Finding the perfect gift for someone who only likes tech stuff can be a challenge. Partially because the best tech gifts tend to be inherently expensive. If you're buying someone new technology for Christmas this year, it has the potential to be the only gift that truly gets them excited while also blowing a massive hole in your budget.

There are exceptions to this, of course. Plenty of high-quality tech and gaming accessories are surprisingly affordable and practical. If you're looking for ideas of what to get the tech nerd in your life this year, we've rounded up 10 gifts we love and recommend buying in 2025 to help get you started.

1. Ecoflow Rapid Pro Power Bank

Walmart just kicked off one of the lowest prices I've seen on an RTX 5070 equipped laptop. Right now you can pick up a Asus TUF F16 gaming laptop for just $1,099 with free delivery. This laptop offers strong performance for the price since it's equipped with an unthrottled RTX 5070 GPU with a 115W TGP rating.

Asus TUF F16 (2025) RTX 5070 Gaming Laptop for $1,099

These days, streaming services are a dime a dozen. Disney+ offers some of the best value in relation to the exclusive content it has available, as you'll not only have access to dozens of Disney and Pixar films and TV shows, but the entirety of the collected Marvel Cinematic Universe and every Star Wars project pre- and post-acquisition. Depending on the subscription tier or bundle you pick, you can also experience Hulu and ESPN Unlimited content as well, making this the best bang-for-your-buck streaming services around.

But did you know you can give a Disney+ subscription as a gift? We've gathered everything you need to know on how to give a subscription out to your loved ones and how the process works. It's a wonderful Disney gift idea for 2025.

How to Give Disney+ As a Gift

How to redeem a gift card

1. When you're ready to redeem, visit the disneyplus.com/commerce/gift webpage
2. Enter the gift card number, security code, and ZIP and they're ready to go. If they're a first-time subscriber, they'll have to create an account.
3. Select the desired Disney+ or bundle plan.

Does a Disney+ Gift Card Work With Streaming Bundles?

There are a handful of different Disney+ bundles available, and luckily the gift cards work towards these as well. So if you're wanting to grab Hulu, ESPN, and HBO Max to bundle and save, you can do so to save a few bucks. Our explainer guide on how to get or switch to one of these bundles is a useful tool for how to decide what to pick.

How Much Should You Gift?

Call of Duty will no longer release multiple Black Ops or Modern Warfare games back-to-back, after two Modern Warfare releases in 2022 and 2023, and two Black Ops releases in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and negative feedback and concerning sales reports for the most recent release, Black Ops 7.

This news was delivered from "the Call of Duty team" (encompassing studios Treyarch, Sledgehammer, Infinity Ward, and Raven Software) on the official website, in a post that acknowledged the criticism of Black Ops 7 as well as broader criticism of the franchise in recent years. As the post opens:

First off, thank you for all for the feedback we have received over the last few months. Call of Duty has enjoyed long-standing success because of all of you, a passionate community that demands excellence and deserves nothing less. We also know that for some of you, the Franchise has not met your expectations fully. To be very clear, we know what you expect and rest assured we will deliver, and overdeliver, on those expectations as we move forward.

The post goes on to state a number of changes the Call of Duty studios will be making going forward. For starters, they're opening up Black Ops 7's multiplayer zombies mode for a free trial and Double XP weekend next week, in an effort to get those who have hesitated on Black Ops 7 to "experience the game firsthand and decide for yourselves." They also are committing to "unprecedented season support," saying that they "won't rest until Black Ops 7 earns its place as one of the best Black Ops games we’ve ever made."

Then, the team had this to say about future Call of Duty releases:

We will no longer do back-to-back releases of Modern Warfare or Black Ops games. The reasons are many, but the main one is to ensure we provide an absolutely unique experience each and every year.

We will drive innovation that is meaningful, not incremental. While we aren’t sharing those plans today, we look forward to doing so when the time is right.

The note concludes by saying the team believes Call of Duty's "best days are ahead of us" and that the next era of Call of Duty will "deliver precisely on what you want along with some surprises that push the Franchise and the genre forward."

These changes come amidst, and likely in response to, a rough couple of years for the Call of Duty franchise. The most recent entry, Black Ops 7, debuted last month to middling reviews, including our own 6/10 campaign review, 6/10 Zombies review, and significantly better 8/10 multiplayer review. This is also in the context of both Black Ops 7 and Modern Warfare 3 receiving poor reviews in comparison to their immediate series predecessors the year before, with Black Ops 6 and Modern Warfare 2 being received generally favorably. This likely accounts, at least in part, for the decision to stop the back-to-back releases.

