Which Call of Duty Game Should I Start With? A Beginner’s Guide
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Choosing the right Call of Duty (CoD) game to start with can feel overwhelming. The franchise is vast, spanning numerous titles, timelines, and playstyles. If you’re new to CoD, where should you begin? The best starting point for most new players is Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007). This game is often cited as a pinnacle of the series, offering an engaging single-player campaign, a revolutionary multiplayer experience for its time, and a relatively straightforward learning curve. While other options exist, Modern Warfare provides a fantastic introduction to the core mechanics and excitement that define the franchise.
Why Modern Warfare (2007) is Ideal
Single-Player Experience
Modern Warfare’s single-player campaign is frequently praised for its compelling narrative, memorable characters, and diverse missions. You’ll experience intense military action across various locations, from urban environments to rugged terrains. The story is grounded in modern warfare, making it more accessible to players unfamiliar with historical conflicts. The campaign also offers a good blend of stealth and all-out combat scenarios, giving you a comprehensive look at what CoD gameplay entails.
Multiplayer Foundation
This game set the standard for modern multiplayer in first-person shooters. Its progression system, map designs, and fast-paced combat became a blueprint for future CoD titles. By playing Modern Warfare, you’ll familiarize yourself with the core gameplay loop that is present in most of the series. Plus, many of the maps and modes are fan-favorites that still influence level design to this day. It’s an excellent starting point to understand what makes CoD multiplayer so engaging.
Relatively Beginner-Friendly
While it’s a competitive game, Modern Warfare isn’t overly complex. The gameplay mechanics are intuitive, allowing new players to learn quickly. The game has a fair difficulty curve, with options to adjust for different skill levels. It also avoids many of the more advanced mechanics introduced in later games, making it less overwhelming for newcomers.
A Classic That Holds Up
Despite its age, Modern Warfare holds up remarkably well. The gameplay remains fun and engaging, and the campaign is still a fantastic experience. It provides a great sense of the franchise’s history while still being accessible to modern gamers. It is also readily available on many platforms and is often part of digital bundles.
Alternatives and Why They Might Not Be Ideal
While Modern Warfare is the recommended starting point, there are other popular options that might tempt you. However, they may not be as beginner-friendly:
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Older WWII titles (Call of Duty, Call of Duty 2, Call of Duty 3): These games are important historical pieces but can feel outdated in terms of gameplay mechanics and presentation. They offer a slower-paced experience compared to modern CoD.
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Modern Warfare 2 (2009) & Modern Warfare 3 (2011): These are great titles, but they follow the story of the original Modern Warfare. Playing them before the first game would spoil the story and might feel less impactful.
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Black Ops series (Black Ops, Black Ops Cold War): While these games have excellent campaigns and unique multiplayer features, they often introduce more complex mechanics and systems, which could be confusing for new players. Additionally, the storylines are often intertwined and are best experienced sequentially.
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Newer titles (Modern Warfare 2019, MWII 2022, MWIII 2023): These are actively supported games, however, their gameplay has evolved considerably, and they might be overwhelming for absolute beginners due to their more advanced mechanics, a high skill ceiling, and the complex meta-game systems.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is Call of Duty beginner-friendly?
Yes, for the most part. CoD is known for being relatively easy to pick up compared to other first-person shooters. The core gameplay is intuitive, and getting into matches is straightforward. However, mastering the game at a high level requires dedication and skill. While the game is easy to get into, it’s more challenging to master.
2. What is the easiest CoD game to start with?
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare is often considered the easiest to start with due to its straightforward gameplay, well-balanced mechanics, and engaging campaign. It avoids many of the more complex features introduced in later installments.
3. Should I play CoD games in order of release?
It’s not strictly necessary to play in release order, as many storylines are self-contained or part of separate sub-series. However, playing the Modern Warfare trilogy (2007, 2009, 2011) in order is highly recommended to fully understand the story. Playing in release order offers a look at the game’s evolution.
4. Which Call of Duty has the best single-player campaign?
Many fans and critics point to Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) as having one of the best campaigns due to its engaging story, memorable characters, and unique Cold War setting. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare also ranks highly due to its realism and impactful narrative.
5. Which Call of Duty is most popular right now?
As of late 2023, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023), particularly their integrated multiplayer and Warzone modes, are the most actively played by the community. This is due to content updates and live service support.
6. Is Call of Duty: Warzone beginner-friendly?
Warzone can be challenging for beginners due to its large-scale battles, complex map layouts, and high skill ceiling. It’s generally recommended to familiarize yourself with the basic gameplay in standard multiplayer modes before jumping into Warzone.
7. Which CoD games have the best multiplayer?
This is subjective, but Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Black Ops, and Modern Warfare 2 (2009) are often cited as having some of the best multiplayer experiences by older fans. Newer titles, such as Modern Warfare (2019) and Modern Warfare II (2022), are also popular due to their polished gameplay, modern features, and live-service support.
8. What age is appropriate to play Call of Duty?
Call of Duty games are typically rated M (Mature 17+) by the ESRB due to intense violence, blood, and strong language. However, players younger than 17 can play with the option to filter out graphic content. Parents need to evaluate the maturity of their children when making this decision.
9. What are the main differences between Modern Warfare and Black Ops titles?
The Modern Warfare series tends to focus on modern military settings, grounded storylines, and fast-paced gameplay. The Black Ops series often features more complex narratives, historical settings, and more unique features.
10. What is the best Call of Duty for zombies mode?
Call of Duty: Black Ops III is widely regarded as having the best Zombies mode, featuring multiple maps, a complex story, and a robust set of features. Other popular Zombie games include Black Ops, Black Ops 2, World at War, and Black Ops Cold War.
11. Can I play Call of Duty games for free?
Yes. Call of Duty: Warzone and Warzone 2.0 are free-to-play standalone titles that offer a battle royale experience tied to the Call of Duty ecosystem.
12. What is the difference between a campaign and multiplayer mode?
The campaign mode is a single-player or co-op experience that tells a story within the Call of Duty universe. Multiplayer mode is a competitive online experience that pits players against each other in various game modes.
13. What CoD game has the lowest learning curve?
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare has one of the lowest learning curves due to its relatively straightforward mechanics and absence of complex systems seen in later installments.
14. What Call of Duty games are considered canon?
The “canon” is a bit fluid, but generally, the main series titles such as World at War, Black Ops 1, Black Ops Cold War, and the Modern Warfare series are considered part of the main storylines.
15. What should I do to get better at CoD?
Experiment with different weapons, adjust your control settings, learn map layouts, practice your aim, and, most importantly, be patient and keep playing. Watching gameplay videos and engaging with the community can also be very helpful.
Conclusion
Starting your Call of Duty journey can be an exciting experience. While there are many great games in the franchise, Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007) is the ideal starting point for new players. It provides a well-rounded introduction to the series with its engaging campaign, impactful multiplayer, and beginner-friendly mechanics. Once you have mastered Modern Warfare, you will have a better grasp of what makes Call of Duty such a popular franchise and will be more equipped to tackle any other game in the series. From there, you can explore other titles based on your interests and discover even more fun within the series!