There’s no doubt that when people think of Call of Duty as a franchise, the first thing that comes to mind is multiplayer. But for a large base of the players who enjoy themselves some good old fashion CoD, myself included, the endless list of great characters from each game’s campaign comes to mind in an instant. So today, we’re going to list what we think are the best Call of Duty characters of all time, across the franchise from the beginning to now. Let’s jump right into it!
Best Call of Duty Characters of All Time
When it comes to characters in Call of Duty, the best ones can come from all sides. You have some that sit at the center of the narrative, serving as the face of the game or series, or even a character that fans just cling to because of their true epicness. Each of the seven characters we’ve chosen served a great purpose in the games they were involved with and are part of the iconic moments we know and love.
Viktor Reznov — World at War/Black Ops
Thinking of the best characters of the franchise, one of the top contenders is none other than Viktor Reznov, a man who really needs no introduction. From being a major leader for Russia in the WWII-set World at War and returning as a co-prisoner turned brain intruder to Alex Mason in Black Ops, there really isn’t another character who’s had such a large significance to the franchise as he has.
Ghost — Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
A man of few words, Ghost is easily the face of the Call of Duty franchise, no matter the series. Though really only appearing in a singular game, his iconic ski mask can be recognized by CoD fans as easily as Batman or Spider-Man can be by comic fans. He’s just a sight to behold, and his inclusion in the reboot is highly anticipated.
Raul Menendez — Black Ops II
Our only real villain on the list, the leader of Cordis Die, Raul Menendez, really was a force to be reckoned with in Black Ops II. He also had a ton of depth, and actually a real reason for being the horrible, world domination-seeking enemy the good guys had to fight.
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Farah Karim — Modern Warfare (2019)
One thing that stood out about Modern Warfare (2019) was the victim of war turned freedom fighter, Farah Karim. Her love for her people and family is truly felt throughout that game’s campaign, and her heroism really makes watching her a gripping experience as she tries to kill the man responsible for the state of the world.
Frank Woods — Black Ops/Black Ops II/Black Ops Cold War
If there’s one man who’s been through it all, Woods is by far the most battle-hardened. Serving through the Vietnam and Cold Wars, he’s seen, and has even been a victim of some of the most horrific acts of war. He really is the action hero guy you’d see in the 70s and 80s, who makes the Black Ops series as enticing as it really is. A game without him in that series just feels wrong at this point.
Polina Petrova — Vanguard
A newer player to the game, Polina Petrova is yet another victim-turned hero that also makes the game she’s in truly feel cinematic. To see her go from a warm, loving daughter and sister to a cold, calculated Nazi killer is organic in how it’s approached. And it’s satisfying to watch as she hunts down the leader of the men responsible for her heartache.
Captain Price — Modern Warfare (2007)/Modern Warfare 2 (2009)/Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
Though the rebooted version of Modern Warfare has a fantastic Captain Price, the original is unmatched. Serving as the franchise’s white knight, there is absolutely nothing to dislike about this character, and everything to love. He’s charismatic and heroic, bringing the series’ villain Vladimir Makarov to justice even after being severely wounded.
That’s our list of the best Call of Duty characters of all time! Be sure to check out some of our other best-of lists to see what else there is to love about Call of Duty!
Published: Oct 5, 2022 02:21 pm