For Black Ops 7, that lukewarm reception has also been reflected in the game's sales numbers, especially in relation to another recent major multiplayer shooter release, Battlefield 6. The game had a "terrible" launch in Europe, down 63% versus Battlefield 6 and down by more than 50% versus last year's Black Ops 6 in the equivalent periods.

It is worth noting that we don't have full visibility into Black Ops 7's sales data, as it launched day one on Game Pass, and a number of people likely played the game through the subscription service and didn't count as unit sales.

But nonetheless, the announcement today feels like an admission that something has gone wrong here. Whether or not the Call of Duty team can fix it will take a few years to truly comprehend.

Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. Got a story tip? Send it to rvalentine@ign.com.

Book nooks are a great way to add some flair to your book collection and pad out some empty space on your shelf. The best part is that they're typically DIY kits made of parts similar to any other miniature model kit. These are the perfect time sink for a rainy day, with podcast or your favorite movie on in the background, or even for a date night. Looking online, there are seemingly endless options when to brands and styles, but I've gathered some of what I think are the very best. Below are my top picks by brand in terms of style, design, and cost. Each one of these would make for an excellent gift for the readers in your life.

LEGO Book Nooks

The LEGO book nooks were all released in 2025, and thet have been extremely popular so far. I got the Lord of the Rings: Balrog set, and both the Harry Potter Hogwarts Express and Sherlock Holmes book nooks are excellent LEGO gifts for adults this year. Not only do they function well as a typical book nook, but ech one unfolds into classic scene from their respective properties; you have Gandalf facing off against the Balrog in the iconic "you shall not pass" scene, a recreation of Baker Street where Sherlock calls home, and King's Cross Station and Platform 9 3/4 where Harry and Ron are boarding the train back to Hogwarts. These range in cost from $100 up to $130.

Alongside the three book nooks LEGO has released, there's also a LEGO Wicked bookends set that was incredible to build. I'd recommend that if you have a floating shelf rather than a bookcase.

Funpola Book Nooks

Funpola book nooks stand out from the rest in that they offer a lot more modern and sci-fi themed nooks than others. The Endless Dimensions kit is a cool neon Cyberpunk-like aesthetic, and the Automobile Shop is a nice addition. The New World kit is my favorite of the bunch; it has all kinds of nautical decor, treasure, dead pirates drinking rum. What's not to like? Funpola does still have the more fantasy-leaning kits, too, if none of these catch your eye. These will set you back $50.

CCCDF Book Nooks

The CCCDF brand book nooks pay homage to some of literature's best works. The Alice Down the Rabbit Hole kit shows off the whimsical setting you'd expect from Lewis Carroll's timeless tale, and the Phantom of the Opera kit is a neat recreation of the novel as well. CCCDF also offers oversized book nooks, like the Beyond Library Max, if you're looking to fill more space or just prefer them like this. They cost a bit more than the regular kits, coming in around $60.

Cutebee Book Nooks

Cutebee book nooks offer a more storybook style, which I like. The Amazing Toys Store kit gives Pleasure Island vibes from Pinocchio, while the Darkness Common Room is surely inspired by the Slytherin common room from Harry Potter. The Rose Detective Agency would look great on the shelf next to any edition of Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes books. These all hover around $40, so you won't break the bank too hard if you go the Cutebee route.

Rolife Book Nooks

Rolife book nooks are a bit more minimalist than the others. The Sakura Densya is a quaint replica of a Japanese train station, and the Sunshine Town reminds me of something you'd see in a Nicholas Sparks novel. They also seem to be a bit narrower than the rest, so you should have no problem fitting these into your bookshelf. The size might also contribute to their $40 price tag.

Where to Buy Book Nooks Online

While Amazon is clearly the best bet to find these book nooks, other retailers offer them as well. Naturally, you can find the three LEGO book nooks directly on LEGO's website (and even earn points towards rewards this way), and Walmart and Target have a handful for sale. But other than Amazon, the best place to buy book nooks online is Book Nook World, a fitting title. This site carries all the other brands mentioned here and then some, so if you're looking for a themed nook not listed here, this is where I'd suggest you go.

