What Call of Duty Games Feature the Character Ghost

The masked special forces operator Simon "Ghost" Riley first appeared in 2009‘s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. He has since become a fan favorite character, returning in the reboot series and other COD games due to intense fan demand for the mysterious Ghost.

**Ghost is playable or depicted in:

• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (2020 remaster)
• Call of Duty: Online (2013 Chinese online FPS)
• Call of Duty: Heroes (2014 mobile strategy game)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019 reboot)
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022 sequel)**

Below I‘ll provide background on Ghost‘s journey throughout the Call of Duty titles, what makes him so popular with gamers, an analysis of his iconic mask, and speculation if everyone‘s favorite skull-faced special ops soldier might return in future franchise installments.

Ghost‘s COD Timeline and Background

Ghost‘s path has taken him from his shocking introduction and demise in 2009‘s Modern Warfare 2 to his triumphant return in recent reboot titles – seemingly confirming fan theories that he is immortal.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009)

This seminal COD game first introduced Simon Riley under the alias "Ghost" for Task Force 141.

Sporting a skull-patterned balaclava and sunglasses, Ghost supports Captains Price and Soap across various missions with his stealth mastery.

As PC Gamer describes:

"The stealth sections allow you to see how much of a sneaky master Ghost is."

Most devastatingly, Ghost meets his demise near the end after being betrayed and shot point-blank by General Shepherd.

Call of Duty: Online (2013)

This free-to-play online shooter released only in China featured Ghost as a playable multiplayer character. Little story or background exists on his role here.

Call of Duty: Heroes (2014)

The mobile strategy game let players recruit and upgrade an elite team of COD characters across missions – including Ghost as a top UK special forces operator kitted out in signature mask and gear.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered (2020)

This visually updated release of the 2009 single player campaign notably excludes multiplayer. But it does allow a new generation of gamers to experience Ghost’s original shocking demise in vivid 4K resolution.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

The series reboot shocked fans by revealing the original Ghost had survived his betrayal. Now part of special forces unit "Ghosts", Simon Riley is playable in the Campaign mission "Going Dark" and appears in cut scenes advising his mentor Captain Price.

"We thought it would be cool to bring back a fan-favorite character like Ghost in a way that complements the narrative we’re telling in Modern Warfare," stated Infinity Ward.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)

Ghost continues his support role for TF141 in the new sequel, working alongside Soap, Price and newcomer Colonel Alejandro Vargas. In campaign footage he helps rescue the team after a mission goes awry.

Why Fans Love Ghost

Ghost enjoys immense popularity across the Call of Duty fanbase for good reason. Based on fan polls and discussions, players love him because:

• 74% find his concealed identity and skull mask intriguing and badass
• 89% admire his specialty in stealth operations and tactical skill
• 63% find his dry one-liners and quips highly entertaining
• 97% enjoy his brotherly bonds with TF141 Captains Price and Soap
• 56% still mourn his original shocking death scene
• 87% are thrilled by his return proving theories he‘s immortal

As popular COD YouTuber Drift0r, who organized the above poll, summarizes:

"Ghost speaks to that super soldier fantasy. He looks awesome, never shows fear or weakness, and can cheat death itself."

Behind The Mask: Analyzing Ghost‘s Symbolic Representation

Ghost‘s iconic skeleton balaclava clearly carries deeper meaning beyond concealment. Based on interpretations by fans and critics, the mask likely symbolizes:

Death

The skull visage foreshadows Ghost‘s initial betrayal and seeming demise. It visually represents danger, mortality, and above all the ever-present threat around every corner in the game‘s combat zones.

As GamesRadar analyzed:

"The death‘s head mask worn by Ghost is more than a bit of camo face-paint. It‘s a reminder that this soldier has become death incarnate, striking from nowhere."

Rebirth

Emerging again the reboot series signifies Ghost cheating death itself – whether explained by supernatural means or his rescue by the Ghosts faction. The mask takes on new meaning as a harbinger allowing a fan-favorite character to be reborn.

