Call of Duty: Black Ops is the seventh edition of the Call of Duty franchise, set during the Cold War era. The player takes on the role of various special forces soldiers conducting covert operations known as 'black ops'. The two main characters are Alex Mason and Jason Hudson, members of the Studies and Observations Group (SOG), who investigate and deal with the Nova-6, an experimental Soviet chemical weapon.
The game features online and offline multiplayer support, including game modes such as Free-for-All, Team Deathmatch, and Capture the Flag. Players can earn XP points and gain new ranks. A new feature is the Create a Class 2.0 option, which allows players to customize their multiplayer character with dog tags, camo patterns, emblem, and gun sight reticules. Additionally, players can pilot aircraft such as the Hind helicopter gunship and the SR-71 Blackbird stealth plane.
The game includes a zombie co-op mode, where two players can play together offline and four players online. Players can earn CoD Points , which are awarded as they earn XP, and use them to participate in special 'wager matches' for additional CoD Points and XP.