The Longest Call of Duty Campaigns
As a passionate Call of Duty gamer and content creator, one of the most frequent questions I get asked is "which Call of Duty has the longest campaign?" After analyzing various data sources and playthrough estimates, there is a clear frontrunner when it comes to overall campaign duration.
Black Ops 4 Has the Longest Campaign
According to aggregated data from HowLongToBeat, the average main story completion time for Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is approximately 15 hours. This makes it the lengthiest campaign in the core series by a significant margin.
Most Call of Duty campaigns clock in around 6-10 hours typically. For comparison:
- Call of Duty: WWII – 7 hours
- Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare – 6 1⁄2 hours
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) – 7 hours
So what makes Black Ops 4‘s campaign so expansive compared to other entries? A key factor is the sheer amount of replayable missions and optional content. Between mission select, difficulty modifiers, collectibles, and more, there is plenty to experience beyond a single straightforward playthrough.
Other Lengthy Campaigns
While no game comes close to Black Ops 4‘s scope, the data shows a few other Call of Duty campaigns breach the 10+ hour mark for completion:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 – 9 hours
- Call of Duty: Ghosts – 10 hours
- Call of Duty 2 – 11 hours
- Call of Duty – 12 hours
The first two Call of Duty games stand out for their expansive campaign content during that WWII era. Open levels full of optional objectives, multiple pathways, and big setpieces helped set a new bar for FPS campaign design at the time.
Shorter Recent Campaigns
More recent Call of Duty installments have trended shorter in terms of playtime completion:
- Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War – 4 hours
- Call of Duty: Vanguard – 6 hours
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022) – 7 hours
Developer focus has shifted more heavily into multiplayer and online modes. As a result, campaign lengths have become more condensed. Modern Warfare 2 in particular received criticism from fans for having a abrupt, rushed ending.
However, some players argue quality should be judged over sheer quantity. These newer stories may be shorter, but feature improved presentation values, acting, and emotive moments.
The Complexity of Judging Campaigns
While playtime data provides helpful insight, no single metric can definitively state one Call of Duty campaign is better than another. Some qualitative factors to consider:
- Pacing – Does the storyline momentum keep players engaged?
- Character Depth – Are the characters memorable and well developed?
- Tone – Does the atmosphere suit the setting and storytelling?
- Innovation – Does the gameplay take the series in bold new directions?
With these criteria considered, fan-favorite campaigns like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare and Call of Duty: Black Ops stand out not just for length but for pushing the envelope in their era.
Ultimately every player will have personal preferences on favorite Call of Duty campaigns. But the data shows Black Ops 4 is undisputed in terms of providing the most total playtime content for campaign enthusiasts to enjoy. As the series continues well into its second decade, I look forward to whatever new stories or innovations lie ahead.
