4) Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare
When Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare’s teaser trailer became the most disliked video on YouTube, it looked as though the tide was finally beginning to turn on the genre’s most popular franchise. Yet, in equal measure, there was a sense that internet opinion might also count for squat once the game was released. And that was to be proven accurate as CoD: Infinite Warfare has squashed the competition in terms of sales – so much for a bad dislike ratio, eh? But sales don’t necessarily mean quality, so why has Infinite Warfare made it onto our list above the much revered Titanfall 2 when the lion’s share of critics would have you believe otherwise?
Where Titanfall 2 merely promised a rewarding campaign, Infinite Warfare actually delivered, teeing up an intriguing narrative premise through some truly interesting characters. A new non-linear mission selection was included as well and acted as a series first for a CoD title, adding new freedom for players and giving a further sense of immersion in the game’s wider plot.
Developer Infinity Ward’s ability to churn out such a compelling story and wider lore are made particularly impressive when one considers that it’s effectively a new IP debut, so removed is it from previous CoD titles – a fabricated universe created at the drop of a hat. Sure, it’s not a groundbreaking story, but it is an engaging and plausible premise that will have you invested in its plot, more so, in our opinion, than Titanfall 2.
Multiplayer is where the two titles are more evenly matched, Titanfall 2 perhaps even topping Infinite Warfare’s online offering. Disappointingly, Infinite Warfare feels like a less accomplished Black Ops III, copying the popular spinoff’s formula without adding too much in the way of its own innovation.
Yet, all in all, Infinite Warfare comes out on top as a total package, and will particularly appeal to those who enjoy a solid single player campaign. Call of Duty might be slowly declining in popularity as a franchise, but the games still have a production quality a cut above the competition. Oh, and the packed in Zombie mode, this time in space retro theme, is still as entertaining as ever.