Myles Obenza is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Bluesky @mylesobenza.bsky.social.

Best Buyis offering a gaming monitor with some great specs for well under $100. Right now you can pick up a 27" AOC 27G50F 1080p gaming monitor for only $79.99 after a $60 instant discount. Shipping is free. This monitor is a perfect complement to budget PCs or laptops equipped with onboard graphics or a less powerful discrete graphics card.

27" AOC 1080p 144Hz Gaming Monitor for $79.99

Recently, IGN sat down with Chris Barnardo, Co-Founder and Director at The Wand Company. Having co-founded the company, Barnardo is involved in each new product release. He is responsible for the mechanical design and packaging, graphical design, copywriting, and all promotional material. Some of The Wand Company's most popular releases include the Fallout Pip-Boy 3000 Mk V, Star Trek Original Series Tricorder, and Pokémon Poké Ball.

What first attracted you to the idea of creating a die-cast replica of the Fusion Flea specifically?

When I was a child I loved making kits of cars, when I was old enough to own a car I spent every weekend under the hood working on my car. I love the cars in Fallout, they are so strange and yet exciting to look at. I have a dream that one day I will scratch-build a drivable life-sized Fusion Flea, so what better way to start than by making some 1:18 scale versions. I imagined what the Fallout universe would have been like before the bombs dropped and in my mind’s eye I could see all these awesome
cars scooting around. I felt that by making a range of Fusion Fleas I would be bringing the pre-war Fallout world a little closer to reality. The design is so natty and the brand building in Fallout is so awesome that it gives so much potential for a lovely range of this cute little car.

At The Wand Company, you’ve worked on a wide range of licensed proplica products. How did the Flea project differ from previous collaborations in scope or creative approach?

Most of our projects are very complex and involve a great deal of electronics development, but what I like about the Fusion Fleas is that, from an electronics point of view, they are very simple and that means that I can focus on the creative development. In a way, the Fleas are a very distilled version of an idea of how to bring in-universe concepts to life. I love the way that fans collect and treasure the Fleas and I especially enjoy designing the merchandising materials. When designing the look of the Fleas and their features, I work very closely with a great product designer called Matt Bagshaw. In addition, James Barnardo, my grown up son, is a graphic designer and he not only developed the packaging concepts, but came up with the idea that in the Fallout universe the Fleas would have been given as an employee incentive reward for the Chryslus factory workers.

When did the concept of the Desert Sandtrack Flea variant begin? And what was the spark for choosing this particular vehicle/variant?

The Desert Sandtrack Flea was designed as one of a set of three released in 2025 that further extended the concept of the original Flea design. We had previously designed a military scout Flea, which was a painted version of the basic design. For the Desert Sandtrack Flea, we wanted to push the design a lot further and take the idea of the scout Fleas into the farthest corners of the battle front. In my mind, this might have been an experimental vehicle that Chryslus created for a need that never developed, or may have seen active service. The beauty of the Fallout universe is that there are so many possibilities of events and products within the scope of the universe that we are yet to learn about. The neat thing about the design is that it takes the standard Flea body and evolves it with chunky tires up front and a caterpillar track at the back, and then chops the canopy off to make a low windshield. It looks great and is a perfect evolution of the basic design.

The fandom around Fallout is very passionate about authenticity and lore accuracy. How did you achieve the model’s fidelity?

To create the original Flea we studied the Fallout team’s original sketches. They are so detailed. Although there was no suitable reference for the engines and running gear, we designed the engine and the simple suspension to fit the look and feel of the Fallout equipment from other machines where the workings are more obvious.

Walk us through the design process: from concept sketch to prototype to final production. What were key milestones or turning points?

It differs from Flea to Flea. For the Desert Sandtrack Flea the concept started with a Fallout in-universe magazine, Hot Rodder. This got us thinking about what would happen if the basic form of the Flea was evolved to make it suitable not just for suburban roads, but other harsher environments. The wonderful thing about the Flea project is that we get to let our imagination run freely, provided we follow some important in-universe rules. After the initial sketches are done, we do a very detailed 3D model of what we want. We submit the model to Bethesda, and if they approve it, we pass that to the factory. The way we work with the die-cast metal cars is different to our other projects. For all our other projects we do the 3D CAD right up to the point where the factory works on it to make the tooling CAD, but for the Fleas we send them the designer CAD and they design the actual manufacturing geometry. Once the CAD has been approved, I can then use that to design the merchandising box and the manual. I love drawing the manuals and designing the packaging, it’s a really fun part of the project; I get to imagine if the little car was real and imagine what the fan will feel when they look at the box for the first time. It’s so amazing when the first “golden sample” arrives for my approval and I see the real product for the first time… I guess this is my own personal unboxing experience. The next major milestone is the delivery to our retailers. Finally, we have the joy of hearing back from fans that have bought one to add to their collection. I think that this last step is not only the most important, but also the most rewarding part for me.

