Call of Duty's graphic realistic violence, heavy profanity, and M-rating make it inappropriate for teenagers and a Caution for adults. The military combat theme is not inherently anti-Christian, but the content intensity warrants careful consideration.
Call of Duty games contain graphic depictions of realistic violence including dismemberment, blood, and death sequences. Profanity is pervasive — a significant amount of strong language in every session. Some entries (particularly Modern Warfare 2's "No Russian" mission, which allows players to participate in a civilian massacre) have crossed into content that many Christians would find ethically unjustifiable regardless of the game context.
The ESRB M rating exists for a reason. These games are not designed for children. Playing them with children is an informed choice parents should not make casually.
Some Christians argue that Call of Duty's military combat context makes it more acceptable than fantasy or criminal violence — soldiers fighting enemy combatants in a war is a morally different activity than murdering civilians, and Romans 13:4 recognizes the government's legitimate use of force. This is a reasonable theological distinction. The issue is not primarily the war context but the graphic intensity of the depiction.
Hebrews 12:1 calls Christians to "lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely." Whether graphic realistic violence in entertainment constitutes such a weight is a question each Christian must answer honestly before God.
Adults who can engage it with maturity and without desensitization concerns. Not appropriate for teenagers despite being marketed to them. Absolutely not appropriate for children. Many Christian parents who play Call of Duty themselves make the principled decision not to allow their children to play it — that is a coherent and defensible position.
Available at Activision.