All Call of Duty Black Ops Games, Ranked

There are simply some covert operations that need to be kept on the down low. The extremely dangerous ones that you’re not even assured of coming out of alive, Suicide Squad-style. And only the best of the best, albeit often soldiers with smeared reputations and dubious pasts, can undertake them.  

This is the foundational basis on which the Call of Duty Black Ops sub-series is built. And as you might expect, boy, do the stories go beyond expectations. Stories that aren’t afraid to be horrific, wacky, and strange. And stretching between the historical past and apocalyptic future time periods. Amid all of this is the popular CoD Zombies mode. 

And so, the end result is a spin-off series that has provided players with tons of addictive and replayable content. Since 2010, Treyarch has released several games, all varying in quality. With the launch of the latest Call of Duty Black Ops 7, it’s time to yet again analyze how it fares in the larger list of all Call of Duty Black Ops games, ranked. 

12. Call of Duty Black Ops Mobile (2010)

In the spirit of being thorough, mobile gamers may be happy to know that Call of Duty: Black Ops does, indeed, have a standalone mobile version. “Standalone” because the game comes with its own different campaign, taking place exclusively in 1967 Vietnam. Using the 2D top-down shooter gameplay style, players quite enjoyed its execution, at least for the time of release, boasting impressive visuals and responsive controls.

11. Call of Duty Black Ops Zombies (2011)

Still, Activision went on to release a mobile port of the popular CoD Zombies mode. This time, the addition of the co-op and arcade modes resulted in decent fun with friends. However, technical issues reared their ugly heads, alongside the scarcity of maps.

10. Call of Duty Black Ops Declassified (2012)

Next up, we have Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, launched on the PlayStation Vita. While its story is an original standalone campaign for both solo and multiple players, it ultimately garnered quite a lot of complaints. Bugs, a short and cheap campaign, disappointing enemy AI, and more technical issues.

9. Call of Duty Black Ops Nintendo DS (2010)

The Nintendo DS version of Call of Duty: Black Ops, however, offers a fuller experience. Simply having up to six players in multiplayer, and gunplay feeling smooth, is enough to have a genuinely good time. This was a port done well, completely intact with all of the features of the console version. 

8. Call of Duty Black Ops IV (2018)

The list of all Call of Duty Black Ops games, ranked, then gets better with the first numbered entry, Call of Duty: Black Ops IV. Well, at least for daring to venture into the battle royale multiplayer space with the Blackout mode. This later got refined and polished to birth the fantastic Warzone of today. Still, getting rid of the single-player story mode is a decision that still doesn’t make sense today.

7. Call of Duty Black Ops VII (2025)

Probably a point of contention, the next game we’re ranking in seventh place is Call of Duty: Black Ops VII. Yup, the latest entry, whose campaign is the biggest letdown. It takes risks with its psychological horror and battle royale-like open-ended missions that don’t fully pay off emotionally. Multiplayer, though, lives up to its end of the bargain, with wall jumping enhancing movement and verticality, alongside versatile hi-tech weapons and gadgets.

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

Grittier, bloodier, and more violent is Call of Duty: World at War, the true, first prologue to Black Ops. Fighting hordes of Nazi zombies is the highlight of this one, coupled with satisfying multiplayer that benefits from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare’s solid gameplay.

5. Call of Duty Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Playing a CoD campaign once is often enough. But Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War‘s multiple endings inspired multiple playthroughs. To be the hero or villain is one of the morally conflicting choices you could make, and zombies and multiplayer remained fun joints to spend your time in.

4. Call of Duty Black Ops (2010)

Props to Call of Duty: Black Ops, the classic OG that started the stupid storytelling the series is known for. It doesn’t have to make sense, just chaotic and crazy. Moreover, it adds new features and mechanics, from character customizations to new maps and guns. 

3. Call of Duty Black Ops VI (2024)

Omnimovement can be a headache, but mastered and strategically used, it can be game-changing. That’s the innovation Call of Duty: Black Ops VI brought to the table that made players move faster and more fluidly. Meanwhile, the single-player campaign, zombies, and multiplayer packed lots of content, easter eggs, and new mechanics to exploit.

2. Call of Duty Black Ops III (2015)

Treyarch has often taken risks: some paying off, others not so much. For Call of Duty: Black Ops III, the risk with Specialists really pays off. Not to mention the wall running and jet packs that really put the rocket boosters on your tail. Unfortunately, the campaign wound up a mixed bag. The fast-forward in time to the year 2065 ended up telling a confusing, nonsensical story. It does have its moments, during the more open-ended sections when your versatile movement puts a rush on things.

1. Call of Duty Black Ops II (2012)

All Call of Duty Black Ops games, ranked, are ultimately topped off by Call of Duty: Black Ops II. It boasts the best campaign that the series has struggled to match ever since. Yet not only the campaign, but also the zombies and multiplayer modes all deliver snappy, responsive, and satisfying gameplay. It’s funny that the game is set in 2025 and tells an electric socio-political militarized drama.

Moreover, your decisions influence the story’s outcome, while gameplay incorporates multiple facets, from scorestreaks to engaging customization systems. Zombies, as well, added a bus that drastically uplifted exploration, among many more goodies.