Were there any technical or design challenges unique to this particular variant?

There were two main challenges. Changing the batteries from three button cells to a single AAA and painting that wonderful camo pattern all over the bodywork. The LEDs that are used to illuminate the engine bay with that blue radiation glow need just over 5V. In previous designs, this voltage was supplied by three button cells in series, which conveniently provide more than enough voltage to drive a blue LED. The circuit is simple and only requires a single resistor and a switch to make it work. However, button cells are very dangerous if swallowed and although the Flea is not a toy, there are increasingly strict rules about how button and coin cell batteries can be packaged. As a result, for this new Flea design we decided to move to a single AAA battery. As this only produces 1.5V, some clever electronics were required to boost the voltage to make it high enough to power the LED. The camo pattern was another great challenge. Each different colour has to be applied to the bodywork multiple times to make sure that the pattern covers the surface and all fits together. It was a challenge, but the end result is stunning and totally worth it.

Tell us about the packaging and included materials. How does it tell a story for collectors?

The packaging is a fun part of the project for me. Growing up, I wanted to be a graphic illustrator. I love drawing the manuals and rendering the Fleas in different positions for the packaging and thinking up the box colour scheme to make them as collectible as possible with the other Fleas that we have created. Building the look is a lot like putting a jigsaw together, but it is a jigsaw that you are not only doing, but designing the pieces as you go along. It is as much a challenge as it is fun to do. And then of course at the end all the ideas come together and you see the finished printed parts, it is very rewarding.

What have you personally learned from working on this project that you’ll carry into future ones?

That people love these little cars and I should be making a lot more of them.

Are there any wish-list items from the Fallout universe you personally hope to tackle in the future?

Oh… there is so much to do and so little time to do it! I would love to make more cars… a Station Wagon, a Rocket 69… I have 3D designs for both of them. There are simply too many gorgeous things that need making in this wonderfully rich fantasy world of Fallout.

How do you factor in rarity when designing limited-edition items? Some Fusion Fleas have sold for thousands of dollars secondhand. Does this influence your design process?

In a word, yes. But rarity is a funny thing. There are millions of fans out there, so rarity is relative and based on how many people are actually collecting something. We have to make a minimum number of any given Flea style in order to cover the costs of tooling and doing the work to design them in the first place. At less than about 1,000 units, the project doesn't make sense for our company financially. In some cases, where we have made just a handful of Fleas for a special occasion, these are then very rare and have changed hands for many thousands of dollars. However, all the Fleas have become rare to some extent and sell in the secondhand market often for more than they cost to buy in the first place. I would like to see the demand increase, but I will always make sure that these lovely pieces are kept in high demand by only making one manufacturing run of each design, so that the rarity that fans want is there, while still given those that want to build their collections a chance at getting the ones that they want.

About IGN Store

IGN Store sells high-quality merch, collectibles, and shirts for everything you're into. It's a shop built with fans in mind: for all the geek culture and fandom you love most. Whether you're into comics, movies, anime, games, retro gaming or just want some cute plushies (who doesn't?), this store is for you!

Tired of predictable presents? Let's liven things up with some classic Nintendo merch. Whether you're on the hunt for the perfect gift for a gamer or just want to add some excitement to your own life, we've got you covered. From a new system equipped to play N64 games on 4K TVs to some of our favorite Nintendo Switch games, we've handpicked the best of the best for 2025. The IGN Deals team was excited to collaborate with some of our NVC folks (shout out to all the Ninfriendos) this week to get their own personal recommendations here, so let's take a look at the latest and greatest gifts for that Nintendo fanatic in your life, in no particular order (except for #1).

TL;DR - Best Nintendo Gift Ideas

1. Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle

Picked by: IGN Deals Team

To nobody's surprise, we have to recommend the Switch 2, especially the Mario Kart World bundle. We gave Mario Kart World an 8 out of 10 in our review, with Logan Plant saying, “Mario Kart World may not make the most convincing case that going open-world was the boost the series needed, but excellent multiplayer racing, incredible polish, and the thrilling new Knockout Tour mode still more than live up to its legacy.”

