Why Call of Duty Feels Easy: A 2026 Shooter Difficulty Deep Dive

I’ve been in more ranked lobbies than I care to count. I’ve screamed at my monitor after whiffing an easy flick, and I’ve fist-pumped after clutching a 1v3. So when I heard retired Counter-Strike pro Fredrik 'roeJ' Røj Jorgensen say that classic Call of Duty titles are 'pretty easy' to get into, I didn’t argue. I nodded. Hard.

We’re in 2026 now. The shooter landscape is a different beast than it was even a few years ago. New seasons, new operators, new movement tech—but the core truth roeJ shared back in 2025 still holds. Some shooters welcome you with open arms. Others hand you a knife and say, 'Figure it out.' Let’s break it down, because I’ve lived it.

Call of Duty: The Comfort Food of Shooters

roeJ called classic Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 one of the easiest games you can play. He’s not wrong. Team Deathmatch is the epitome of accessibility. You spawn, you shoot, you die, you respawn. Repeat. The game doesn’t ask you to learn economy management or memorize 50 utility lineups. It just says, 'Go get ‘em, tiger.'

That’s not to say getting kills is brainless. You still need aim, map awareness, and reflexes. But the fundamental design is easy to internalize. Call of Duty winks at you and says, 'Come on in, the water’s fine.' And honestly? After a long day, that’s exactly what I want sometimes.

Counter-Strike: Simple to Start, Brutal to Master

Here’s where roeJ’s take gets spicy. He said Counter-Strike isn’t a particularly difficult shooter either. Wait, what? The same game where one bad smoke can lose you a round? Yes. Because Counter-Strike has a straightforward learning curve. You buy armor, you shoot heads, you plant the bomb. A complete beginner can hop in and understand the basics within an hour.

But the skill ceiling? It’s a skyscraper that scrapes the stratosphere. You can play for a decade and still learn new nade lineups. Still, roeJ labeled it 'definitely easier' than Valorant and Rainbow Six Siege. That’s a hot take, but I get it. CS rewards raw mechanics and game sense without burying you in hero abilities.

Valorant: Kid-Friendly but Mechanically Complex

roeJ described Valorant as 'a bit more kid-friendly' than Counter-Strike. I laughed when I heard that, but he has a point. The art style, the abilities, the lower recoil—it’s more inviting. Yet mechanically, Valorant is more complex. You have to track enemy abilities, manage ultimates, and coordinate with your team. The learning curve is steeper, even if the floor is softer.

Overwatch: The Complicated Cousin

roeJ admitted he doesn’t have a lot of hands-on experience with Overwatch, but he finds it 'definitely more complicated' than Counter-Strike. I’ve dabbled. He’s right. Overwatch is a kaleidoscope of heroes, cooldowns, and ult economy. You can’t just aim your way to victory. You have to think about composition, positioning, and timing. It’s probably one of the hardest games out there, especially at high ranks.

Apex Legends and Fortnite: The Battle Royale Gauntlet

Then there’s the battle royale crowd. Apex Legends has a steep learning curve for beginners. The movement alone—slide-jumping, wall-bouncing, tap-strafing—takes hours to learn. Add 60 players, shrinking rings, and third parties, and you have a recipe for chaos.

Fortnite? roeJ said he played it when it came out and was actually very good. Then people started building. Now pros are pulling 'absolutely crazy' feats. The building mechanic adds an entire dimension of difficulty. It’s accessible on the surface, but the skill ceiling is in orbit. roeJ concluded it’s 'probably one of the hardest games of all.' I agree.

Rainbow Six Siege: The One That Looks Terrifying

roeJ has no first-hand experience with Rainbow Six Siege, but he says it 'looks super complicated.' I’ve played it. It is. Destructible walls, operator gadgets, drone phases, and a community that will absolutely punish your mistakes. It’s not a shooter you can casually pick up. It’s a commitment.

My 2026 Takeaway

So here’s the thing: difficulty isn’t just about aim. It’s about how much the game asks of your brain. Call of Duty asks for reflexes. Counter-Strike asks for discipline. Valorant asks for ability management. Overwatch asks for team synergy. Apex and Fortnite ask for movement mastery. Siege asks for everything.

roeJ’s breakdown still rings true in 2026. If you want a shooter that feels like slipping into a warm bath, play Call of Duty. If you want a game that will humble you every single match, try Fortnite or Siege. Me? I’ll keep bouncing between them, chasing that perfect flick, that flawless clutch, that moment where everything clicks.

And hey, there’s no shame in enjoying the easy ones. Sometimes you just want to respawn and repeat. 😉