Every Call of Duty: Black Ops game ranked ahead of BO6

Call of Duty fans across the globe are gearing up for Black Ops 6’s release on October 25, 2024. Now is the perfect time to take a retroactive look at the beloved series before the next chapter arrives.

As a counterpart to the Modern Warfare series, Black Ops has delivered five mainline games over the years, cementing itself as a staple of the Call of Duty legacy. Here’s every Black Ops game ranked from worst to best.

Best Black Ops games

5. Black Ops 4

Activision

• Year: 2018
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC
• Modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, Blackout
• Metacritic Score: 83

Black Ops 4’s contentious launch stemmed from the fact that it was the first mainline Call of Duty title to be released without a campaign. This was a tough pill to swallow for longtime fans who felt like they were receiving a weaker offering.

The game contained plenty more firsts including the first-ever Call of Duty battle royale map, and being the first title to not feature automatic health regeneration. These changes were a sign of innovation, not just within the Black Ops series, but across Call of Duty as a whole.

Unfortunately, Black Ops 4 only partially stuck the landing of its new features and innovations. While Blackout was a new experience that proved Call of Duty was ready to adapt to the growing popularity of the battle royale genre that Fortnite popularized, it was ultimately an imperfect first step into that foray.

The multiplayer was as addictive as ever and with Specialists returning, the game felt like it was reconnecting with its arcade-style roots. Classic fan-favorite maps like Slums were a welcome surprise, as were the weapons and gunplay. I have fond memories of wreaking havoc with the Maddox on the instantly familiar Firing Range map.

However, players were split on the health changes that resulted in a TTK that remains the slowest in the franchise to date.

4. Black Ops Cold War

Activision

• Year: 2020
• Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC
• Modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, Campaign
• Metacritic Score: 76

Given the reported development issues between Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software, it’s a pleasant surprise that Cold War was as entertaining as it was when it was released in 2020. Treyarch stepped in to lead development between the three studios and the result was a solid CoD title.

The game features the classic Black Ops offering of multiplayer, campaign, and Zombies. While the campaign was largely forgettable, the Zombies mode was praised for introducing the memorable Dark Aether storyline that continues in Black Ops 6.

The multiplayer featured weapons that were incredibly fun and addictive to use like the AK-74u and Krig 6. With a return to a limited movement style following Modern Warfare 2019, a greater emphasis was placed on gun skill.

However, the maps left a lot to be desired with only eight available at launch. Thankfully, the map situation improved post-launch with classics like Raid, Standoff, and Slums eventually joining the rotation.

3. Black Ops

Activision

• Year: 2010
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii, Nintendo DS
• Modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, Campaign
• Metacritic Score: 87

Following the success of 2009’s Modern Warfare 2 felt like an impossible task at the time, but Treyarch rose to the challenge by kicking off the Black Ops series.

For starters, multiplayer was stacked with innovations like customizable emblems, weapons, and the Theater Mode that made it easier than ever to record and share clips. The devs also created the incredibly popular Nuketown as a foil to the fan-favorite Shipment and Rust in the Modern Warfare series.

The campaign introduced us to Mason, Woods, Weaver, and more as players embarked on a covert CIA mission to track and spoil the plans of Soviet operatives. Frank Woods had such an impact from the get-go that he’ll feature in the Black Ops 6 campaign fourteen years after his debut.

As a teenager who’d run home from school to tackle the prestige grind in MW2, Black Ops 1 carried on the feeling of a rewarding progression system. I can still recall each Prestige emblem from memory nearly 14 years later.

While it stayed true to what made MW2 great, it had its own identity that made it feel like more than just a 1960s reskin of its predecessor.

With a new campaign storyline, a signature multiplayer map, and an addictive Zombies mode, it’s no surprise that Call of Duty greenlit a sequel and cemented Black Ops as a recurring series within the franchise.

2. Black Ops 3

Activision

• Year: 2015
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC
• Modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, Campaign, Nightmares
• Metacritic Score: 81

Amidst the controversial exo-suit movement that took over Call of Duty after Advanced Warfare, Black Ops 3 managed to nail it. Treyarch’s take on boosted movement provided a thrilling sense of momentum, allowing for creative plays in multiplayer – especially when you throw in wall running and sliding.

The game also introduced Specialists, unique characters with abilities tailored to differing playstyles. These added another dimension to CoD gameplay, especially when playing objective-based modes on the visually stunning and carefully crafted three-lane maps.

Black Ops 3’s Zombies experience is widely regarded as the height of the mode, providing players with six incredible maps and Zombies Chronicles, which remastered classics like Kino Der Toten, Origins, and Verruckt.

On the other hand, exo-movement wasn’t so popular among veteran CoD players who wanted boots-on-the-ground gameplay, and the campaign was underwhelming considering Treyarch’s high standards.

1. Black Ops 2

Activision

• Year: 2012
• Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC, Wii U
• Modes: Multiplayer, Zombies, Campaign
• Metacritic Score: 83

Widely regarded as the crown jewel of the Call of Duty franchise, Black Ops 2 set a high standard for the series in its early stages.

The Origins and Mob of the Dead Zombies maps are often in the conversation for the best Zombies map of all time. This is a testament to just how spoiled fans of the round-based mode were in 2012.

The campaign’s story was engaging enough to keep players enthralled from start to finish, but its shiny new feature was the ability to experience branching story paths with your decisions impacting the story for the first time.

The Pick 10 system completely revolutionized the create-a-class mechanic, giving players more control over their loadouts than ever. Weapons and maps were a flawless match made in heaven. Express, Raid, and Standoff are just a few that defined the multiplayer experience.

Black Ops 2’s cherry on top was the introduction of League Play, Call of Duty’s first dedicated competitive mode that gave hardcore fans a place to grind until the next yearly release.

Rumors suggest that Call of Duty 2025 is set to be a sequel to BO2, so you might not have to wait long for the next entry in the series with two Black Ops titles potentially arriving back to back.