The Nintendo Switch 2 has been flying off shelves despite a lack of Black Friday deals, and then even more so after retailers finally dropped the price by $50 off and on during Cyber Week. There are more Switch 2 bundles still available that include everything from microSD Express cards to other games. Although this list is technically unordered, this is the clear winner for the best Nintendo gift you can get this year.

Welcome back, fellow bargain hunter. From karting chaos to murderous Vikings, strategy disasters to horror that’ll haunt your sleep, this idle Wednesday's deals are here to remind you that self-control is optional and retail therapy is mandatory. Grab a seat, grab a wallet, and try not to cry when I make your “just browsing” excuse fail spectacularly.

Contents

• Retro
• Nintendo
• Xbox
• PlayStation
• PC
• PC Gear
• LEGO

This Day in Gaming 🎂

In retro news, it's somehow been 26 years since I prepared for my finest hour in Medal of Honor, a pivotal PS FPS that I still snap a salute to. After reinvigorating WWII in popular culture with Saving Private Ryan, Spielberg and DreamWorks Interactive used that beachhead to conceive, produce, and write a more kid gloves companion piece game. End result: they triggered a decades-long landslide of shooters themed on virtually every major battle undertaken by The Greatest Generation (not to mention the unintended creation of a rival Call of Duty franchise).

Personally, I adored the Nazi-blasting, disguise-wearing OSS saboteur antics of MoH. Few games of the era looked, felt, and sounded this cinematic. A true classic, and its original trailer still slaps.

Lenovo could show off a new approach to its rollable OLED screen tech early next year: giving a laptop the ability to go ultrawide, according to Windows Latest (via The Verge). The laptop, which the outlet refers to as the Legion Pro Rollable, would be the first from Lenovo with a horizontally-rolling display.

As The Verge notes, there's precious little detail in Windows Latest's post, so we don't know anything about the refresh rate, brightness, resolution, and so on – just that it's going to have a 21:9 aspect ratio, which is way wider than any of our favorite gaming laptops. The outlet also claims to have confirmed that the laptop will have an Intel Core Ultra processor, but that would hardly be a surprise. The post also guesses the screen will have at least a 120Hz refresh rate, given that the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable already does. Windows Latest also published what it says is an official promotional image for the laptop.

Lenovo has dropped the price on one of its best equipped gaming laptops for the holidays. The Legion Pro 5 Gen 10 gaming laptop, featuring an OLED display, Intel Core Ultra 9 CPU, and RTX 5070 Ti GPU, is down to $1,690.99 after coupon code "EXTRAFIVE". That's about $700 off in combined savings. The RTX 5070 Ti is a powerful mobile GPU that will easily run game you throw at it, even on the display's 1600p resolution.

Lenovo Legion 5 Pro Gen 10 RTX 5070 Ti Laptop for $1,691

Apple's previous flagship Apple Watch Ultra 2 smartwatch just dropped in price today. Amazon currently has select models for just $549 after a hefty $250 instant discount (retail price is $799). This is actually $50 cheaper than the best deal I saw during Black Friday, making it the lowest price of the year. The Watch Ultra 2 is the best watch in the lineup for anyone who enjoys the outdoors, thanks to its increased durability, more precise GPS, and activity specific features and apps.

Apple Watch Ultra 2 Smartwatch for $549 (was $799)

To say Call of Duty is an important piece of video game history would be an understatement. It’s hard to think of first-person shooters (or action games in general) without mentioning this series, which has become one of the most successful franchises ever after revolutionizing single-player campaigns and online battles.

For decades, CoD has dominated the multiplayer scene. Apart from creating iconic characters like Captain Price and Alex Mason, the series has also introduced unexpected figures to their ranks, like Spawn, Snoop Dogg, and Lionel Messi. With Black Ops 7 on the horizon, you might want to look back on over 20 years of Call of Duty history.

With entries exploring conflicts from both our past and our possible future, here's every Call of Duty game in chronological order.

Jump to:

• How to play in chronological order
• How to play by release date

How Many Call of Duty Games Are There?

Due to quite a few subseries, a reboot, and the many studios that have worked or are working on the series, it can be a bit troublesome to determine how many Call of Duty games have been released.

