When your portfolio is decades old, ranking the best Activision games is a tall task. Thankfully, it’s something we’re up to. Between Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Call of Duty, and the Blizzard portfolio of games, there are a lot of great Activision games to choose from.
Today, we rank the 30 best from Activision, from best to worst, according to their Metascore on Metacritic.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
Metascore – 98
After its successful debut, the Tony Hawk franchise expanded on the already addicting skateboarding action.
Thanks to new levels, fantastic gameplay, and an impressive soundtrack, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is one example where the sequel is better than the original.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Metascore – 97
As great as the sequel was, some argue the third Tony Hawk entry is the best Activision game.
Taking advantage of new hardware, levels are a skateboarder’s dream come true. They feature traditional skateboard parks and include some creative and over-the-top level design.
You can’t forget about the soundtrack, featuring a brilliant blend of punk and hip-hop.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
Metascore – 94
Arguably the greatest FPS ever made, Modern Warfare 2 marks the pinnacle of the Call of Duty franchise, according to critics.
Multiplayer gameplay has never been better, but the single-player campaign helps elevate Modern Warfare 2. Between a high-stakes story and varied environments, it’s an absolute treat to play through.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Metascore – 94
The epic run of success the Tony Hawk franchise had in the early 2000s is one of the most impressive feats in gaming history.
Each title seemed better than the last, delivering in ways we expect from sequels. While the graphics didn’t improve much, the levels were bigger and better than ever.
Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
Metascore – 94
Call of Duty 4 walked so Modern Warfare 2 could run. However, that’s not to say the first Modern Warfare game is lacking.
Bringing the series into the modern era gave it a breath of fresh air; World War II was beginning to feel stale. Combined with the implementation of kill streaks, you had an easy recipe for success.
Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions
Metascore – 94
This pertains to the iOS version of the popular series. After several successful releases, the sixth Geometry Wars game was the first not developed by series creator Bizarre Creations.
While the console versions didn’t meet expectations, the iOS release arguably exceeded them.
Rome: Total War
Metascore – 92
Next up on the list of best Activision games is arguably the greatest Total War game ever made. Many are willing to take it further and call it one of the best strategy games ever.
Rome: Total War allows fans to live out their dreams as a Commander in the Roman army. Its addictive gameplay and impressive amount of content ensure you’ll be playing it for a long time.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Metascore – 92
The one that started it all. The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is a simple arcade-style skateboarding experience that is as close to gaming perfection as we’ve ever seen.
Matches only last two minutes, but they’re some of the best two minutes of you’re life. You’ll get lost traversing the levels as you complete each objective and sing along to the iconic soundtrack.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice
Metascore – 91
FromSoftware, the developers of the Dark Souls franchise, were up to the task of delivering their brand of combat to a stealth-ish ninja action experience.
What began as a Tenchu game eventually became its own IP and brand. FromSoftware’s combat in Sekiro differs from the Dark Souls experience, offering a more aggressive and offensive style of combat.
Call of Duty
Metascore – 91
When the original Call of Duty was released, no one ever expected it to become the biggest franchise in video games today. Yet from the second we got our hands on it in 2003, it changed the shooter genre forever.
Developer Infinity Ward did more than release one of the best Activision games; they ushered in the future of WWII and FPS titles. There wasn’t an experience like it before, and surprisingly, the game still does well to hold its own today.
Skylanders Trap Team
Metascore – 90
Before working as a part of Blizzard and on the Diablo franchise, Vicarious Visions was responsible for the mobile port of this entry in the Skylanders franchise.
The mobile version, specifically the iOS release, is the best-reviewed version of the game.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory
Metascore – 90
After the successful revival of the Wolfenstein series with Return to Castle Wolfenstein, the Enemy Territory expansion was a completely free-to-play classed based multiplayer experience.
Many fans argue that the game was ahead of its time, thanks to its focus on team-based objective gameplay. It stood out among a crowd of death match multiplayer shooters. Plus, it was free to play!
Tony Hawk’s Underground
Metascore – 90
What else can you do when you’ve done all you can with the traditional Tony Hawk experience? A lot, it turns out.
Tony Hawk’s Underground focuses on customization more so than its predecessors. Additionally, there’s a fully fleshed narrative in place. The result is a definitive Tony Hawk experience.
Star Wars Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast
Metascore – 89
The predecessors to Jedi Outcast, Jedi Knight and Dark Forces, are some of the better Star Wars games to have been released. Jedi Outcast, however, isn’t afraid to take things to another level.
Kyle Katarn’s story continues and remains enjoyable. The real treat, however, is the amount of polish in the game.
Activision handles the publishing for Jedi Outcast outside of North America.
Call of Duty 2
Metascore – 89
What better way to usher in the new generation of gaming than with the sequel to a new revolutionary FPS? One of the best Activision games is Call of Duty 2, delivering a relentless and brutal World War II experience.
