A new main series Call of Duty game has been released every single year since Call of Duty 2 in 2005, and so it’s not surprising that the franchise has had its fair share of ups and downs. The 2019 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reboot represented one of the franchise’s high points, bringing Activision’s premiere first-person shooter back to its roots and eventually paving the way for the colossally successful Warzone battle royale. But while the 2019 Modern Warfare was an excellent return to form, its sequels were underwhelming at best. 2022’s Modern Warfare 2 and 2023’s Modern Warfare 3 were low points, and so it’s understandable that there has been skepticism going into Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4. But after finishing the campaign and spending time with multiplayer and DMZ, it’s safe to say that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is another high point, and potentially the best game in the series since Black Ops 2.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 features three distinct game modes, all of which are top-tier and some of the best the series has ever had. MW4 retains the series’ tried-and-true multiplayer, making smart changes to elevate it above most of the other recent Call of Duty games, and it also has the expansive extraction mode, DMZ. Modern Warfare 4‘s campaign, meanwhile, is a brilliantly-paced, blockbuster thrill ride from start to finish with some of the most memorable missions and moments in any CoD. Most Call of Duty games have three core game modes on offer, but it’s rare for them to hit all three completely out of the park like Modern Warfare 4 does.
Modern Warfare 4 Has One of the Best Call of Duty Campaigns
The Modern Warfare 4 single-player campaign is the most unapologetically Call of Duty campaign ever. Modern Warfare 4‘s campaign goes all-in on stunning set-pieces, leveraging its ridiculous production values to deliver one jaw-dropping mission after another. There’s very little wasted time in the Modern Warfare 4 campaign, with almost every mission having some kind of unique hook or shocking story development.
Modern Warfare 4‘s story is equal parts dumb and genius, buoyed by strong performances from the game’s star-studded cast. The globe-trotting story bounces between an invasion of South Korea, the grim brutality of North Korea, and Captain Price’s relentless quest for revenge. It all ties together nicely by the end, and while some moments are wildly over-the-top, it’s all so entertaining that it doesn’t matter. I haven’t been this glued to a Call of Duty story in well over a decade.
Mads Mikkelsen does a fantastic job as Modern Warfare 4‘s main villain, and the remaining antagonists from the previous Modern Warfare games get their time in the sun as well. As far as the game’s heroes go, Young Mazino gives a standout performance as Park Hyun-Jun and Barry Sloane’s Captain Price is tremendous. Really everyone does a great job across the board, elevating the fast-paced story to new heights.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4‘s campaign might be the best one yet. At the very least, it stands tall alongside campaigns like the OG Modern Warfare and Black Ops, and there’s certainly an argument to be made in its favor. The same argument could be made for Modern Warfare 4‘s multiplayer.
Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer is a Blast
Modern Warfare 4 doesn’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to Call of Duty multiplayer. It’s the same core experience that has been recycled every year since Call of Duty 4 released in 2007, but when there’s this much fun factor, that’s hardly a bad thing. Modern Warfare 4‘s snappy, satisfying gunplay is fun enough on its own that it’s easy to see fans losing hundreds of hours in this game and keeping it a permanent part of their gaming rotation. I was concerned about the removal of omnimovement, but after spending some time with Modern Warfare 4‘s multiplayer, I don’t miss it at all. Movement and shooting both feel great, and that’s the most important thing in an online shooter like this.
Mileage may vary, but I have no problem with any Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer map. None stand out as particularly spectacular either, but everything here is solid. And even if one takes issue with the layout of certain maps, there’s no denying that each one looks fantastic, with Modern Warfare 4 delivering incredibly polished, photorealistic graphics.
The classic Call of Duty multiplayer experience is well-represented in Modern Warfare 4, but it also has its fair share of fresh ideas. The standout new mode is the 10v10 Gunfight variant that takes place entirely on the game’s Kill Block map. Kill Block’s shifting layout helps keep the large-scale Gunfight battles exciting and unpredictable, and it’s great that traditional 2v2 Gunfight is also available for those that want it. Modern Warfare 4 even has Gun Game at launch, so it’s been one of the most positive experiences I’ve ever had with Call of Duty multiplayer on release.
Simply trying to win in multiplayer is enough incentive for me to keep playing Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer, but those that need a little more should know that the game features extensive unlocks and progression, as is typical of the franchise. Modern Warfare 4 also makes it so players will no longer be burning through their double XP tokens when not in matches, which is a greatly appreciated quality of life change.
If previous Call of Duty games are any indication, Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer should only get better with time. Modern Warfare 4 has already confirmed that Shipment is on the way, and fans can look forward to plenty of other seasonal updates over the next year. Again, some Call of Duty fans may take issue with certain aspects of multiplayer, but I came away anxious to play more in a way that I haven’t felt in ages. The main takeaway is, if you like Call of Duty multiplayer, Modern Warfare 4 multiplayer is one of the best representations of it. If you are tired of the Call of Duty multiplayer formula, Modern Warfare 4 isn’t going to convert you.
DMZ is the Cherry on Top
The final piece of the Modern Warfare 4 puzzle is DMZ, Call of Duty‘s take on the extraction shooter phenomenon. Personally, I have never been big on the genre, and I was worried that would be the case for DMZ as well. Instead, I’ve found Modern Warfare 4‘s DMZ surprisingly engaging, packed full of content and set up well to deliver the kind of watercooler moments that keep people talking about extraction shooters.
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Image via Activision -
Source: Activision -
Image by Josh Drechsler, Source: Activision
The gist of it is that a squad of three players are deployed on a large map that they are free to explore and loot. Most of the time, players fight AI-controlled enemies as they scour the world for cash and equipment, but there is the chance to bump into enemy players as well. One’s enjoyment of DMZ will likely depend entirely on if they are playing with a solid group of people. I’ve gotten lucky with the randoms I’ve played with so far, and so most of my experiences in DMZ have been positive.
Modern Warfare 4 uses challenges and story missions to give structure to the extraction shooter chaos. With everyone on the team having the same clearly defined goals to work towards, it makes it easier to cooperate, even with minimal communication with randoms. Working together to complete the objectives strewn across the map is fun, and firefights with other players are suitably intense. There’s a lot to work towards in DMZ (so much that it is almost overwhelming), and while it won’t be my go-to mode, it brings a lot to the table and offers something worthwhile that’s unique compared to the campaign and multiplayer.
From top to bottom, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is the total package. It’s the ultimate Call of Duty experience, with a potentially all-time-best campaign, action-packed multiplayer, and deep DMZ mode, all wrapped up in incredible graphics and an unprecedented level of polish for the series. It’s comfortably one of the best Call of Duty games to date, the best the franchise has been in over a decade, and it will be remembered in the same light as the series’ classics.
- Released
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October 23, 2026
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- One of the best campaigns in Call of Duty history
- Eye-popping graphics
- Gunfight is back and better than ever
- Gun Game available at launch
- Deep DMZ extraction mode
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is available now for PC, PS5, Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S. GameRant was provided with an Xbox Series X code for this review.
