Call of Duty first emerged way back in 2003, and since then, it has worked hard to become one of the most impactful, best-selling shooter franchises in history. It’s a dominant esports title, boasting near-unparalleled multiplayer platforms that change with each new release. From jetpacks to boots on the ground, we’ve seen a diverse and dynamic array of multiplayer environments surface in the last two decades, but which among them can be considered the best Call of Duty multiplayer of all time?
For the most part, the best Call of Duty will be the one with the most popular multiplayer platform. While there have been some fantastic single-player campaigns over the years, it’s in the multiplayer that Call of Duty really shines. It’s never going to be the best COD game without a top-tier multiplayer offering, right?
That’s why we’re breaking down the best Call of Duty multiplayer games of all time. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the best Call of Duty games to ever grace the industry.
Image: Treyarch
Black Ops II boasted some of the most innovative multiplayer features that the franchise had ever seen. That fact, combined with a balanced and versatile array of weapons, expertly-crafted maps, and a blossoming esports foundation, all meant that Black Ops II quickly became an incredibly popular multiplayer game. It was one of the most highly-anticipated games in franchise history, and following on from the world-class campaign, almost every player leapt clean into one of the best Call of Duty multiplayer platforms ever.
With Black Ops II, the ‘Pick 10’ feature was introduced, offering up a never-before-seen way to customise loadouts. It was rued by some, but praised by most, and it forced a player to be much more tactical with their builds. For the first time ever, killstreaks also became scorestreaks, rewarding players that weren’t slayers, but objective players. By the end of Black Ops II’s lifecycle, it boasted thirty-one maps in total, which to this day remains the largest map pool in the history of the series.
Not only that but Black Ops II also came hand-in-hand with a solid ranked platform that gave rise to some of the world’s best Call of Duty players emerging from the shadows. These players would enter the fledgling esports industry and turn it into something impressive, and in 2013, the first-ever Call of Duty World Championship would take place, using Black Ops II as the foundation.
It’s impossible to list out all those accolades and not say that Black Ops II is the best Call of Duty multiplayer game of all time.
Image: Activision/Blizzard
If you’re ever finding yourself asking, ‘What is the best Call of Duty game ever,’ then you may find yourself stumbling across 2009’s Modern Warfare 2.
This expansion over the top of 2007’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was wildly popular. It essentially kicked off the Call of Duty esports ecosystem that thrives today, and as one of the most memorable titles in the series, it offered up an unforgettable multiplayer platform. It was so well balanced, boasted some of the most iconic maps in history, and it felt like an absolute pleasure to play time after time, for hours at an end.
It was so popular that in 2022, when Modern Warfare II launched, many of MW2’s elements, such as certain weapons and maps, started getting ported over. There’s no doubt that Modern Warfare 2 is one of the best Call of Duty titles to ever emerge, and its multiplayer offering was second to none. Not only was it one of the best Call of Duty multiplayer games, but it was also a strong cooperative title. On the side, MW2 offered Spec Ops, which also made a return in later versions of the game.
There’s no doubt that Modern Warfare 2 is one of the best COD games of all time, in terms of multiplayer.
Image Credit: Treyarch
Call of Duty: Black Ops was the inaugural title in a sub-franchise that would become iconic in the gaming world. Black Ops is a phenomenal franchise, and one of the best-selling sub-series of games within the Call of Duty ecosystem. When it was released, it was to an eagerly awaiting audience, and within a matter of days, Black Ops had established itself as one of the best Call of Duty multiplayer games to ever exist.
It offered up some of the hottest maps the franchise has ever seen, boasting lanes, placements, and layouts that made sense and simply worked so well. It featured some weapons that, even today, are unforgettable, such as the Galil, the FAMAS, and the MP5k. Not only was the campaign and the zombies side mode exciting and incredibly enjoyable, but the multiplayer platform from end-to-end was impressive and well-balanced – consistently.
Not only that, but Black Ops introduced some of the most entertaining ‘party modes’ that we’ve ever seen. From Sticks and Stones to One in the Chamber, there were so many modes to enjoy in Black Ops that it could make your head spin.
Image: Treyarch
When it was released in 2008 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 platforms, World at War would quickly become one of the most visceral, realistic Call of Duty multiplayer games ever. It boasted dismemberment, gory visuals, and high-octane combat that took the franchise back to its WWII-themed roots. It wasn’t the most highly-reviewed title in the history of the series, but the multiplayer platform is so memorable that, even today, people are still trying to enjoy it.
It boasted some of the most unique maps that the series has ever seen, and in 2021’s Call of Duty: Vanguard, many of them made a reappearance. There were plenty of balanced weapons to enjoy, combat felt fresh from every angle, and the traditional game modes played so well on the platform that Treyarch had created. With all-new killstreaks themed around the era, World at War became wildly competitive, and it was a title that helped Call of Duty content creation and esports start to rise up.
It’s certainly a contender for the title of best COD game, at least where the multiplayer platform is concerned.
Image Credit: Infinity Ward
In 2007, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare was released, and just like that, history was made. It’s widely considered to be the spearhead that made modern Call of Duty titles as popular as they are, bringing into play a multiplayer platform that is utterly unforgettable. It introduced some of the most recognisable Call of Duty characters to the franchise, such as Price, Soap, and Makarov, and twinned with a fantastic single-player campaign, the multiplayer blossomed.
Even though Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare boasted relatively back-to-basics gameplay, it was that simplicity that made it so fantastic. It was uncluttered and uncomplicated, and it was one of the last games that was more about gunplay than chasing killstreaks or building fantastically overpowered meta weapons. It was an honest shooter with a beautifully basic premise and, ultimately, incredible delivery.
By the end of its lifecycle, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare had established such a legacy within the Call of Duty scene. It kicked off events that led to Modern Warfare 2 and 3, and in 2019, it would be rebooted, and remade with many of the same themes that were present in the original game. If we’re wondering, ‘What is the best Call of Duty game ever,’ this is certainly a frontrunner for the title.
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