If we consider only the main entries with single-player campaigns, including all the World War II titles, the Modern Warfare subseries (plus its reboot), and the Black Ops subseries, there are 20 video games in the Call of Duty franchise

That said, things get complicated when you add all the expansions, online experiences, mobile games, and spin-offs. For example, Call of Duty: United Offensive is an expansion for the first game, while Call of Duty: Finest Hour and Call of Duty 2: Big Red One are side stories of the first two entries.

Spin-offs include strategy game Call of Duty: Siege, launched in 2016 based on Infinite Warfare’s universe; Call of Duty: Heroes, released in 2014; and the mobile version of Call of Duty: Black Ops. In fact, many main entries have significantly different editions for mobile/handheld when compared to the major console releases. Examples of this are PS Vita’s Call of Duty: Black Ops: Declassified and Nintendo DS’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance.

Then there’s the Chinese free-to-play Call of Duty Online, released in 2015 and shut down in 2021. 2019’s Call of Duty Mobile took its place and is still running today.

The unique Zombies modes have become a staple of the series since their first inclusion in 2008’s World at War, and they have appeared in multiple entries since.

Finally, the franchise entered the battle royale and live service genres with Warzone, launched in 2020, which became a huge success. Two years later, it was replaced by Warzone 2.0, a complete overhaul of the game’s map and experience. Warzone Mobile brought the battle royale experience to iOS and Android devices in early 2024.

To avoid confusion, it’s worth mentioning that the reboot of the Modern Warfare series will be numbered with Roman numbers. Also, Black Ops 4 is not added to the list below for its lack of campaign (it’s a multiplayer-only experience).

Which Call of Duty Game Should You Play First?

For the sake of simplicity and accessibility, we recommend 2019's Modern Warfare reboot as a solid starting point for Call of Duty campaigns. Starting here creates a straightforward path through the rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy, as all three games are available on modern Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as well as PC. Plus, unlike the Black Ops subseries, each game was released within the last five years, meaning none should feel too dated.

Call of Duty Games in Chronological Order

Beware of minor spoilers for the stories, characters, and relevant events of each game in the list below.

1. Call of Duty (2003)

The franchise's first game was developed by Infinity Ward and published in 2003. This is the first of many entries in the series focused on World War II, following the steps of other household names like Medal of Honor.

In the first Call of Duty, you play three different campaigns as different soldiers from three countries: the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union.

The North American soldier, Private Martin, starts his training in 1942 and participates in the invasion of Normandy in 1944, while the British Sergeant Evans fights in Operation Tonga that same year. Evans will later be helped by Captain Price, a recurrent name in the franchise. On the other hand, the Soviet Alexei Ivanovich Voronin’s campaign takes place in the Battle of Stalingrad.

2. Call of Duty 2 (2005)

The sequel of the original title repeats the settings and nations but with some different perspectives. Instead of three campaigns, you experience four: one from the perspective of a North American soldier, one from the Soviet Union, and two from Britain.

As Private Vasili Koslov, you have to defend Moscow from Nazi German soldiers, while North American Bill Taylor joins the army that assaults La Pointe du Hoc during the infamous D-Day. The British soldiers, Sergeant John Davis and David Welsh, participated in the conflict in North Africa. Davis is led by Captain Price.

3. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)

A few years after Call of Duty 3, the team at Treyarch came back and delivered their last entry based on the conflict the series has been breathing off since its beginnings. This time, however, the campaign was only divided into North American and Soviet forces.

You follow American Marine Private C. Miller during the Makin Island raid in 1942, and later in the Battle of Peleliu, in which American forces confronted the Japanese army. The Soviet section takes place in the Battle of Stalingrad, but this time on the Eastern Front as Private Dimitri Petrenko.

4. Call of Duty 3 (2005)

The first main game in the series not developed by Infinity Ward, Call of Duty 3 was Treyarch’s first attempt at recreating World War II events.

Taking place in 1944, armies from Britain, Poland, the United States, Canada, and France fight against Germany's Nazi forces in the village of Chambois, France, during the Battle of Normandy.

This is the only main entry you cannot play on PC.

5. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)

Almost a decade and a half after the first game, studio Sledgehammer Games returned the franchise to World War II. This was the first time in the main series there was only one protagonist in the campaign: Ronald “Red” Daniels, accompanied by his loyal squad. As Red, you fight Nazi German forces across the European theater, from Normandy to Germany.

