There’s no escaping that Name of Responsibility is at present in a little bit of a rut. Though there are brilliant spots in Fashionable Warfare 3’s multiplayer and Zombies mode, it in the end feels all too acquainted. And the marketing campaign? Our reviewer Simon Cardy stated it was “maybe the worst Name of Responsibility single-player marketing campaign I’ve performed.” It at present has a disappointing Metacritic ranking of 56 and, unsurprisingly, Fashionable Warfare 3 didn’t make into IGN’s high 10 Name of Responsibility video games (spoilers: it got here backside of the pile).
Fortunately, Name of Responsibility has been distinctive at instances and, years on, lots of its biggest moments nonetheless stand the take a look at of time. So we’re wanting again to determine which Name of Responsibility video games are our absolute favorites, and we’re speaking in regards to the full package deal – marketing campaign, multiplayer, zombies, every little thing. IGN employees voted on all of the video games, and you’ll learn all about why we picked what we picked under. After, you’ll want to tell us how we did and share your favorites within the feedback under!
10. Name of Responsibility: Black Ops Chilly Battle
Name of Responsibility: Black Ops Chilly Battle units itself aside from different entries within the legendary franchise by how a lot it excels when your gun is definitely holstered. Whereas Name of Responsibility is clearly identified for its world-class shootouts with explosions round each nook and edge-of-your-seat moments, Black Ops Chilly Battle added one other wrinkle to that components.
The marketing campaign takes place throughout essentially the most essential moments of the Chilly Battle and we get time to be taught extra about our covert ops crew at our safehouses and sneak round KGB headquarters as a Russian double agent. These moments are quiet in the most effective methods, they usually make the louder ones much more impactful.
Black Ops Chilly Battle’s multiplayer fell slightly brief however its Zombies mode was a spotlight. Certain, we’d have beloved some extra content material, nevertheless it supplied extremely polished and tense gameplay classes we nonetheless take into consideration at this time.
9. Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 3 (2011)
There have been some huge points with 2023’s Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 3, however 2011’s Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 3 did an excellent job of iterating and enhancing on what got here earlier than. Its multiplayer added new parts similar to weapon development, proficiencies, and extra, however what it did finest was create some of the compelling and addicting Name of Responsibility multiplayer experiences ever made as much as that time.
The marketing campaign was enjoyable sufficient and although it isn’t considered one of our favorites, it had the wonderful setpieces and “wow” moments that made this franchise so in style. It was additionally the conclusion of some of the beloved Name of Responsibility trilogies ever and that in itself was another excuse it was well worth the admission value.
8. Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 2
Name of Responsibility: Black Ops 2 was notable for a lot of causes, together with that it featured the collection’ first branching narrative and arsenal of futuristic weaponry. Whereas it continued the Chilly Battle-era story from the unique Black Ops, it additionally took us to 2025 to expertise an entire new Chilly Battle that centered on Alex Mason’s son, David. Oh, and don’t neglect that Raul Menendez is likely one of the finest villains in all the franchise.
Black Ops 2’s multiplayer additionally had just a few firsts just like the Decide 10 system and Scorestreaks, including a welcome stage of depth and customization to the expertise. Throw in its Zombies mode, which was the right, laugh-filled various to the marketing campaign and multiplayer, and Black Ops 2 continues to be a standout Name of Responsibility recreation over a decade later.
7. Name of Responsibility: World at Battle
Name of Responsibility: World at Battle introduced us again to World Battle 2 after the roaring success that was Fashionable Warfare’s up to date setting, nevertheless it did so otherwise. As a substitute of merely going again to Normandy and D-Day for the umpteenth time, the story centered on the Pacific theater and the Pink Military’s reversals of the tide at Stalingrad to the Fall of Berlin. The marketing campaign was stuffed with a ton of close-quarters fight moments, lots of which had been in tight, packed trenches, and for the primary time allow you to play with as much as three different pals.
What World at Battle might without end be remembered for, nevertheless, was its introduction of what we now know because the Zombies mode, or Nach der Untoten because it was known as. Its multiplayer was additionally successful because it introduced in a lot of what made Fashionable Warfare nice and tailored it for the period the sport was set in.
6. Name of Responsibility
Name of Responsibility first appeared on the scene in 2003, at a time when Medal of Honor and Battlefield 1942 had been on the high of their recreation and proving what might be executed within the WWII style. However Name of Responsibility did numerous issues that might instantly set it aside, together with chosing to inform its story from the angle of not solely america, but additionally Britain and the Soviet Union.
It additionally had you going into battle with different troopers by your aspect as a substitute of getting you face the horrors of warfare alone, and that led to a extra real looking and compelling expertise. And don’t neglect the “shellshock” function, which visually and audibly confirmed the hazards and penalties of huge explosions and introduced us nearer to warfare than ever earlier than.
