Call of Duty: World at War is what happens when the series decides to drop the modern warfare vibes and go straight back into the chaos of World War II—but this time way darker, louder, and way more unhinged. Released in 2008 and developed by Treyarch, this entry doesn’t hold back, throwing you into brutal battles across the Pacific and Eastern Front where things get messy fast.

You’ll fight as U.S. Marines and Soviet soldiers, pushing through jungles, war-torn cities, and everything in between while the game constantly reminds you that WWII was not a clean or heroic experience. Flamethrowers, grenades, and nonstop gunfire turn every mission into controlled chaos, and the pacing keeps things intense from start to finish.

The campaign is gritty and cinematic, but let’s be real—this is also where Nazi Zombies made its debut, and that alone carried this game into legendary status. What started as a bonus mode turned into one of the most addictive co-op experiences ever, spawning an entire sub-series that people still play today.

If you’re looking to buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange, this is one of those titles that hits both ways—a solid campaign and one of the most iconic multiplayer modes the series has ever had.

1. Features both Pacific and Eastern Front campaigns with a much darker tone than earlier WWII titles.
2. Introduced Nazi Zombies, which became a massive fan-favorite mode for the franchise.
3. Includes co-op gameplay for the campaign, adding replay value and chaos with friends.
4. Uses vehicles, flamethrowers, and large-scale battles to ramp up intensity.
5. Fun fact: this was the first Call of Duty game by Treyarch to introduce Zombies mode, which went on to define future entries.