Call of Duty Games in Order for PS4: Every Way to Play

Look, the PlayStation 4 is basically a Call of Duty machine at this point. If you look at the "Most Played" charts on the PlayStation Store even today, you’ll see the heavy hitters from this franchise still dominating the top spots. But if you’re trying to figure out the Call of Duty games in order for PS4, it gets messy fast. You aren't just looking at one long line. You’re looking at two separate timelines, a bunch of remasters, and the transition into the modern "launcher" era where everything is tucked inside one massive file.

It's a lot.

People usually want one of two things: they either want to know the release dates so they can see how the tech evolved, or they want the "canon" chronological order so the story actually makes sense. I’ve spent way too many hours prestige-grinding since the PS4 launched in 2013, so let's break down how these discs actually fit on your shelf.

The Release Order: Every COD on the PS4

The PS4 era started with a bit of a whimper, honestly. Call of Duty: Ghosts was the launch title back in 2013, and it felt like a game caught between two worlds. It had to run on the old PS3 hardware and the then-new PS4, so it didn't really scream "next gen." But from there, things got wild. We went from boots-on-the-ground to jetpacks, then back to WWII, then into the era of the "HQ" hub.

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If you’re hunting these down at a used game store, here is how they hit the shelves:

1. Call of Duty: Ghosts (2013) – The one with the dog. It’s the only game in its own timeline.
2. Advanced Warfare (2014) – Sledgehammer’s debut. This is where the "Exo-suit" movement started.
3. Black Ops III (2015) – Peak "jetpack" COD for many. Still has a massive Zombies following.
4. Infinite Warfare / Modern Warfare Remastered (2016) – This was a weird year. People hated the space setting of Infinite, but they bought the special edition just to get the 2007 Modern Warfare remake.
5. WWII (2017) – A return to roots. No double jumping. Just mud and M1 Garands.
6. Black Ops 4 (2018) – The controversial one. No campaign. Just multiplayer, Zombies, and the first battle royale, Blackout.
7. Modern Warfare (2019) – The reboot. This changed everything. It introduced the Warzone era and the new engine that makes the games look photorealistic.
8. Black Ops Cold War (2020) – A direct sequel to the original 2010 game, but released on PS4 and PS5.
9. Vanguard (2021) – Another Sledgehammer WWII title. It’s... okay.
10. Modern Warfare II (2022) – Not to be confused with the 2009 game. This is the sequel to the 2019 reboot.
11. Modern Warfare III (2023) – This basically started as an expansion for MWII but became a full release. It’s also the last "primary" PS4 CoD before the focus shifted entirely to current-gen.

Why the Order Actually Matters

You can't just jump into Modern Warfare III and expect to know who Makarov is or why Captain Price is so grumpy. Well, you can, but you'll miss the emotional weight. Most players don't realize that the Call of Duty games in order for PS4 are split into distinct narrative universes.

If you play Black Ops III then jump into Vanguard, you’ll be confused. They have nothing to do with each other. One is about cyborgs and brain-hacks in the future; the other is about a special forces team in 1945. Honestly, the best way to experience these is to pick a sub-series—either Modern Warfare or Black Ops—and stick with it until you finish that specific story arc.

The Rebooted Modern Warfare Timeline

This is the "prestige" TV of shooters. It feels gritty. It feels like a movie.

• Modern Warfare (2019)
• Modern Warfare II (2022)
• Modern Warfare III (2023)

The Black Ops/History Timeline

This one is for the fans of conspiracy theories and trippy visuals. Interestingly, Vanguard and WWII are loosely tied into this world now because of how Activision merged the lore for Warzone.

• Call of Duty: WWII (Sets the historical stage)
• Vanguard (The birth of Task Force One)
• Black Ops Cold War (The 1980s spy thriller)
• Black Ops III (The distant, weird future)

The Technical Reality of PS4 COD in 2026

We have to talk about the "Call of Duty HQ." It’s a mess. Basically, starting around 2022, Activision decided all these games should live inside one app. If you buy Modern Warfare III on PS4, you aren't just downloading a game; you're downloading a launcher that includes parts of Warzone and MWII.

It eats hard drive space.

Seriously. If you have a base 500GB PS4, you can maybe fit two of these games at a time. Maybe. Most of these titles require massive "Data Packs" that you have to download separately from the main menu. It’s frustrating. You put the disc in, wait four hours for a 60GB update, and then the game tells you that you’re still missing the "Multiplayer DLC Pack 1."

Don't Forget the Remasters

One of the biggest perks of the PS4 era was the remasters. If you want the "classic" feel without the clunky graphics of the PS3/Xbox 360 days, you have two stellar options.

First is Modern Warfare Remastered. It came out in 2016 and it is a 1-to-1 recreation of the 2007 masterpiece. The lighting is better, the sounds are beefier, and the multiplayer—while full of "snipers only" lobbies—is pure nostalgia.

Then there is Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered. Note the title. There is no multiplayer here. It’s just the story. But man, seeing "No Russian" or the Gulag rescue in 4K (on a PS4 Pro) is something else. It reminds you why these games became cultural icons in the first place.

Choosing the Right Starting Point

If you are new to the series and just picked up a cheap PS4, don't start with Ghosts. It’s a bit of an outlier and the multiplayer is mostly dead.

Instead, start with Modern Warfare (2019). It’s the benchmark for how a modern shooter should feel. The movement is crisp, the "Clean House" mission is one of the best campaign levels ever made, and you can still find matches in the multiplayer modes without waiting forever.

If you’re a fan of the "hero shooter" vibe, Black Ops III is your best bet. The colors are bright, the specialists have unique abilities, and the Zombies mode—specifically the "Zombies Chronicles" DLC—gives you access to almost every classic map from the older games. It’s the best value for your money if you care about the undead.

Summary of Actionable Insights

Sorting through the Call of Duty games in order for PS4 isn't just about chronology; it's about managing your expectations and your storage space.

• Check Your Storage: Before installing any COD from 2019 onwards, ensure you have at least 150GB of free space. These games are notorious for "update bloat."
• Focus on the Reboots: For the best narrative experience, play the Modern Warfare trilogy (2019-2023) in order. Skip the old PS3 versions; the new ones are standalone stories.
• Physical vs. Digital: Buy the discs if you can. You can often find Infinite Warfare or WWII for under $10 at local shops, whereas the PlayStation Store often keeps them at $59.99 unless there's a specific sale.
• The "Launcher" Fix: If you're hit with the "Call of Duty HQ" and can't find your game, go into "Library" > "Purchased" and look for the specific "Content Packs." You often have to manually trigger these downloads.

The PS4 might be aging, but for Call of Duty fans, it’s still a powerhouse. Whether you want the gritty realism of the recent reboots or the chaotic jetpack-fueled madness of the mid-2010s, the library is massive. Just pick a timeline, clear out your hard drive, and get to it.