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Call of Duty®: Black Ops II similar games & best alternatives

Call of Duty®: Black Ops II

PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 • 2012

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Quick resume

Pushing the boundaries of what fans have come to expect from the record-setting entertainment franchise, Call of Duty®: Black Ops II propels players into a near future Cold War

Global score

86/100

Genres

Action, Shooter

Similar games

    Pros

    • Engaging and branching campaign story
    • Addictive multiplayer with customization
    • Best zombies mode in franchise
    • Nostalgic and immersive gameplay
    • Good graphics and sound design for its time

    Cons

    • High price for an old game
    • Multiplayer and zombies playerbase diminished
    • Security risks with vanilla multiplayer
    • Some bugs and crashes reported
    • Lack of official support and dlc issues

    Analysis

    Less representative of its motivational profile, with noticeable differences. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Competition, Fellowship, Domination, Status. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Domination. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Value.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      4

      "Players have significant control over loadouts, weapon customization, and campaign choices affecting story outcomes."

    • Competence
      4

      "Gameplay requires skillful aiming, strategic use of perks and scorestreaks, and mastering multiplayer mechanics."

    • Competition
      4

      "Multiplayer modes emphasize player-vs-player competition with leaderboards and prestige systems."

    • Continuation
      3

      "Players report habitual play and nostalgia-driven long sessions, especially in multiplayer and zombies modes."

    • Cooperation
      3

      "Zombies mode and some multiplayer modes encourage teamwork and cooperative play."

    • Creativity
      3

      "Customization of weapons, classes, and playercards allows personal expression and creative loadouts."

    • Domination
      2

      "Competitive multiplayer includes elements of dominance such as killstreaks and power plays, but also balanced interactions."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to escape reality, relive childhood memories, and enjoy immersive story and gameplay."

    • Expectation
      -3

      "Players engage from intrinsic interest and nostalgia rather than obligation or external pressure."

    • Experimenting
      3

      "Branching campaign paths and weapon customization encourage experimentation with strategies and story outcomes."

    • Exploration
      2

      "Zombies mode maps and campaign offer some exploration, though multiplayer maps are more familiar and tactical."

    • Expression
      3

      "Playercards, weapon skins, and class setups enable self-expression."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "Futuristic setting with advanced tech and fictional story elements provide imaginative fiction experience."

    • Fellowship
      3

      "Community and social play in multiplayer and zombies foster group identity and shared experiences."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players develop skills through multiplayer progression, weapon mastery, and campaign replayability."

    • Health
      -5

      "Game is sedentary with no physical activity involved."

    • Idle
      -3

      "Requires focused attention and continuous engagement, especially in multiplayer and campaign."

    • Intimacy
      1

      "Some social interaction exists but mostly surface-level in multiplayer and zombies modes."

    • Leadership
      1

      "Some players may lead teams in multiplayer or zombies, but mostly balanced group play."

    • Progression
      4

      "Strong emphasis on leveling, unlocking weapons, prestige, and DLC content progression."

    • Relaxation
      1

      "Game offers moments of flow but also sustained tension and fast-paced action."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Engaging visuals, sound design, and intense combat provide sensory stimulation and excitement."

    • Status
      3

      "Prestige ranks, unlocks, and multiplayer recognition contribute to social status."

    • Story
      4

      "Narrative-driven campaign with branching paths and character development offers strong story immersion."

    • Strategy
      4

      "Campaign choices, multiplayer tactics, and zombies strategies require planning and problem solving."

    • Thrill
      4

      "Gameplay includes suspense, risk, and relief from challenges, especially in multiplayer and zombies."

    • Value
      -4

      "Players widely criticize the high price for an old game, recommending purchase only on sale."

    • Violence
      4

      "Combat, destruction, and shooting are core gameplay elements in all modes."

    • Survival
      3

      "Zombies mode and some campaign elements emphasize survival against waves and threats."

    Where to buy

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    Last update: 29/04/2026