Call of Duty: World at War

Call of Duty: World at War brings the series back to World War II after the previous installment, Modern Warfare, moved the action to the present day, and focuses on two exceptionally brutal fronts of the conflict, the Pacific battlefield against Japan and the bloody Soviet campaign toward Berlin. The campaign is deliberately rawer and more violent than earlier series entries, openly depicting the cruelty of war on both sides of the front, pushing the game toward a harsher, darker, and less romanticized narrative tone than players were used to from previous installments.

In terms of gameplay, the game builds on the proven foundation of Modern Warfare, including regenerating health and intense scripted sequences, but adds its own elements such as a flamethrower for clearing Japanese bunkers or emotionally intense defensive missions against overwhelming enemy numbers. The game ran on a modified version of the series' engine and looked technically very good, with impressive fire, smoke, and explosion effects amid the dense jungle environment and the ruined streets of besieged Berlin. Besides the campaign, World at War also became famous for its cooperative Nazi Zombies mode, which grew from a bonus surprise for loyal players into one of the franchise's most popular and enduring game modes, as well as a quality multiplayer building on the successful Modern Warfare formula.

The game was received very positively upon release, with praise for the intense campaign, the convincing atmosphere of the Pacific and Eastern fronts, and the surprisingly addictive and engaging zombie mode, which quickly built its own loyal community of players. World at War is now seen as an important milestone for the series, since it was the zombie mode that kickstarted a trend that became a lasting part of the Call of Duty brand for many years to come. Even today, the game offers an intense and emotionally powerful experience of some of the toughest and bloodiest battles of the entire Second World War.

Why play it: For players craving an intense campaign from the Pacific and Eastern fronts, as well as the addictive zombie mode that launched a lasting series tradition.