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Navigating the Canon: Which Call of Duty Games Truly Matter?

Determining which Call of Duty games are considered canon can be a tricky endeavor, given the franchise’s numerous sub-series and reboots. The short answer is that not every Call of Duty game exists within the same universe. Instead, the series comprises multiple timelines, each with its own set of canon titles. The main connected universes include the original Modern Warfare trilogy, the Black Ops series, and the World War II timeline. However, even within these, there are complexities, reboots, and branching storylines that can make it difficult to keep track of what truly “counts.” Let’s break it down:

Connected Universes and Their Canon

The Classic World War II Era

Call of Duty 1, Call of Duty 2, and Call of Duty 3: These are considered canon, representing the early days of the franchise and its roots in World War II. They share a setting and general historical context, though they don’t often directly interconnect story-wise.
Call of Duty: World at War: Also set during World War II, this title is canon and significantly ties into the future Black Ops storyline. The events and characters in WAW are pivotal in understanding later games.
Call of Duty: WWII: Despite returning to the same conflict, this title exists in a somewhat separate continuity from the previous WW2 games. It is generally not considered canon within the established timeline of the others.

The Original Modern Warfare Timeline

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: These three games form a direct, connected narrative and are all canon within their own distinct universe. This trilogy has a continuous story arc that builds on its own events and characters.
Modern Warfare (2019), Modern Warfare II (2022), and Modern Warfare III (2023): This trilogy is a reboot of the original Modern Warfare series and is a distinct canon universe from the original trilogy.

The Black Ops Universe

Call of Duty: Black Ops: This title is absolutely canon and serves as a cornerstone for the Black Ops series. It introduces key characters and establishes the Cold War narrative.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 2: Considered canon and a direct sequel to Black Ops, this game pushes the story further, featuring branching narratives and multiple endings, with the ending where Menendez is executed leading to the events in Black Ops III.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3: A direct continuation of Black Ops 2, this game is canon and explores advanced warfare and transhumanism.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 4: This title is somewhat unique as it lacks a traditional single-player campaign and instead is focused on multiplayer and zombies. While it includes character stories, it doesn’t significantly advance the overarching Black Ops narrative and can be viewed separately.
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War: This is a direct continuation of the original Black Ops, expanding on its characters and events. It is a considered canon and directly ties to the first game.
Call of Duty: Vanguard While also part of the canon after Black Ops 4, this is a separate universe to the Black Ops timeline.

Non-Canon Standalone Titles

Call of Duty: Ghosts: This game is explicitly stated to exist in its own separate universe and is not canon within the other established timelines.
Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare: This is also a separate universe and not canon within any other Call of Duty timeline.
Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare: This title, taking place in a futuristic setting, is also its own standalone story and is considered not canon within the other timelines.

The Evolving Canon

It is also crucial to understand the current state of the Call of Duty universe. The storylines of Warzone, Modern Warfare, Black Ops, and Zombies are now considered canon within a single overarching universe. This means that events and characters from each can intertwine. Additionally, Zombies mode, while having its own internal canon, is now connected to Modern Warfare.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)