What is the best Black Ops game? That’s the question on every Call of Duty player’s mind, and we’re here to answer that question. When it comes to CoD, the Black Ops series is one of the most beloved and popular in the franchise. With Black Ops 6 on the horizon, let’s look back at the last 16 years and rank every Treyarch-developed game from worst to best.
Here’s our list of the Black Ops games ranked from worst to best. We’ve included Call of Duty: World at War since it introduced characters that appear in the first Black Ops game.
Black Ops Series Ranked – Worst to Best
6. Black Ops 4 (2018)
Choosing the worst Black Ops game is like picking the least tasty donut—they’re all still good. But Black Ops 4 is the least memorable. The game tried to mix classic and futuristic elements, which didn’t quite work. Also, the decision to launch without a campaign hurt its reception.
Still, Black Ops 4 had some positives. The multiplayer was fun, and Blackout introduced Battle Royale to Call of Duty, setting the stage for Warzone. Although Blackout was clunky and not updated often, it was an enjoyable experience.
5. World at War (2008)
World at War is the starting point of the Black Ops series, even though it doesn’t have the Black Ops name. Set in World War II, it was a change from the modern setting of Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
The campaign is dark and gritty, switching between American and Soviet soldiers, giving a real sense of war’s chaos. World at War also introduced the Zombies mode, which became a Call of Duty staple. However, its multiplayer was less enjoyable due to map design and weapon balance issues.
4. Black Ops 3 (2015)
Black Ops 3 brought jetpacks and futuristic gameplay, but you’d be better off with Advanced Warfare for this style. BO3’s multiplayer was fun but too fast-paced. The maps were hit or miss, and the campaign was the weakest in the series, with a confusing story.
However, Black Ops 3 had a strong Zombies mode with unique maps and interesting mechanics, which kept it from being ranked lower.
3. Black Ops Cold War (2020)
Black Ops Cold War is a ‘mid’ modern Call of Duty title. The campaign had multiple endings based on player choices, making it worth replaying. The Zombies mode returned with a great storyline and solid gameplay, while the multiplayer had rewarding gunplay and classic maps.
The only issue was the strong skill-based matchmaking in multiplayer, making some matches feel like a chore. Despite that, Cold War is a standout entry in the series.
2. Black Ops (2010)
The first game with the Black Ops title, released in 2010, is nearly flawless. Its campaign was the best in the series at the time, with an unforgettable ending. Multiplayer introduced iconic maps like Nuketown and had a balanced, enjoyable weapon system.
Black Ops also had a brilliant Zombies mode with unique maps and a strong storyline, cementing its place as one of the best games in the series.
1. Best Black Ops Game – CoD Black Ops 2 (2012)
Black Ops 2 is the pinnacle of the Call of Duty franchise. Its campaign featured branching storylines with meaningful choices, engaging players deeply. The Zombies mode had memorable maps and great gameplay, while multiplayer was unmatched with its excellent map design, rewarding gunplay, and the beloved Pick 10 class system.
League Play set the standard for ranked play in Call of Duty, and no game has bettered it since. Black Ops 2 is a truly perfect Call of Duty game, unmatched in the 12 years since its release.
This is our ranking of the Black Ops series. For more Call of Duty content, stick around at RetroNoob.
