Best-Selling Call of Duty Games | Which COD Made The Most Money?

Call of Duty is a legendary franchise that burst onto the gaming scene more than two decades ago. It’s one of the most popular first-person shooter ecosystems in the history of gaming, spanning handheld devices and every console platform, and boasting hundreds of millions of fans. There have been more than fifty games throughout the history of the series, but which among them can be classed as the best-selling Call of Duty games ever?

In this comprehensive breakdown, you’ll learn which Call of Duty made the most money for Activision Blizzard. We’ll also go over the best-selling Call of Duty games, ranking the top ten in order of their sales volume. It might be one of the most popular games in history, but some of these numbers may surprise you. If you’re a Call of Duty fan, you’ll want to know these figures – it’s a historic franchise, and over time, it’s only getting bigger and brighter.

So, what are the best-selling Call of Duty games in history?

Image Credit: Activision Blizzard

Which Call of Duty Game Sold The Most Copies?

We’ll break down the ranking here, listing the top ten games from least to most copies sold. Find out which game had the most Call of Duty sales here:

10. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)

Call of Duty: WWII was the first leap back to the Second World War since World at War was released in 2008. It sold quite well, with 19 million copies flying off the shelves around the world. It boasted one of the most electric esports scenes in the history of the franchise.

9. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)

Advanced Warfare wasn’t the most popular title, but it was one of the first super-powered, jetpack-era Call of Duty games. It sold a massive 21 million copies in its lifetime and it boasted some Hollywood-level stars in the campaign’s cast.

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

Released in 2009, the original Modern Warfare 2 was a phenomenal game, often considered to be the best Call of Duty game ever. It’s a memorable title that eventually spawned a remaster and then a complete reboot that dropped in 2022, and with 25 million sales, it still holds up to this day.

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops III (2015)

Black Ops III boasted a cooperative campaign, which was rare for the Call of Duty franchise. It also featured the ever-popular COD Zombies and a balanced multiplayer platform, making it a very popular game indeed. It was good enough to hold up at a commercial level, selling 26 million copies.

6. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)

Out of all Call of Duty games, Ghosts is probably the least memorable, launching as a one-shot in 2013 and following Black Ops II, one of the best multiplayer Call of Duty games of all time. It was a tough crown to secure, and Ghosts ultimately fell short, but it did manage to sell 28 million copies.

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

Black Ops II was a monumental game that left a lasting impression on the gaming scene. It was considered by many to be the true birth of Call of Duty esports, with the first World Championship tournament taking place on the platform. It was where many of today’s veteran competitors cut their teeth, and it still holds up today – it sold a massive 29 million copies, after all.

4. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Black Ops Cold War was a strange game, as it took the developers just a few months to actually build it. But, even with that fact known, it doesn’t seem to have hindered the game’s performance, as it featured one of the most balanced multiplayer platforms ever seen. It was so good that 30 million copies were sold, even if the game itself didn’t receive the most favourable of reviews.

3. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

In 2019, Modern Warfare was rebooted, bringing the decade-old franchise up to speed and renewing it for a fresh generation of gamers. It was a fantastic title that offered up an exciting multiplayer platform and great Ranked Play features, and it served to host the dawn of the Call of Duty League, today’s top-tier Call of Duty esports league. It sold a whopping 31 million copies, almost putting it in first place.

2. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

It’s a close call between Modern Warfare and Modern Warfare 3, with both games having shipped 31 million copies. However, Modern Warfare 3 reportedly has the edge, and as one of the most popular Call of Duty games in history, it’s easy to see why. This was the conclusion to the epic Modern Warfare franchise, and it absolutely was one of the best-selling Call of Duty games ever for a very good reason.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Out of all the best-selling Call of Duty games, Black Ops takes the top spot with 32 million copies sold. It was the game that started it all, and since it was released, a further four games have populated the Black Ops sub-series. It’s one of the most powerful sequences of games in the Call of Duty ecosystem, and Black Ops is ultimately responsible for delivering one of the best COD Zombies modes and one of the most balanced multiplayer platforms ever.

Image Credit: Activision Blizzard

Which Call of Duty Made The Most Money?

Technically, the Call of Duty game that made the most money is Call of Duty: Mobile. In 2023, COD Mobile is expected to pass $2 billion in revenue, having been downloaded far more than half a billion times during its lifecycle. It’s a monumental game that is by far and wide the most popular Call of Duty game ever by the sheer number of players – it just isn’t considered a ‘mainstream’ game.

However, traditional Call of Duty sales have remained so strong that the multiplayer games are pulling in that kind of money. In October 2022, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II sold so well and so fast that it racked up $1 billion in sales in just ten days. It was the fastest-selling Call of Duty game in history, and it’ll be tough for any follow-up titles to beat that record.