Image via Activision
Call of Duty is one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, and the reason is pretty clear. It established the standard for first-person shooter games and has been running since the early 2000s. It’s dominated the FPS world and it seems to be continuing to do so. That’s why we’ve decided to take a look at the top ten highest selling Call of Duty games of all time and why these stand out amongst the crowd.
There were some titles like Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, Call of Duty: Vanguard and more that certainly did not make the list for many reasons. But that’s a story for another time. For now, let’s focus on why these ten are the highest selling Call of Duty games of all time.
Do note that since Modern Warfare 2 (2022) just released, it wasn’t included on the list yet. However, it did surpass Elden Ring (Game of the Year for 2022) in sales. It is also the fastest selling Call of Duty of all time.
Additionally, Call of Duty Warzone, Warzone 2.0 and Call of Duty Mobile title were not included due to this list being about mainline Call of Duty titles. They are also free-to-play titles and revenue may be higher in them, but the revenue source is purely due to microtransactions.
If you’d like to watch this list, then check out our YouTube video about this article below!
10. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
15 million copies later, Call of Duty 4 would spark the revolution of Call of Duty’s popularity. It would also be the first title to move Call of Duty away from the setting of World War II. Instead, Call of Duty 4’s story was inspired by more recent wars, hence the name: Modern Warfare. It was highly praised for its story, gameplay and graphics.
It helped redefine the modern first-person shooter and came with a highly rated multiplayer. Overall, COD 4 really aided in formulating something bigger for the franchise as a whole. It would also kickstart one of the most popular trilogies in Call of Duty history.
Modern Warfare was rebooted in 2019 and Modern Warfare 2 (MWII now) was just rebooted in October 2022. You can check out our full review on the Modern Warfare II multiplayer right now!
9. Call of Duty World at War
Back in 2008, Call of Duty World at War would hit the shelves and go on to sell 15.7 million copies worldwide. World at War told the story of WWII from the perspective of both the Americans and the Soviets. One of its biggest selling points was giving players the chance to play from both sides.
World at War was also the first to introduce a zombies mode, which kickstarted one of Call of Duty’s most well-known and well-loved gameplay features. With great multiplayer maps and more, World at War was beloved by many.
Call of Duty World at War Zombies was so popular, it spurred on a legacy to come. We recently made an article on the best Call of Duty zombies ranked, so check it out!
8. Call of Duty WW2
Call of Duty WW2 was released back in 2018 and brought the franchise back to its roots in the era of World War II. It would go on to sell a whopping 19.6 million copies.
After several futuristic titles, WW2 was a bit of a break from all the crazy SciFi stuff and a return to the boots-on-the-ground Call of Duty that people loved. However, it did suffer from some critical reviews, especially in regards to its multiplayer.
Still, WW2 had excellent graphics and a decent campaign that is still memorable and has spurred on some pretty funny jokes too.
7. Call of Duty Black Ops 3
Although it sold 22.46 million copies, Black Ops 3 is one of the most hated in the series. Many felt that its campaign and story were just lackluster and not very exciting.
Black Ops 3 was the first Call of Duty to carry over all of that futuristic stuff introduced in Black Ops 2, but this time, it stuck with it. That was a bit of a dramatic change for the franchise as a whole.
Many felt that it lacked character and that it really wasn’t a proper Call of Duty title. This is especially considering that Black Ops is the most popular Call of Duty series ever. However, Black Ops 3 just didn’t stick the landing.
6. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2
Modern Warfare 2 released back in 2009 and sold 22.7 million copies. One of the highest rated Call of Duty games out there, MW2 was praised for its stellar campaign, great graphics, fun multiplayer, and fantastic maps. Also, some of the most iconic moments in Call of Duty history came from this game.
Modern Warfare 2 also received a campaign remaster in 2020 to update its sound and graphics for the latest hardware.
The recent success of the Modern Warfare 2 reboot has definitely showed that MW2 has a name-legacy. Modern Warfare 2 (2022) is now the fastest selling Call of Duty in history. MW2 has always held a position as being a top-contender for the best Call of Duty game of all time. The response by fans to the reboot only proves that further.
As a side note, my personal favorite thing to come out of MW2 is this video. Please just watch it:
5. Call of Duty Ghosts
Maybe this one is shocking, but Call of Duty Ghosts actually sold 28.8 million copies. Although Ghosts is one of the most divisive in the franchise, with many feeling very strongly against the game, it still did relatively well in terms of sales.
Ghosts was critiqued for many things, including its cliffhanger ending and some bad multiplayer features. It released back in 2013 and added some new mechanics and customization. Many fans didn’t like its microtransaction systems and its gameplay.
It’s highly likely that the extreme hate Ghosts received was simply due to a bandwagon-effect. However, it still managed to secure a top spot on this list and sell nearly 29 million copies. That’s very impressive.
Another side note: When MWII released, a lot of Call of Duty edits about Keegan from Ghosts have been popping up all over TikTok. Check this out:
4. Call of Duty Black Ops
Selling around 30 million copies, Black Ops was a revolution for the franchise as a whole. Taking a more clandestine approach to the Call of Duty series, Black Ops gave us some Cold War action and an insane campaign mode. Black Ops also popularized zombies again and made it one of the biggest selling features.
Often regarded as one of the best Call of Duty games of all time, Black Ops brought an adventure to the screen like never before. It introduced unforgettable characters like Mason, Woods and Hudson. Black Ops also set the stage for its sequel, Black Ops 2, and its phenomenal success.
3. Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3
Releasing back in 2011, MW3 would go on to sell a little over 30 million copies, just a tad above Black Ops. MW3 was considered one of the best in the franchise with its stellar campaign, survival mode, and fun multiplayer.
MW3 carried on from MW2 and delivered the story of a world at war in the modern era in the best way possible. With characters from different nation’s special forces like Delta Force (United States), military action in MW3 was phenomenal. It certainly earns the title of being the third-highest selling Call of Duty game of all time.
MW3’s sheer speed of sales was only recently broken by Modern Warfare II in October 2022.
2. Call of Duty Modern Warfare (2019)
Modern Warfare was a revival to a burnt out franchise, and it revived Call of Duty well. Modern Warfare redesigned the entire structure of a Call of Duty game, with a new and realistic engine, the introduction of maps without three lanes, and the amazing sounds and animations.
Warzone has been one of its best selling points as well, and the game has sold over 30 million copies. Still, it is a bit of a divisive game, with many enjoying its tactical realism and others wishing for a more arcade shooter again. Of its different game modes however, Spec Ops didn’t seem to be a hit.
Still, Modern Warfare (2019) is considered to be one of the best and one of the worst Call of Duty games by fans from across the franchise. Many enjoyed it, but others didn’t. Still, it was apparently good enough to warrant the spot of being the second highest selling Call of Duty game ever.
1. Call of Duty Black Ops 2
Unsurprisingly, Black Ops 2 is the highest selling Call of Duty game ever released. With over 31 million copies sold and a strong base of loyal fans to this day, Black Ops 2 took everything about its predecessor and just somehow made it better.
Black Ops 2 combined the Cold War with the future in an action-packed story and one of the most amazing and balanced multiplayer experiences in the franchise. Plus, it had an amazing zombies mode.
Black Ops 2 set plenty of standards for Call of Duty and for FPS games as a whole. Its balanced gunplay, unique and engaging maps, as well as its value was unmatched. I doubt that there’s a single person out there who doesn’t like Black Ops 2.
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Also check out this list on the top ten highest selling Battlefield games of all time!
Zainah Yousef
Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.
