Hmm.
Well if I had to rank them, this is what it would look like (campaign for the most part):
1) Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare - As the last game to come out in the 7th generation of consoles that included a single player game, this would be my top choice. This game is the turning point where people started to disdain the game for a lack of "boots on the ground" but I feel the whole movement breathed fresh air into the franchise especially after Ghosts. It seemed also that this game had the best implementation of this new movement system based on guys like Jeff over at Giant Bomb. This was made by some of the staff that made Dead Space so you have better sound design and a HUD integrated into the world. I love the future tech that is in this game. I believe this was the first game where you played as one guy the entire time through the campaign. I rank this as number one because it was a well made game with a decent story and an added bonus of believable Bots for multiplayer if you ever decide to play offline/sans Live Gold.
2) Call of Duty: Black Ops II - This game jumped back and forth between two points in time. Choices you made in the game can have a different outcome so you can have two different single player experiences and such. I like the future tech stuff in here as well. It's a continuation from the first Black Ops so you have a lot of the same characters in here despite time differences. One thing I like is the ability to choose a load-out before every mission so you can take what you like regardless the situation. I rank this as number two because it was a well made game with a great story and a single player experience that can be different. Just as above, an added bonus of believable Bots for multiplayer if you ever decide to play offline/sans Live Gold.
3) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 - Yes. I hold this above the first Modern Warfare, Why? Because it had a fun ass campaign. They went for more set pieces but a lot of it was memorable for me and I enjoyed it. This was a continuation of the first Modern Warfare game. It was pretty varied with some stealth sequences, defend and support situations, and some vehicle segments. This was the game with that No Russian mission that was highly controversial back in the day. An added bonus was the Special Ops missions which were self contained missions that can be completed either by yourself or with a friend.
4) Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare - The game that started it all. When I first played this, my first COD game I've played, I was blown away. Memorable missions, characters, and set pieces. It was a fun ride from beginning to end. Like the first Mass Effect, I think this could have been a self contained story with its ending but I'm happy they continued the series overall.
5) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 - Finish the fight. Wait. This isn't Halo 3. Regardless, this concluded the story that started with the game above. This threw you into the fray from the first mission onward. Constant struggle to push back the enemy. Hit close to home because of the siege in New York City.
6) Call of Duty: Black Ops - I enjoyed this game because of the story. The weapons, despite being earlier in "history" had some experimental weaponry like the crossbow with explosive bolts. Characters were memorable and the story was pretty good, conspiracy like, which fit the times so to speak. As an added bonus, this was the first time Bots were introduced to multiplayer for offline play.
7) Call of Duty: World at War - Understand, these are all great games. This ranked lower than the rest because I've visited this game after I've played some of the future titles like the Modern Warfare series and have a preference for a more modern setting. In fact, the first time I've played this was this year with the rest of the series as part of a little marathon. It was considered the last World War II game until the other day with the release of the new COD.
8. Call of Duty: Ghosts - The campaign was a rehashing of familiar concepts, and had general lack of innovation. Regardless it was still entertaining but the issue was that it followed Black Ops 2 with the campaign changes it introduced. I enjoyed the concept of the Dog Riley, and the setting which reminded me of a post apocalyptic setting. I still recommend the game however. Just curb your expectations and don't think it'll be like a Modern Warfare 2 or something similar. An added bonus of believable Bots for multiplayer was included if you ever decide to play offline/sans Live Gold.
Well there you go. Wow that's a lot