While WWII has some brief flashback sequences in 1940, which would set it as the first game in the series chronologically, the core of the title takes place in 1944.

6. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)

In the latest entry set in World War II, developer Sledgehammer Games tried once again to bring Call of Duty to its roots and explore this historical event from a different perspective.

Contrary to 2017’s WWII, you are presented with multiple characters on different fronts. The main objective is to learn more about Phoenix, a secret Nazi project that could change the tide of the war in favor of Nazi Germany.

Vanguard also has flashback sequences for different protagonists starting in 1941, but the majority of the campaign is set in 1945, near the end of the war.

7. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Developer Treyarch changed eras with Black Ops. Going from 1961 to 1968, you’ll experience the events of the Cold War and part of the Vietnam War for the first time in the series.

The main protagonist, Alex Mason, works with the CIA and is tasked to remember events that would help find Soviet sleeper agents. These agents are around the United States, and they plan to release a dangerous chemical weapon called Nova 6.

8. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Developed by Treyarch and Raven Software, Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War helps connect the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2. While the main protagonist this time is nicknamed “Bell,” you get to choose your name, gender, and other details like dialogue lines.

Set in 1981, you team up with characters from previous games, including Alex Mason, Frank Woods, and Jason Hudson. Under CIA’s Russell Adler, your elite team is supposed to catch a Soviet figure that goes by “Perseus” who is planning to attack the United States.

9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

The sequel to the original Black Ops presents two timelines. On the first one, you follow Alex Mason’s footsteps several years after he and his team successfully stopped Nova 6. It’s 1986, and Jason Hudson asks Mason to aid with the search for Frank Woods, who disappeared in Cuando Cubango, Angola.

The second timeline is centered around David Mason, Alex’s son, who’s looking for Raul Menendez in 2025. Menendez is the leader of Cordis Die, a terrorist organization that provoked the Second Cold War.

10. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 takes place in the early 1990s, beginning in 1991, after the events of Black Ops 2's late-80s storyline. The story is centered around the Gulf War, wherein Frank Woods and his team of rogue agents are hunted by a shadowy group that's infiltrated the CIA.

Historical figures represented in the game include former U.S. president Bill Clinton and former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

11. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)

The last entry to have a number after “Call of Duty,” Modern Warfare is the first time the series abandoned its classic Allies vs Axis conflict for something more recent.

In 2011, Yasir Al-Fulani, the president of a fictional Middle Eastern country, was executed by Khaled Al-Asad, the leader of a revolutionary party. Meanwhile, Russia is going through a civil war provoked by Imran Zakhaev, an arms dealer.

A squad commanded by Captain Price and formed by protagonist John “Soap” MacTavish have to stop an international crisis.

12. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

Set five years after the events of the previous game, Modern Warfare 2 tells the story of Vladimir Makarov, an Ultranationalist who continues the work of Imran Zakhaev. It turns out this extremist party gained control of Russia, so Makarov gained the power to start committing terrorist acts against the United States.

Well-known faces like the Captain Soap and Captain Price join forces with Sergeant Gary "Roach" Sanderson, Lieutenant Simon "Ghost" Riley, “Nikolai”, and other agents to stop Makarov’s secret plan.

13. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)

The end of the first Modern Warfare trilogy brings the pursuit of terrorist Vladimir Makarov to its climax. Captain Price’s team re-arranges itself with Yuri, an ex-Spetsnaz known by Nikolai. Captain John "Soap" MacTavish is also present for the final mission.

Makarov captures Boris Vorshevsky, the president of Russia, who was going to establish peace with the United States. After threatening the president’s daughter, Makarov acquired nuclear launch codes, becoming an international danger once again.

14. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

In 2019, Infinity Ward rebooted the successful Modern Warfare series by reusing some classic characters in a new timeline. Well-known faces like Captain Price are present in a new conflict with Russia.

Set in the same year it was released, a fictional republic called Urzikstan is invaded by a Russian army. While this attack is going on, a terrorist organization called Al-Qatala, also from Urzikstan, begins with operations against different countries in the world. Captain Price, alongside his Task Force 141 and the Urzikstan Liberation Force, try to de-escalate the conflict.

15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

Taking place in 2022, Modern Warfare II follows the story of the MW reboot, featuring returning characters from Task Force 141 and the Urzikstan Liberation Force leader Farah Karim.

