Task Force 141 is on the trail of Vladimir Makarov, a maniacal disciple of Imran Zakhaev, who has used the death of his mentor as a means of expanding his own base of power.
Players take on the role of Sergeant Gary 'Roach' Anderson, an elite member of the multinational Task Force 141 and subordinate of one of Call of Duty 4's protagonists, John 'Soup' MacTavish. The single-player campaign picks up where Call of Duty 4 ended, with gamers once again descending into the shadowy world of terrorists, arms dealers, and nationless armies.