Whereas it’s clearly slightly outdated 20 years on, the marketing campaign continues to be enjoyable to play and it’s unattainable to understate the inspiration it constructed for the way forward for not simply the Name of Responsibility collection however first-person shooters as an entire.
5. Name of Responsibility: Black Ops
Name of Responsibility: Black Ops took us to the Nineteen Sixties to be taught the story of CIA operative Alex Mason. From the primary moments in that chair within the interrogation room to probably the greatest twists in all the franchise, we couldn’t get sufficient of the story that additionally had the star energy of Sam Worthington, Ed Harris, and Gary Oldman. We beforehand ranked Black Ops’ marketing campaign as Name of Responsibility’s finest, and we stand by it at this time.
Black Ops’ multiplayer is simply as iconic and among the maps, together with Firing Vary and Nuketown, are nonetheless favorites in 2023 as they’ve been introduced ahead a number of instances. The multiplayer suite additionally launched CoD Factors, which modified how issues had been unlocked and made development really feel recent once more.
Nazi Zombies returned too, besides this time as a full-fledged mode, and it even allow you to play as JFK, Fidel Castro, Richard Nixon, or Robert McNamara. There was additionally an unlockable mode that performed like a retro arcade model. It was all fantastic.
4. Name of Responsibility 2
Name of Responsibility 2 was an unimaginable achievement by itself, however its timing was simply as essential. The follow-up to the unique Name of Responsibility arrived as a launch title for Xbox 360 and demonstrated what “next-gen” really meant again then.
Whereas the unique Name of Responsibility was spectacular, the ability of Xbox 360 – alongside developments in PC tech – led to a WWII expertise like by no means earlier than. Probably the most notable examples was the smoke grenades, as they had been an excellent showcase for what the devs might do to make a extra real looking expertise. Not solely had been they a sight to behold because the smoke billowed up and smothered the display, however they is also used tactically to get out of a tricky scenario.
With Name of Responsibility 2, the longer term was right here, even when the multiplayer nonetheless solely allowed for eight gamers in a match on Xbox Dwell.
3. Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare (2019)
Spoilers: we LOVE Fashionable Warfare and that adoration extends to 2019’s Fashionable Warfare, the sport that rebooted a basic. That in itself was a tricky activity, however Infinity Ward handed with flying colours and created the most effective marketing campaign for the reason that authentic Black Ops.
Certainly, the single-player was full of stand-out moments, from Going Darkish’s nonlinear stealth infiltration to Clear Home, wherein a staff of SAS troops clear a pitch-black terrorist hideout utilizing night-goggles, making split-second choices to verify its a risk within the crosshairs and never an unarmed civilian.
Fashionable Warfare’s multiplayer was respectable too, and tried to evolve some of the beloved multiplayer video games of all time to the fashionable day with some good additions, however its implementation wasn’t excellent. That stated, its new modes like Realism and the 2v2 Gunfight had been nice.
2. Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 2 (2009)
Name of Responsibility 4: Fashionable Warfare and its sequel Fashionable Warfare 2 will not be solely among the finest Name of Responsibility video games ever, but additionally among the finest and most essential video games of all time. Whereas Fashionable Warfare set the gold customary for what these first-person shooters might be, Fashionable Warfare pushed it to a good greater peak.
We might speak about No Russian and the surprising, revenge-filled marketing campaign ending all day, however multiplayer is the place this recreation really shines. From its customizable Killstreaks and development challenges, to the give attention to greater maps with a ton of gamers, to the introduction of the cooperative Spec Ops maps, there was SO a lot to like about its multiplayer mode. And the most effective half? It simply improved on every little thing else we beloved from Fashionable Warfare, which we are able to’t wait to inform you about subsequent…
1. Name of Responsibility 4: Fashionable Warfare (2007)
Name of Responsibility: Fashionable Warfare 2 might have perfected the components that Name of Responsibility 4: Fashionable Warfare constructed, however new and glossy issues can’t at all times stack as much as what it’s wish to expertise one thing for the primary time. Name of Responsibility 4: Fashionable Warfare is the right instance of that, and was a revolution that modified video video games without end.
This was the yr that Name of Responsibility grew to become the Name of Responsibility we all know at this time, and it was due to a tag-team assault of a improbable marketing campaign and a legendary multiplayer expertise. We’ll always remember being launched to Cleaning soap and Captain Value for the primary time, or once we received to leap into an AC-130 gunship, escape a cargo ship in the midst of a stormy sea, play by way of All Ghillied Up – presumably the best Name of Responsibility mission ever – and a lot extra.
We’ll additionally always remember the numerous hours we fortunately sunk into multiplayer, incomes killstreak after killstreak, unlocking each gun and problem we might, discovering the right perks, and profitable or dropping alongside our greatest pals. These had been the times we’ll always remember. That is Name of Responsibility.