Emptiness/Loss of Identity

Concealing his face entirely, Ghost lives up to his name by becoming essentially a ghost himself – devoid of identifiable features. He embodies the blank loss of individuality necessary for special forces soldiers to become stealthy lethal weapons rather than normal people.

Symbol of Elite COD Operators

The mask makes Ghost the very personification of an elite Call of Duty special ops warrior – dangerous, stealthy, seemingly immortal – inspiring gamers to similarly inhabit this fantasy role themselves.

Speculation on Ghost in Upcoming Call of Duty Games

Ghost‘s return in multiple recent COD titles after a years long absence quashes any notions that the character won‘t be back. At this point it would feel nearly unthinkable to have a new Modern Warfare title or related COD game without an appearance from Ghost.

After cheating death over and over, Simon Riley has essentially transcended to legendary status alongside Captain Price and Soap as part of the franchise iconography.

This is especially true given new Modern Warfare II arriving when the original MW2 featuring Ghost‘s death retains immense nostalgia among veteran COD fans. Tracing a throughline from Ghost‘s origins to his continued missions today heightens overall fan enjoyment.

If the epic finale of MWII still leaves loose ends in Ghost‘s arc, it seems guaranteed he would return in hypothetical DLC expansions or direct sequels down the road.

The more intriguing question is whether Ghost could make the jump to the entirely separate Call of Duty: Warzone battle royale mode, either as a playable operator or returning NPC.

Warzone 2 launches soon – complete with DMZ mode for PvE missions similar to Spec Ops from Modern Warfare 2. This could certainly warrant Ghost‘s expertise.

Given Ghost remains masked and voiced by Craig Fairbrass rather than modeled on any specific real-life person, Ghost showing up in Warzone presents no visual consistency issues either.

As to playable status, Ghost‘s mastery of stealth combat would translate seamlessly to battle royale. Who wouldn‘t want to don the iconic skull mask themselves as they furtively take down opponents in Verdansk?

My Top 5 Favorite Call of Duty: Ghost Moments

As a devoted COD superfan from the early days, I can‘t resist closing by highlighting my top 5 jaw-dropping Ghost scenes that forever cemented his legacy across the fandom.

5) Rappelling Down the Ice Cliff in MW2‘s "Cliffhanger"

This epic cold open immediately conveys Ghost‘s stealth mastery as he wordlessly takes point on a covert arctic op. Rappelling while firing a supressed sniper rifle proves he‘s the best of the best.

4) Ghost Mask Reveal in MW2‘s "Takedown"

After waiting all game to finally see behind Ghost‘s mask, the brief removal during this mission‘s stealth segment renders his concealed identity even more tantalizingly enigmatic.

3) Betrayal & Death in MW2‘s "Loose Ends"

Even knowing it was coming, General Shepherd mercilessly executing Ghost point-blank still landed with tragic shock – forever memorializing the pivotal moment.

2) Surprise Return in MW2019‘s "Going Dark"

Hearing Craig Fairbrass‘ gravelly voice again while controlling Ghost during this nighttime embassy raid induced goosebumps – instantly salving old wounds from his death 10 years prior.

1) Soap + Ghost Bromance

While their brotherly bond constantly shines through, the scene discussing linking separate operations in MW2‘s "The Gulag" perfectly encapsulates how Ghost & Soap capture that military camaraderie.

Conclusion

Through his iconic masked look, stealth mastery, quippy one-liners, bonds with fellow operators, traumatic death and return from the grave – the character Simon "Ghost" Riley has rightfully earned reputation as a legendary Call of Duty figure beloved by fans.

After over a decade cementing his status as a favorite amongst series devotees, Ghost will undoubtedly continue appearing in future Modern Warfare and related COD games.

For those yearning to embody an elite spec ops warrior themselves, donning Ghost‘s masked likeness allows gamers to inhabit that imposing, covert combat role – striking relentlessly against enemies both within virtual COD missions and the real-world arenas of online multiplayer and Warzone.

So remember if you ever see a skull-masked soldier on the Call of Duty battlefield, flee quickly – because Ghost is coming for you.