Black Ops 1 vs Black Ops 2: Unlock All First?

If you just picked up both games on PS4 or PS5 and only have time to grind one to completion, the black ops 1 vs black ops 2 question comes down to a simple trade-off: BO1 is a shorter, cheaper grind with a shallower unlock system, while BO2 is a longer, deeper grind with more to show for it at the end. Which one you should unlock first depends on how much time you have, whether Zombies matters to you, and whether you plan to play both eventually anyway.

This guide breaks down exactly what "unlocking everything" means in each game, how long it realistically takes, and which one makes more sense to prioritize.

What "Unlock All" Actually Means in Each Game

These two games use different progression systems, so "max level" isn't an apples-to-apples comparison.

• Black Ops 1: Max rank is 50, with 15 Prestige levels on top of that. You need roughly 1,262,500 XP to hit that first Prestige jump, and the process repeats 15 times if you want full Prestige. Gold camo doesn't unlock account-wide until 14th Prestige, and clan tag colors unlock around 13th Prestige, so the late-game unlocks are gated behind serious time investment, not skill.
• Black Ops 2: Max rank is 55, with 10 Prestige levels, followed by Prestige Master once you complete Prestige 10. From there, XP keeps counting toward a much higher cap. BO2 also introduced Diamond camo, which requires Gold camo on every weapon in a category first, plus separate weapon-level Prestige for individual guns.

In short: BO1's unlock-all is one long, flat XP grind. BO2's unlock-all is a multi-layered grind — account Prestige, weapon levels, weapon Prestige, and camo challenges all stack on top of each other.

Time and Effort: Which Grind Is Shorter

If pure hours-to-completion is your deciding factor in the black ops 1 vs black ops 2 debate, BO1 wins. Fifteen Prestiges sounds like a lot, but the XP curve and rank cap of 50 make each individual Prestige faster to clear than a BO2 Prestige at rank 55. BO2's inclusion of weapon-specific leveling and Diamond camo challenges (which demand kills with specific attachments, no-attachment runs, and headshot counts per weapon) adds dozens of extra hours that BO1 simply doesn't require.

For a player deciding which game to fully unlock first, BO1 is the faster win if your goal is just "get it done" and move on. BO2 is the better use of your time if you actually enjoy the moment-to-moment multiplayer and want a system with more long-term goals to chase.

Black Ops 1 vs Black Ops 2: what to weigh before choosing which to unlock first

Factor	Black Ops 1	Black Ops 2
Prestige system	15 prestige tiers, simpler unlock track	10 prestige tiers plus Prestige Master, deeper unlock tree
Population today	Lower, matchmaking can be slower	Generally more active lobbies
Grind style	Straightforward level/weapon unlocks	More systems (Pick 10, more camos/challenges)
Good starting point	Good first if you want a shorter, simpler unlock-all	Good if you want to jump into the more populated game after
Legit boosting fit	Works well on your own account, low risk	Same — works well on your own account, low risk

Zombies and Extra Content

Progression isn't the only factor. BO1 introduced the fan-favorite map Kino der Toten and expanded Zombies with Ascension and Call of the Dead, while BO2 pushed Zombies further with Tranzit, Die Rise, and Mob of the Dead, plus a dedicated Zombies leveling and perk system separate from multiplayer. If Zombies is a priority alongside your multiplayer unlock-all, BO2's Zombies mode has more depth, but BO1's Zombies maps are widely considered some of the best in the franchise for players who want smaller, tighter maps.

Which One Should You Unlock First

A few practical scenarios:

1. You want a quick sense of completion: Do BO1 first. Fifty ranks and 15 Prestiges is a finite, well-defined goal that doesn't require weapon-level grinding on top of account level.
2. You're committed to playing both long-term: Start with BO1 to learn the classic mechanics (no Pick 10, more traditional perks and killstreaks), then move to BO2, which builds on that foundation with the Pick 10 Create-a-Class system and a more complex meta.
3. You care more about cosmetics and weapon camos: Prioritize BO2. Diamond camo and weapon Prestige give you more to flex once you're done, even though it takes longer to get there.

For most PS4/PS5 players revisiting both games today, the practical answer is: unlock BO1 first because it's the shorter grind, then tackle BO2 once you know how much time you actually want to invest, since it's the bigger commitment of the two.

The Fast Way to Unlock Either Game

Grinding either game legitimately takes real hours — BO1's Prestige 15 alone requires well over a million XP just to start climbing, and BO2's Diamond camo and Prestige Master push that even higher. If you'd rather skip the grind and jump straight to a maxed-out profile, MessyModdingStore offers a safe, done-on-your-account unlock-all service for both games. There's no mod menu, no third-party account access risk, and no gameplay disruption — it's handled securely and delivered fast on PS4/PS5.

You can check out the full Black Ops 1 hub for everything available on that game, including the Black Ops 1 Prestige & Unlock All service, or head to the Black Ops 2 hub and grab the Black Ops 2 Prestige & Unlock All service if you decided BO2 is the one worth prioritizing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Whichever side of the black ops 1 vs black ops 2 debate you land on, you don't have to grind either one out the slow way. Browse the Black Ops 1 Unlock All service or the Black Ops 2 Unlock All service and get your account maxed out fast.