With how stale the series is today, it seems out of place to heap such high praise on a Call of Duty game for being innovative and ahead of the curve. Yet that’s how it felt playing Call of Duty 2 on release. There was nothing like it at the time.
Skylanders Swap Force
Metascore – 89
Many point at Swap Force for being one of the most accessible entries in the Skylanders franchise.
The Metascore here is for the Wii U version of the game, which is rated well above other versions.
Guitar Hero 5
Metascore – 89
After the disappointing Guitar Hero World Tour, the series saw a return to form with 2008’s Guitar Hero 5. The game retains the band setup, with players able to perform vocals, drums, guitar, or bass.
Developers implemented vital improvements to help the game’s accessibility. It results in one of the better Guitar Hero games ever made.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Metascore – 89
Remastering two of the best Activision games of all time is a no-brainer. Vicarious Visions treated their work on this HD remaster with the love and care it deserves.
Not only does Tony Hawk 1 + 2 recapture the magic of what makes the original games so great, but it also adds new songs to the iconic soundtrack.
Destiny: The Taken King
Metascore – 89
The original Destiny didn’t live up to its extraordinary hype. It was a good game, but not the next big thing.
With The Taken King, Destiny reaches its potential. Its ability to update the current game while adding new and exciting content benefits veterans and new players alike.
Medieval: Total War
Metascore – 88
Another entry from the Total War franchise appears on this list of best Activision games.
Developed by Creative Assembly, the game was released in 2002 as a breakthrough and revolutionary title for the time. It delivered an experience unlike any other, making it an easy contender for one of the year’s best strategy games.
Skylanders SuperChargers
Metascore – 88
There’s a reason why every Skylanders entry has been for its iOS port: they’re that impressive.
SuperChargers marks the introduction of vehicles to the Skylanders franchise. It’s also one of the best-reviewed entries in the series across all platforms, particularly the Wii U version.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
Metascore – 88
While the third Modern Warfare game didn’t live up to its predecessors, it’s still an absolute blast.
This is the first Infinity Ward game to release following the departure of founders Jason West and Vince Zampella. As a result, many look at Modern Warfare 3 as the start of a decline for the series.
DJ Hero 2
Metascore – 88
The second DJ Hero release expands on the original’s concept to remarkable results. At first glance, there are only minor tweaks over the first game, but they go a long way toward a better experience.
In reality, DJ Hero 2 benefits from an overhauled and improved presentation and song selection. It’s a sequel that expands upon the original in nearly every possible way.
Call of Duty: Black Ops
Metascore – 88
While the Infinity Ward Call of Duty games focused on the modern era, Treyarch focused on the past. The debut of the Black Ops series throws people into the 1960s Cold War.
However, Black Ops is best known for introducing the Zombies cooperative game mode. Its popularity helped to keep Call of Duty relevant when the series struggled before the release of Warzone.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein
Metascore – 88
The first Wolfenstein game in nearly a decade reboots the franchise. It results in a glorious rebirth for the fabled FPS series.
Not only does Return to Castle Wolfenstein maintain the traditional Wolfenstein formula, but it also features an impressive multiplayer mode that is worth the price of admission alone for some.
DOOM 3
Metascore – 88
DOOM 3 was never going to live up to the hype. The game, however, has aged like a fine glass of wine, and developer id Software should be applauded for trying something new with the series.
An atmospheric, gripping shooter, DOOM 3 blew everyone away with its impressive visual quality.
Bomberman Tournament
Metascore – 88
Released for the GameBoy Advance in 2001, Activision published Bomberman Tournament outside of North America.
The game takes a simple and approachable direction with its gameplay. The single-player is also a fleshed-out action-adventure experience.
Destiny 2
Metascore – 87
While fans have differing opinions on the current state of Destiny 2, it’s hard to argue with its successful launch.
Bungie learned lessons from the original game and delivered a sequel worth playing. The same combat you know and love is still there, and the story, at the time, was an enjoyable treat.
Diablo IV
Metascore – 87
The newest entry of Activision’s best games is one of the best Blizzard games in years. We may not even be one week into release, but we’ve already spent countless hours exploring the world of Sanctuary.
Diablo IV improves on the shortcomings of Diablo III, resulting in an experience more in line with the likes of the beloved Diablo II. In our short time playing the game, we know we’ll be hooked for a long time.
Spider-Man
Metascore – 87
Long before the days of Insomniac making Spider-Man games, this 2000 PS1 title impressed fans.
Developed by Neversoft, the game is regarded as one of the best superhero games of its time.
Wrapping Up
That does it for the 30 best Activision games, according to Metacritic! There’s a healthy balance between new releases and old classics here. Additionally, some fan favorites such as Tenchu: Stealth Assassins, Tony Hawk’s Underground 2, and Crash Bandicoot 4 just barely miss the list.
What’s your favorite game from Activision? Let us know in the comments below, and keep the conversation going!
