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Play the Modern Warfare reboot campaigns in release and story-continuity order: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), then Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022), then Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023). The 2019 game establishes this re-imagined continuity, Modern Warfare II continues it indirectly, and Modern Warfare III follows Modern Warfare II directly.
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022)
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
Use the years whenever you search for or buy a game. They distinguish this reboot from the similarly named Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and Modern Warfare 3 (2011).
The correct campaign order
| Order | Full title | Continuity role | What to know before starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) | Beginning of the reboot continuity; a re-imagining with a single-player Campaign | Introduces the reboot versions of the characters and the story framework used by the sequels |
| 2 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) | Indirect continuation of the 2019 story | Set three years after Task Force 141’s original formation |
| 3 | Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) | Direct sequel to Modern Warfare II | Its story continues immediately after the events of the 2022 campaign |
Activision identifies the 2019 release as a re-imagining rather than a continuation of the earlier numbered trilogy. Blizzard’s launch guide describes Modern Warfare II as an indirect continuation, while Activision describes Modern Warfare III as the direct sequel. Those descriptions establish one clear campaign path rather than several equally valid orders.
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The 2019 Modern Warfare is the essential starting point. Activision presents it as a re-imagining of the property with a single-player Campaign, so it creates the reboot’s version of its setting, conflicts and characters instead of assuming that you have played the older games. The publisher’s introduction is available in Activision’s October 24, 2019 overview.
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- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
- MULTIPLAYER BUILT ON CONTROL — Engage in grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and refined mechanics give you greater control in every firefight.
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Why this game comes first
- It is the first release in the reboot continuity.
- It introduces the reboot versions of the characters who return in the later campaigns.
- Its Campaign supplies the narrative context that makes the 2022 game’s continuation understandable.
Do not substitute Modern Warfare 2 (2009) for this game. The similar title refers to a different continuity. When a store, library or search result leaves out the year, check the full title before launching the campaign.
Optional story content after the Campaign
The 2019 release also has cooperative Special Ops content. Activision says Special Ops continues the Campaign story through Operations. Those Operations are additional material, not a stated prerequisite for beginning Modern Warfare II; the official continuity descriptions establish the three Campaigns as the essential sequence. You can therefore finish the 2019 Campaign and move straight to the 2022 Campaign, or return to Special Ops afterward for extra context.
2. Play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II (2022) second
Modern Warfare II is the second campaign in the reboot. Blizzard and Call of Duty describe it as an indirect continuation of the 2019 story. Its campaign is set three years after Task Force 141’s original formation, a time jump that lets the team and the wider conflict develop without requiring an intervening game.
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What to carry over from the first game
- Expect the same reboot continuity, not the plot line from the 2009 game.
- Character names may be familiar from older Modern Warfare releases, but their reboot histories and relationships are defined by the 2019 game.
- The three-year setting gap is part of the story’s chronology. You do not need to place another Campaign between the two releases.
Do not insert multiplayer, Raids or other modes into the Campaign sequence
The order above refers to the single-player Campaigns. The available official descriptions do not provide a complete chronology for every Modern Warfare II Raid, Warzone event or other mode. Treat those as separate content unless you have a source that specifically establishes where an individual activity belongs. They are not needed to decide which Campaign to play next.
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- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
- MULTIPLAYER BUILT ON CONTROL — Engage in grounded, precise combat where fluid movement, player choice, and refined mechanics give you greater control in every firefight.
3. Finish with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023)
Modern Warfare III is the third and final entry in this three-game reboot Campaign sequence. Activision calls it the direct sequel to Modern Warfare II and says the story continues immediately after the 2022 game’s events. That immediate continuation is why it belongs directly after Modern Warfare II, rather than before it or after a mode from another release.
For the publisher’s launch details, see Call of Duty’s October 31, 2023 launch communications. The full game, including its Campaign, launched on November 10, 2023; eligible digital preorders received early Campaign access. Early access changes when some players could begin, not the story order.
Open Combat Missions do not change the order
The 2023 Campaign combines traditional cinematic missions with Open Combat Missions. Activision’s August 22, 2023 Campaign announcement identifies this design. Open Combat Missions affect how you approach an individual mission—such as choosing a route or using available equipment—but they do not create a branching trilogy chronology. Play the Campaign after completing Modern Warfare II, regardless of whether you approach an Open Combat Mission stealthily, aggressively or by exploring alternatives.
Why release order and story order match here
For these three reboot Campaigns, the release sequence is also the practical narrative sequence:
- The 2019 game establishes the re-imagined world and its characters.
