While it’s no longer the primary selling point of the franchise,Call of Dutyhas always strived to give every entry in their award-winning franchise memorable and beloved characters in their single-player campaigns. From violent and cold-hearted Russian foot soldiers, masked spec-ops operators and fully sentient AI super-soldiers have become icons of the franchise and sought-after playable characters in the online multiplayer.
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Some characters have gone so far as to transcend their respective games and earned the status of cultural icons themselves. From the missions that no one will admit ever happened to the world-changing events of a third world war, Call of Duty’s finest characters have earned their place in history and our hearts.
10Modern Warfare 3 - Sandman
With World War 3 spilling over into mainland Europe, Delta Force is leading the US’s charge against Russian Ultra-Nationalists. Sandman is the player’s squad lead for the US portion of the campaign, guiding counterattacks during the re-taking of New York City, and leading an attack on Paris that ended up destroying the Eiffel Tower to deny Russian assets the ability to regroup.
Last seen defending the evacuation of the Russian President, Sandman went down swinging with a Desert Eagle in each hand to ensure an end to the war. Saving the world in style is a common trope in fiction, and Sandman embodied it to the end.
9Modern Warfare 3 - Vladimir Makarov
A villain you love to hate. Having been involved in the entire original Modern Warfare trilogy, Makarov’s plans of Russian domination crashed and burned alongside him. Having become a direct enemy of Captain Price, cemented when he killed Soap during the initial downfall of his master plan, proved to be his undoing.
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Tracked down by Price and Yuri during his attempt to go into hiding, Makarov is broken, burnt, and beaten when he seemingly has Price dead to rights. With a last-minute save by Yuri, Price gives Makarov the sendoff he deserves, violently dropped from a hotel glass ceiling by helicopter cables. Charismatic and calculating, Makarov made his mark in gaming history as a top-level villain.
8Modern Warfare Series - Captain Price
Two different continuities, same awesome soldier. Captain Price is the heart and soul of the British SAS portion of any campaign, and his seasoned skills and personal network connections has made Price just as many friends as he has enemies.
From saving the world from a preemptive nuclear attack to sabotaging an Iranian missile attack in Chicago, Price has seen it all and takes in the madness with stride and grace. Always steady and reliable, Captain Price is the dad-friend players need when the world crumbles around them.
7Black Ops Series - Jason Hudson
One of the few people to make the CIA look cool. Jason Hudson was the player’s inside guy for resources and intelligence during the Black Ops era of the 1960s and 80s and stayed cool under pressure the entire time. Calm, collected, and dedicated to doing the right thing for his country and his peers, Hudson was a stone of support during some of the most dangerous points in the Black Ops timeline.
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A true friend to the end, Hudson tried to subvert Menendez’s manipulations and protect Mason’s son and Woods during the Panama incident. Choosing to die to keep Woods and David safe, Hudson died the death expected of a CIA field agent but ensured the right people would be alive to stop Menendez’s plans in the future.
6Black Ops - Viktor Reznoz
A broken war veteran that threw every player for a loop in 2010. Having been framed for the crimes of another and left to rot in a Russian gulag, Viktor Reznov saw a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in Alex Mason when he was sent to Vorkuta.
Sabotaging the brainwashing and giving Mason new orders, Reznov would appear regularly to Mason during the events of Black Ops, only for it to be revealed that Reznov died in the Vorkuta escape and has been a hallucination the entire time. The plot reveal was shocking for many first-time players and proved that Call of Duty could delve into deeper topics and richer forms of storytelling. From the beginning to the end, Reznov’s fiery heart burned for vengeance, and even in death, he ensured it was carried out.
5Infinite Warfare - E.3.N
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare faced an uphill battle, releasing a futuristic enhanced movement shooter right when the backlash to such games was reaching a fever pitch. Players can say what they will about the multiplayer, but the campaign delivered in droves, and E.3.N, Ethan for short, was a breakout highlight. A prototype artificial intelligence, Ethan provided much-needed relief and jokes during a human civil war against the fleets of Mars, ensuring those around him keep their spirits high.
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Showcasing his ability to love, fear, and dedicate himself like any human soldier, Ethan gave his life alongside his peers to end the Mars threat and protect Earth from invasion. He may be metal and wiring, but Ethan was just as lively as any flash and blood marine.
4Black Ops Series - Frank Woods
A hero of the Vietnam war and mentor figure to David Mason, Frank Woods has seen it all. Seemingly impossible to kill, Woods survived Vietnam, torture, gunshots, and explosions during his tours assisting the CIA in destroying existential threats.
Pushing triple-digit age during the events of Black Ops 2, Woods still has his wits and smarts about him, serving as an aid and mentor figure to David Mason after his father’s possible death. While his ultimate fate depends on the choices of the player during Black Ops 2, his gruff determinism and genuine friendship with Alex Mason has made Woods a favorite among many Call of Duty veterans.
3Modern Warfare 2 - Sergeant Foley
Sergeant Foley was born to be loved, and showed up at the perfect time. With the rise of the internet and birth of modern meme culture, Foley became a standout joke online with his repeated insistence on having the player character, Ramirez, seemingly do everything himself. From defending Burger Town and shooting down attack helicopters, to using anti-material sniper rifles and manning predator drones, Foley became a meme known for ordering players to do anything and everything.
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To make his popularity skyrocket even further was Foley’s vocal performance, delivered by the beloved and well-known Keith David. David had become popular in the games industry with his roles in Halo as the Arbiter and Captain Anderson in the Mass Effect franchise, which incidentally gave people more voice lines to attribute to Foley to further the in-joke. Even all these years later, when players discuss Modern Warfare 2’s campaign, the ever-beloved Foley’s orders are one of the first things to come up.
2Modern Warfare Series - Soap MacTavish
From player character to defined icon and beloved soldier, Soap has stepped into his own and become more than the sum of his parts. Rescuing Captain Price from an off-site gulag, stopping General Shepard’s silent coup, preventing the destruction of Verdansk, and saving DC from a missile strike has earned Soap a solid reputation in and out of the universe across two timelines.
His growing friendship with Ghost in 2022’sModern Warfare 2has further endured Soap to fans new and old as they banter during their time in Mexico. For Soap, there’s nowhere to go but upwards.
1Modern Warfare Series - Simon “Ghost” Riley
A mysterious squadmate that’s become the face of the franchise. With a bleak and checkered past and a desire to hide his face even among his closest friends and allies, Ghost quickly made waves as a recognizable and intriguing figure. With his reappearance in 2022’s Modern Warfare 2, Ghost ascended into a new realm of popularity, even being the actual face of the game’s cover art and marketing material.
His determined mentor-like dialogue with Soap and seasoned attitude made Ghost a standout, breakout character from the game’s campaign and the internet can’t get enough of him. With no sign of going anywhere anytime soon, Ghost looks set to ride his wave of public adoration for a long time to come.