Al-Qatala is still a threat, but all eyes are on Quds Force, an Iranian revolutionary group commanded by Hassan Zyani. Zyani is supported by Al-Qatala and a Mexican cartel from the fictional city of Las Almas, and he plans terrorist acts against the United States after the assassination of General Ghorbrani, an Iranian forces leader.

16. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)

Picking up after the events of 2022's Modern Warfare II, MWIII once again stars Task Force 141, including recurring characters John Price, Simon "Ghost" Riley, Kyle "Gaz" Garrick, and John "Soap" MacTavish. Ultranationalist terrorist Vladimir Makarov, the villain from 2011's Modern Warfare 3, once again serves as the antagonist.

17. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)

A standalone entry with few connections to previous titles, Call of Duty Ghosts was developed by Infinity Ward in 2013. As its name indicates, it focused on the special operation group called Ghosts, a U.S. team tasked with secret missions.

It’s 2027, and after a decade of conflicts in the Middle East and an oil crisis, a South American force called the Federation of the Americas initiated a war against the United States. Working with your new team, you have to stop Gabriel T. Rorke, the former leader of Ghosts.

18. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025)

While positioned toward the end of this list, the Black Ops 7 campaign most directly follows the events of Black Ops 6, which split across the Gulf War and modern day. And all of Black Ops, to be honest. BO7 brings back David Mason, the JCOC, and Mason's classic arch-nemesis. The game is set in 2035, over 40 years after Black Ops 6, and also brings back co-op campaigns. Seth Macy was particularly impressed with this iteration's multiplayer, which features gunplay he claims "works exactly how I want it to."

19. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)

Advanced Warfare was the first entry to take place several decades beyond its release date. It was also the first game developed primarily by Sledgehammer Games.

Set in 2054, you control Jack Mitchell, a member of the United States Marine Corps who later fights in the private military corporation known as Atlas after suffering an accident. On this occasion, the enemy forces are a Chechenian separatist group called KVA led by Joseph "Hades" Chkheidze.

It was one of the first entries to feature futuristic changes in gameplay due to its setting, like the fact that soldiers now wear exoskeletons, which bring them unique abilities.

19. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)

The end of the initial Black Ops trilogy was also set in the future. More specifically, in the year 2065, when a Third Cold War between the Common Defense Pact and the Winslow Accord is happening. Robotic drones, cyborg supersoldiers, unpiloted air forces, and other technological advancements take center stage.

A black ops team composed of you (simply referred to as “The Player”), Jacob Hendricks, and your cybernetics division will be tasked with preventing the conflict from reaching a more dangerous state. You investigate a strange event in Singapore and look out for the 54 Immortals, a crime organization.

20. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)

No Call of Duty game went further into the future than Infinite Warfare. Around the 2080s, the United Nations Space Alliance was created after humans had spent all the natural resources available on Earth. Beginning the colonization and exploitation of resources on other planets, this alliance is defended by the Solar Associated Treaty Organization, a military force that battles the totalitarian regime Settlement Defense Front from Mars.

How to Play the Call of Duty Games By Release Date

1. Call of Duty (2003)
2. Call of Duty 2 (2005)
3. Call of Duty 3 (2006)
4. Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare (2007)
5. Call of Duty: World at War (2008)
6. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
7. Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
9. Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)
10. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013)
11. Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare (2014)
12. Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 (2015)
13. Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare (2016)
14. Call of Duty: WWII (2017)
15. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
16. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)
17. Call of Duty: Vanguard (2021)
18. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
19. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
20. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2024)
21. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 (2025)

What’s Next for Call of Duty?

It's been a nice couple of months for shooters. Aside from Black Ops 7, we've seen the massive launch of Battlefield 6, stoking a potential battle between the two franchises this fall. What's next for the Call of Duty franchise? Well, only time will tell, but there's gotta be something in the pipeline.

Outside of games, Activision recently struck a deal with Paramount to produce a live-action Call of Duty movie. David Ellison, Chairman and CEO of Paramount, has said he’s a big Call of Duty fan who’s put “countless” hours into the franchise. Little is known about the direction the movie will take, but Ellison did refer to Paramount's recent success with Top Gun: Maverick as a "guiding star."

Axel Bosso is a contributing freelancer for IGN, covering everything related to video games (he's behind some of the Wikis you might have used over the years)!