard. A special operations unit composed of soldiers from different Allied nations.
Cold War Era Games
Call of Duty: Black Ops
- Release date: November 9, 2010
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, Mac
We skip forward a few years and land in the Cold War era, 1961. The story runs from 1961 to 68, covering plenty of the decade. The person gets to play as Alex Mason, part of the SOG or US black ops unit, as the name of the game.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
- Release date: November 13, 2020
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
It's 1981, and the Cold War has started. The story follows a Soviet agent trying to destabilize the world, and it's up to the player to stop him. The interesting part is that COD: Black Ops Cold War is sort of a mini role-playing experience. This makes the game's outcome completely dependent on the player's choices.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2
- Release date: November 13, 2012
- Developer: Treyarch
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii U, PC
This game is kind of all over the place, making its placement complicated. Some sections take place from 1986 to 1989, then some in 2025.
The 2025 section follows David Mason. He is the son of Alex Mason, our Black Ops protagonist.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
- Release date: October 25, 2024
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, PC
Now, fast forward to Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, the newest one in the franchise. Set in the 1990s, it follows two operatives who've gone rogue. Their mission? To secretly replace the deputy director of the CIA. Wild.
Modern Warfare Series
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
- Release date: November 5, 2007
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC, Mac
Even though this game came out in 2007, most of it takes place in 2011. And here's the twist; it was the first in the series to break away from World War II. Instead, it's set in a fictional Middle Eastern country.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
- Release date: November 10, 2009
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Wii U, PC
Set in 2016, this one feels like a full-blown action movie. Think Russians invading the U.S., the White House under siege, and some of the most intense battles in the franchise.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
- Release date: November 8, 2011
- Platforms: Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC
The Modern Warfare trilogy ends with a bang. The story picks up right where the last one ended and wraps up with the return of some unforgettable characters.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
- Release date: October 25, 2019
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
This version is actually a reboot, not tied to the original Modern Warfare storyline. Think of it as part of the Modern Warfare multiverse. It kicks off in 1999, but the bulk of the campaign happens in 2019.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II
- Release date: October 28, 2022
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
Picking up after the 2019 reboot, this one is entirely set in 2022. You'll travel to places like Amsterdam and Chicago, along with familiar fictional spots like Urzikstan.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
- Release date: November 10, 2023
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, PC
The story wraps up in this entry, set in 2023. And yes, fan-favorite villain Makarov is back. You'll team up with legends like Captain Price, Soap, Ghost, and Gaz.
Call of Duty: Ghosts
- Release date: November 5, 2013
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, Wii U, PC
Buckle up, we're heading into an alternate future. This one takes place in 2027 (which doesn't feel all that far off anymore). You'll get flashbacks from 2015 and 2017, too. Here's what happens: a group called the Federation, basically a bunch of united South American nations, attacks the U.S. Cities are wiped out, and then we jump ahead ten years to see what's left.
Future Settings
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4
- Release date: October 12, 2018
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Yup, this is the COD that put the gaming world into rage for not including a single-player campaign. This time, we go further into the future as the game is set in 2043. The story unfolds with the three multiplayer game modes: Zombies, Multiplayer, and the new Blackout mode. They are all good fun, but nothing beats the single-player experience.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare
- Release date: November 4, 2014
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC
We jump time, and now it's 2054. Things get very futuristic with hoverbikes and exoskeletons. While many long-term fans were not thrilled with the updates away from a grounded military experience, it's still a lot of fun. However, it wasn't long before the franchise listened to the audience.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
- Release date: November 6, 2015
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS4, PS3, PC, Mac
Set in 2065, Black Ops 3 is a hefty 40-year time jump after Black Ops 2. The futuristic updates are yet again high in this one. The game is set in 2065-2070 in a dark, twisted future with military robotics ruling the battlefield.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
- Release date: November 4, 2016
- Platforms: Xbox One, PS4, PC
Finally, we get to the furthest in the future this game has gone. It's 2187, Earth as we know it is no longer there. Humanity has colonized much of the solar system in hopes of survival. Yet, war never leaves, and we find ourselves in another conflict.
This campaign is just as underrated as it is unique. It has optional side missions that you can embark on to see humanity's fight for survival.
How to Make the Call of Duty Timeline in EdrawMax?
EdrawMax is a powerful diagramming tool that lets you create professional yet visually pleasing diagrams. Whether mapping events or building timelines, it does the job in minutes. With tons of templates and powerful editing tools, you can turn a simple timeline (like this one) into a full-on visual story.
Just follow a few easy steps and bring the Call of Duty timeline to life.
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Step1Access EdrawMax
- Download EdrawMax
- Log in to sign up with your Wondershare account.
- Once logged in, you'll be directed to the home dashboard.
Step2
Start a New Timeline
- Go to Basic Diagram > Timeline.
- Choose Blank Drawing or pick a template from the gallery.
Step3Insert a Timeline
- On the canvas, click Insert > Timeline.
- Pick a timeline style (horizontal or vertical).
- Click OK, then resize if needed.
Step4Add Timeline Details
- Double-click to type dates and events.
- Or use the Text tool from the left panel.
- Add, move, or delete timeline points.
- Use the toolbar to change font, size, and color.
Step5Customize Your Timeline
- Use the bottom color palette to change node colors.
- Add images via Insert > Picture > Local pictures.
- Add a background image and set it to Send to Back.
- Adjust the transparency so the text stays readable.
Step6Save and Export
- Done with the timeline? Click Export at the top left to save.
- Choose from PNG, JPG, PDF, PPTX, or Excel formats.
Wrapping Up
The Call of Duty timeline can feel like a maze. Each of its releases jumps between the past, present, and future. But on stepping back, the pieces start to connect. It's not about the war. It's about the people, the thrill, and the stories we keep coming back to. Whether you're here to follow the characters or just make sense of the chaos, this timeline gives you a place to start. And maybe, to return to.
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