The Call of Duty series is not only one of the most popular shooting games but also one of the most successful entertainment franchises of all time. Launched in 2003 by Activision, the game has been set during World War II, the Cold War, futuristic worlds, and even modern-day battlefields. Several developers have contributed to the CoD legacy over the years, including Treyarch, Sledgehammer Games, and Infinity Ward.
With over 400 million copies sold worldwide, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon. Its intense action and immersive storylines have inspired countless other forms of gaming — even in the online casino space, where a player can play similar themed slots online at Amazon Slots, capturing the same adrenaline-fuelled atmosphere in a different format.
The series also holds a Guinness World Record for being the best-selling first-person shooter franchise of all time and ranks as the fourth best-selling game franchise overall. Let’s now look at the top five best-selling Call of Duty games of all time.
Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
Call of Duty: Vanguard is one of the newer entries in the franchise, returning to its World War II roots reminiscent of the original titles. While Activision was reportedly disappointed with the game’s initial sales performance, it is believed to have eventually sold over 30 million copies. Despite this, Vanguard drew criticism for its similarities to the Modern Warfare series and for failing to introduce fresh elements to the franchise.
It’s also worth noting that Activision never officially confirmed these sales figures. The number was shared by former social media strategist Brian Hong and later reported by Insider Gaming. Given the mixed reception and lukewarm fan response, these figures should be viewed with some skepticism.
Coming to the sales, Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021) has sold over 30 million copies worldwide.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War was the sixth installment in the Black Ops series that was developed together by Treyarch and Raven Software. Released in 2020, the game was available for Windows, Xbox and PlayStation consoles. As the title suggests, this game takes place during the cold war during the early 1980’s. The events in this game take place between CoD Black Ops and CoD Black Ops 2.
Players will take control of a character called Bell, who is recruited by CIA officer Russell Adler for a special mission. Various characters from the Black Ops series return in this game as well.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has sold over 30 million units so far, and it was even the best-selling game of 2020 in the US.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Launched for Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms in 2019, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was released as a reboot of the Modern Warfare sub-series developed by Infinity Ward. The game takes place in modern surrounding and its gameplay has several realistic elements in it
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare focuses on a more tactical style gameplay and it also features a multiplayer mode that supports cross-platform gameplay. The plot of the game focuses on the battles between various forces and the task of finding a stolen shipment of chlorine gas. It has sold 30 million copies as well.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 was the third and final game in the original Modern Warfare series. It was published in 2011 by Activision, and jointly developed by Sledgehammer games and Infinity Ward. The game was available for Windows, PS3, and Xbox 360, and Wii. A special Nintendo DS version of the game had been developed as well.
Taking place after the events of Modern Warfare 2, this game also focuses on the Task Force 141, which has Captain Price, Soap MacTavish, and a new playable character Yuri. Alongside the Special Air Service, and Delta Force, the game will require you to hunt down Vladimir Makarov, who is a Russian terrorist who leads the Russian Ultranationalist party. This game has also sold over 30 million copies.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Released in 2010, Call of Duty: Black Ops is the best-selling CoD game of all time. The game was launched for Windows, Wii, PS3, Xbox, and OS X platforms. It takes place during the Cold War in the 1960s, and players will be able to control 2 main characters in the game. Alex Mason and CIA operative Jason Hudson are the main playable characters. The plot of the game will see players trying to locate a numbers station, with the station being due to transmit broadcasts to sleeper agents instructing them to deploy chemical weapons across the US.
Call of Duty: Black Ops has sold over 31 million copies worldwide, making it the most purchased title in the series.
