With the sixth entry in the Call of Duty: Black Ops series planning to continue the long-running story into the Gulf War period of the early 1990s, it is worth looking back on the 14-year-old franchise and assessing the best characters to come from the previous five games. With the games spanning from 1968 to 2065, there are plenty to choose from.

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However, in the case of Black Ops 3 and 4, the latter does not have a traditional campaign, and the former is a Black Ops game in name only, with no ties to its predecessors or sequels. They will not be included on this list. Still, there are numerous iconic characters in Black Ops to choose from that Call of Duty's millions of fans will remember fondly.

8 Joseph Bowman

A Memorable Squadmate

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010)

Modeled on and voiced by Ice Cube, Bowman was an operative who appeared alongside Woods and Mason in many of the game's missions. But he wasn't just tagging along with his more iconic squadmates, Bowman was an extremely likable character, with the game immediately establishing that he had a great rapport with his friends.

Although a fairly minor character in the grand scheme of things, he made a major impression on many players, and was greatly missed after his untimely departure.

7 Viktor Reznov

All Must Die

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

Voiced memorably by British actor Gary Oldman, Viktor Reznov is one of the first characters to come to mind when players hear the words Black Ops. Initially introduced as the main character of the USSR portion of World at War, he returns to play a major role in Black Ops.

Charismatic and mysterious, players are never quite sure of Reznov's intentions; at least, until they are fully revealed in a shocking twist. His disillusionment with Russia, brought about by his treatment upon returning home from WW2, adds tons of depth to his character and motivations.

6 Russell Adler

A CIA Man

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

The CIA officer charged with the extremely important task of taking down the ominous 'Perseus', Adler pursues this task with an utter ferocity which leads to a dark reputation within his own organization. Once working with him, though, players will feel a sense of loyalty toward a man who is willing to do whatever it takes like he is.

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In a series entry full of fan favorites, Adler managed to stand apart from the crowd as the best character in the game, which is a testament to the writers and his voice actor.

5 Jason Hudson

Behind The Scenes

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012), Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Taking on the role of interrogator in the first game, Jason Hudson is an extremely competent and charismatic CIA behind-the-scenes man who operates initially as the mission coordinator for Mason, Woods, and Bowman. Despite this, he can and will get his hands dirty.

Although it is initially difficult to know whether he can be trusted, Jason proves himself a worthy partner in both Black Ops and Black Ops 2. His willingness to go beyond what could be deemed acceptable is what makes him such a compelling character.

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3 Alex Mason

Brainwashed

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012), Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

As the main protagonist of the first game, players immediately felt a connection to the man being cruelly interrogated in the opening scene. As the story developed, that sympathy only grew, as it came to light that Mason was the victim of multiple attempts at brainwashing.

Players trust Mason right from the start. He is an extremely capable soldier and fights desperately to resist the temptations that come over him due to his condition. Players are right there with him, urging him on as they play.

2 Raul Menendez

Cordis Die

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012)

The most iconic villain in the Black Ops series, Raul Menendez is a ruthless demagogue who, in the future, is striking the United States because of the actions of the CIA decades earlier. Black Ops 2 wastes no time in establishing Menendez as a character to be feared and despised.

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He was such a great character because the game made an effort to show why he had become the way he was. By the end, players understood, but it still couldn't justify his heinous actions. Taking him down was extraordinarily satisfying, and speaks to how effective a villain he was.

1 Frank Woods

Fan Favorite

• Appearances: Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010), Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012), Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War (2020)

Certainly the most popular character in the entire series, Frank Woods was instantly beloved by fans as a fearless, no-nonsense soldier. By the second game, his character and motivations were fleshed out far more, as his decisions impact the story in very meaningful ways.

His scenes at the care home in Black Ops 2 are some of the best in the game, and his hot-headed nature only reinforces the widely shared view that Woods is an incredibly sympathetic character, and the best protagonist in the Black Ops series.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Publisher(s)

Activision

Developer(s)

Treyarch , Raven Software

Released

October 25, 2024

Genre(s)

FPS

See at Official Site