- The 2022 game moves that continuity forward as an indirect continuation set three years after Task Force 141’s formation.
- The 2023 game directly follows the 2022 events.
There is no official indication in the supplied publisher descriptions that a different order reveals the story more coherently. Starting with the newest game would place you in the middle of an ongoing narrative; starting with the older numbered games would switch to another continuity.
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- Call of Duty: Modern Wafare II PS5
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II is the sequel to 2019’s blockbuster Modern Warfare.
- Featuring the return of the iconic, team leader Captain John Price, the fearless John "Soap" MacTavish, the seasoned Sergeant Kyle "Gaz” Garrick, and the lone wolf himself, fan favorite Simon “Ghost” Riley, players will witness what makes Task Force 141 the legendary squad it is today.
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How to avoid the similarly named original games
Search and store listings often shorten the names. Use this checklist before selecting a Campaign:
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- Confirm the Roman numeral: the reboot sequel is Modern Warfare II (2022), while Modern Warfare 2 (2009) is an older release.
- Confirm the third title: Modern Warfare III (2023) is the reboot’s third Campaign, while Modern Warfare 3 (2011) belongs to the older trilogy.
- Check that the product includes a single-player Campaign if that is the mode you intend to play.
- For a digital or physical listing, verify the platform, edition and region before purchasing. Current stock, pricing and platform-specific availability can change and are not established by the continuity information above.
A practical playthrough plan
Step 1: Confirm the first installation
Install or launch Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) and select its single-player Campaign. If the title screen or store listing shows 2009 instead of 2019, you have selected the older game and should return to the listing.
Step 2: Complete the 2019 Campaign
Finish the Campaign before moving to the sequel if you want the intended introduction to the reboot’s characters and conflicts. Special Ops Operations can be played as optional story material; they are not identified as a required bridge to the next Campaign.
Step 3: Move to Modern Warfare II (2022)
Choose the 2022 release, not the 2009 game. Play its Campaign as the second chapter. You do not need to insert a Warzone event, Raid or another mode to account for the three-year setting gap.
Step 4: Move directly to Modern Warfare III (2023)
After completing the 2022 Campaign, start the 2023 Campaign. Because Activision describes it as a direct sequel whose story continues immediately, this is the point at which the reboot’s Campaign chronology advances to the next chapter.
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- GLOBE‑SPANNING CAMPAIGN — Fight across the Korean Peninsula, New York, Paris, and Mumbai in a high‑stakes narrative where global conflict escalates and survival depends on tactical precision.
Step 5: Explore optional modes only after establishing the Campaign order
Once the three Campaigns are complete, return to Special Ops or investigate other modes if you want additional material. Keep those activities separate from the three-game order unless an official source supplies a precise placement for a particular mission or event.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common ordering mistakes
Starting with Modern Warfare II because it has a “II”
The 2022 game is second, not first. The 2019 release is the reboot’s opening chapter and establishes its continuity.
Using the 2009 or 2011 games as prequels
The older numbered releases have similar names but belong to a different continuity. They are not required prologues to the 2019–2023 reboot sequence.
Putting Special Ops before the sequel by default
Special Ops Operations continue the 2019 Campaign, but the available publisher descriptions do not state that every Operation must be completed before Modern Warfare II. Treat them as optional additional story content.
Assuming Open Combat Missions create multiple campaign orders
Open Combat Missions change mission approach in Modern Warfare III; they do not alter the fact that the game follows Modern Warfare II.
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Trying to place every Warzone event or Raid in this list
The three-entry order is a Campaign guide, not a complete chronology for every mode in the wider universe. A full cross-mode timeline would require separate, event-specific documentation.
Does the order change by platform, edition or access method?
No. Platform, edition and whether a copy is physical or digital can affect how you obtain or install a game, but they do not change the narrative sequence. Verify those purchase details individually because current availability and prices vary. The continuity remains 2019, then 2022, then 2023.
Digital preorder timing is the one launch-related distinction documented for this sequence: eligible digital preorders could access the Modern Warfare III Campaign early, while the full game launched on November 10, 2023. Early access was an availability window, not a different version of the story.
The short answer for returning players
If you played the older Modern Warfare trilogy, reset your expectations before beginning the reboot. Use the years to identify the correct releases, start with the 2019 re-imagining, continue with Modern Warfare II (2022), and finish with Modern Warfare III (2023). Add 2019 Special Ops only when you want optional continuation material, and keep Warzone, Raids and other modes outside this Campaign-only order unless a separate chronology places them precisely.
Quick Recap
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