Call of Duty: World at War vs Call of Duty 3
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Set during the final years of World War II, Call of Duty: World at War delivers a brutal, cinematic experience across the Pacific and Eastern Front. Players command squads in iconic battles, from the beaches of Iwo Jima to the streets of Stalingrad, with visceral gunplay and realistic environments. The game also introduced robust multiplayer modes, including co‑operative campaigns and split‑screen deathmatches, establishing a foundation for future titles in the franchise.
Step into the shoes of Allied soldiers as they fight across iconic WWII locations in this intense first‑person shooter. With a gripping single‑player campaign and robust multiplayer modes, Call of Duty 3 delivers fast‑paced action and authentic wartime atmosphere.
- Engaging historical storyline
- Robust co‑op and split‑screen options
- Varied multiplayer modes
- Strong weapon authenticity
- Authentic WWII settings
- Strong multiplayer variety
- Split‑screen co‑op support
- Solid weapon variety
- Graphics dated by modern standards
- Limited map variety compared to later titles
- Occasional AI pathing issues
- Graphics dated by modern standards
- Limited map selection
- Occasional AI pathing issues
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataCall of Duty: World at War is the safer default choice, offering higher critical reception (80 vs 74), the debut of Nazi Zombies, and 4-player split-screen. The main trade-off is choosing World at War's broader co-op and higher critic score over Call of Duty 3's weapon customization and 12-player online multiplayer.
Key differences
- •World at War includes the popular 'Nazi Zombies' mode, whereas Call of Duty 3 does not list this feature.
- •World at War supports up to 4-player local split-screen, while Call of Duty 3 features a 2-player split-screen co-op mode.
- •Call of Duty 3 supports online matches for up to 12 players and includes weapon customization with scopes and silencers, which are not highlighted for World at War.
- •World at War has a higher critic score of 80/100 compared to Call of Duty 3's score of 74/100.
- •Call of Duty 3 features a robust ranking system with unlockable weapons and emblems, alongside dynamic weather like rain and fog.
Gameplay & fun factor
World at War has a higher critic score (80/100 vs 74/100) and includes the popular Nazi Zombies mode.
Platform availability
Not specified in detail, though World at War mentions cross-generation support for PS3 and Xbox 360.
Price & value
Both games share the exact same MSRP of $59.99 as paid, one-time purchases.
Multiplayer / co-op
World at War offers 4-player local split-screen and full single-player co-op, plus standard multiplayer modes.
Content & replayability
World at War adds hidden co-op Nazi Zombies, while Call of Duty 3 features a robust ranking system with unlocks.
Difficulty & accessibility
World at War has an ESRB rating of M and PEGI 18, whereas Call of Duty 3 is rated ESRB T and PEGI 16.
Graphics & performance
Both games share identical cons noting that graphics are dated by modern standards and both have AI pathing issues.
Choose Call of Duty: World at War if…
Shooter fans wanting higher critic ratings, 4-player split-screen, and the hidden Nazi Zombies co-op experience.
Choose Call of Duty 3 if…
Players looking for weapon customizability, a robust progression/ranking system, and 12-player online matches.
Common questions
How much do these games cost?
Both Call of Duty: World at War and Call of Duty 3 have an MSRP of $59.99 as a paid, one-time purchase.
Do both games support split-screen?
Yes, Call of Duty: World at War supports local split-screen for up to four players, while Call of Duty 3 includes a 2-player split-screen co-op mode.
Which game received better reviews from critics?
Call of Duty: World at War received a critic score of 80/100, whereas Call of Duty 3 received a critic score of 74/100.