What Call of Duty Games Have a Story Mode?5 min read

Tired of sweaty lobbies and campers hiding in corners? Same. Sometimes you just wanna chill, run through a sick campaign, and enjoy the chaos without worrying about K/D.
So here’s the big Q:
What Call of Duty games actually have a story mode?
Good news — a ton of them do. From wild sci-fi plots to gritty war missions, CoD campaigns have been part of the ride since day one. Whether you’re new to the series or just skipping around titles, this list breaks it all down for ya.
Let’s go. 🎮
🎮 Call of Duty Games That Come With a Campaign
Most Call of Duty games do include a story mode. It’s been part of the DNA since the early 2000s. Some are full-blown cinematic experiences — others are short but still solid.
Here’s a full rundown:
🔫 Modern Warfare Series
✅ Campaigns Included: MW1, MW2, MW3, MW (2019), MWII (2022), MWIII (2023)
- Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
This one redefined FPS storytelling. It had nukes, betrayal, and THAT sniper mission.
If you’re only gonna play one classic CoD campaign — make it this. - Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
Highway ambushes, gulag rescues, and “No Russian.”
One of the most iconic — and controversial — stories in CoD history. - Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
Wraps up the trilogy. You’re gunning through global hotspots trying to stop WW3. Wild ride. - Modern Warfare (2019)
Gritty reboot. Same characters, new vibes.
Dark ops, night missions, and that clean house raid? 🔥 - Modern Warfare II (2022)
Task Force 141 is back. Super cinematic missions and updated AI that actually fights back. - Modern Warfare III (2023)
Bit shorter, more open-ended missions. Not everyone’s fav, but it continues the story and sets up future content.
🧠 Black Ops Series
✅ Campaigns Included: BO1, BO2, BO3, BO Cold War
❌ No Campaign: BO4
- Black Ops (2010)
“The numbers, Mason!” 🧠
Full Cold War paranoia. Brainwashing, secret experiments, the JFK conspiracy — it gets weird in a good way. - Black Ops II (2012)
Branching paths, future warfare, moral choices.
You can actually change how the story ends based on what you do mid-mission. - Black Ops III (2015)
Cybernetics and mind-hacking. Not super popular, but has a full-length story mode.
(Heads up: it gets very sci-fi.) - Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Set between BO1 and BO2. You’re hunting down a Soviet agent while double-crosses and memory wipes mess with your head.
Multiple endings, dialogue choices, and side missions make this one super replayable. - Black Ops 4 (2018)
🚫 No story mode at all. They went all-in on MP and Blackout.
⚔️ Historical and Standalone Games
These don’t fall under MW or BO, but they still slap.
- Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
WWII turned up to 100. Brutal realism, flamethrowers, and the birth of the Zombies mode.
Heads up: it’s dark. Not your typical action-hero vibe. - Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
More cinematic than WaW. Focuses on squad drama and the emotional side of war.
Less edgy, more feels. - Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
Tells the origin story of Task Force Vanguard from four different POVs.
Big set pieces, varied environments, and some cool character moments — even if the plot’s kinda mid. - Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
Alt-universe US gets wrecked. You play as one of the Ghosts, fighting back against a global superpower.
Cliffhanger ending still has people salty to this day. - Advanced Warfare (2014)
Exo-suits, hover tanks, and wall-climbing. You get recruited by a private military corp and… surprise, they turn out evil.
Story’s fast-paced and the movement system keeps things fresh. - Infinite Warfare (2016)
🚀 Space battles. Literal starship dogfights.
A lot of people slept on this one, but it’s got one of the best-written campaigns in the franchise. No joke.
❌ Games Without Campaigns
Just so you don’t waste your time:
- Black Ops 4 – Nope. Multiplayer, Zombies, and Blackout only.
- Warzone – Battle royale only. No single-player story.
💬 Are Call of Duty Campaigns Worth Playing?
Short answer? Yep.
Longer answer? They’re fun, fast, and packed with cinematic moments. And you don’t need to sweat or grind to enjoy ‘em.
Here’s why they still hit:
They’re polished. CoD campaigns are full-on blockbuster experiences — music, cutscenes, pacing… all top tier.
Even if you’re a die-hard multiplayer grinder, the campaigns give you extra lore, cool set pieces, and a break from the sweatfest. When you’re ready, get a prestige boost to climb ranks faster.
Use campaigns to warm up before MP. It’s a chill way to get used to guns and mechanics. Or jump into bot lobbies if you want to practice in a low-pressure setting.
🧠 Pro Tips Before You Start
- Play in order (if it’s a series). MW and BO both have running stories — way better if you don’t skip around.
- Try Veteran mode if you want a real challenge.
Just don’t rage when you get flashbanged 6 times in a row 😅 - Use campaigns to warm up before MP. It’s a chill way to get used to guns and mechanics.
🚨 Final Thoughts
So, what Call of Duty games have a story mode? Most of them.
And the ones that do? Still absolute fire, even years later.
Whether you’re jumping into the brutal world of World at War, the futuristic chaos of Advanced Warfare, or the tactical realism of Modern Warfare II, there’s something for every kind of player.
Not sure where to start?
🔹 Go classic: Modern Warfare (2007)
🔹 Go wild: Black Ops (2010)
🔹 Go modern: Modern Warfare (2019) or Cold War (2020)
Either way — get in there, enjoy the ride, and maybe… don’t skip the cutscenes for once 😉
And if you want to unlock cool skins fast, we’ve got cheap COD points to gear up quicker.