Note: This is a review in progress. We will return later this week with our final review and score which will also include our multiplayer impressions.
When I reviewed Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 last year, I called it “simply embarrassing.” Even with an acceptable multiplayer suite, the campaign was downright awful. It’s funny because almost three years ago, I had nearly the same reaction to Modern Warfare 3 (2023). So between the Open Combat missions, horrible dialogue, lazy mission design and lackluster effort that both games exuded, I wasn’t looking forward to this year’s effort, whatever it would be.
So it’s surprising that Modern Warfare 4 (2026)’s campaign is vastly superior to those two. There’s no Crucible gas or hallucinations. No grappling hooks. No mind control or sleeper agents. No giant bosses and giant text telling you to shoot the hands, and, praise be, no weapon rarities. It’s grounded and relatively believable, at least by genre standards, and as the finale to the current timeline, the game pulls out all the stops to deliver a memorable story.
That doesn’t necessarily mean it’s perfect, mind you, and until I try out DMZ and competitive PvP, I can’t recommend purchasing this for the campaign alone. But if you’re desperate for this game to actually live up to other great games and deliver on the genre’s signature set-piece-heavy missions, and justify the sheer amount of resources and money invested in it year in and year out, it’s certainly a highlight, even with some notable bumps.
“While some missions pack overtly straightforward segments, others mix things up without going too overboard, like swapping between three characters during an air base assault, each using different weaponry to clear out specific targets.”
I could tell you this is set years after Modern Warfare 3 (2023) and Captain John Price goes rogue, seeking revenge against Makarov and a deeper threat (the Archer, played by Mads Mikkelsen), but you probably already know about that. So instead, I’ll outline how the campaign actually starts: With Marine squad Sierra-1 entering Hajin City on a routine patrol and simply…picking up some groceries. There’s camaraderie, a bit of ribbing, some Wu-Tang history – but what’s really interesting is what happens when the lights go out. Amid the darkness, bombs drop, and it’s all Sierra-1 can do to reach the nearby stadium.
There are no overwhelming gimmicks throughout this. Simply the squad and feelings of terror going up against survival instincts. They don’t even know who they’re fighting until reaching the stadium and going up against parachuting enemy troops. As first impressions go with a typical shooter story, it evokes a realistic feeling – that you’re an active participant in a war rather than part of some scene in a cheesy blockbuster movie.
So naturally, Modern Warfare 4 (2026) follows up with something completely different and yet still very much in keeping with the previous game’s tone: Price picking up a lead for a deal and navigating a challenge, engaging in fisticuffs (complete with everyone’s favorite mechanic, parrying) en route to his target…which quickly turns into a mad dash through the city and some surprisingly crisp traversal mechanics. Despite their contrasting gameplay styles, both missions are paced well, and that continues after Price teams up with Valeria and her cartel from Modern Warfare 2 (2022) in an unusual alliance.
And while every line of dialogue isn’t a winner – Valeria in particular tends to ham it up a little – it flows better in the blockbuster moments and more naturally when fighting through trenches or tearing through busy streets in high-speed chases. When Park, the protagonist of Sierra-1, expressed his horror about having to get back into the fight, especially after already going through hell, it felt more real than the series has in years. Of course, props to Mikkelson for his acting, which lends gravitas and makes him feel like a capable threat.
While some missions pack overtly straightforward segments, others mix things up without going too overboard, like swapping between three characters during an air base assault, each using different weaponry to clear out specific targets. Of course, they can’t all be outright winners, and nowhere is that more obvious than the sole Open Combat mission, where you’re effectively behind enemy lines and must take out three objectives.
“There’s also the inescapable fact that at the end of the day, this is a Call of Duty campaign at the end of the day.”
You’re left to gather weapons and other tools, and suddenly the directed action that fails you when slightly deviating off-course becomes a pseudo-sandbox with open-world-style camps and resources to gather. One section involved crawling through a smuggler’s tunnel, where one wrong move detonated an explosive and made you restart the whole deal. Then you can partake in a second, more complicated one with the same consequences. Joy.
It’s not a complete bust. I appreciated the callback with the Heartbeat Sensor and using the snowy mist to mask your entry. But between dealing with Bomb Drones in one section, wading through and awkwardly shifting between walking and swimming in another, and gathering supplies to repair weapons or unlock new gear, all for one singular assault mission, it just felt at odds with the rest of the experience. At least you can outright fast travel to the story-relevant locations rather than bothering with the Open Combat map, though that doesn’t change how weak two out of three felt.
The latter half of the campaign also bumps up the number of armored enemies, especially those with shotguns that tear through you quickly. It lends to a more methodical playstyle vaguely reminiscent of Ready or Not, where mounting up and peeking around corners is downright essential to survival in many cases. But when enemies focus only on you, ignoring your teammates – who are more than happy to return the favor – it frustratingly kills the immersion. Overall, it’s a slower pace than a good chunk of the game. Death is a little too easy to stumble into at times, especially when you’re really getting into the action.
There’s also the inescapable fact that at the end of the day, this is a Call of Duty campaign at the end of the day. You’ll hold a button to say goodbye, partake in quicktime events (full-fledged and cleverly disguised) and stealth missions where the smallest mistake sends you hurtling back to the last checkpoint, and mow down hordes of foes to a sometimes comical degree. If you’ve never liked those aspects, Modern Warfare 4 (2026) offers very little that will change your mind. The campaign is also on the short side, though it’s still longer and packing more quality than either Modern Warfare 3 (2023) or Black Ops 7.
“Even with its issues, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a fitting send-off to the series. It’s unabashedly over-the-top but does so with a sense of restraint that’s as surprising as it is welcome.”
But as someone who’s been on this awkward ride since 2019, and suffered through the expansion-like sequels and their horrendous writing, this feels like a fitting closer. Characters have proper arcs, some meeting their ends more tragically than others. And throughout it all, the technical presentation remains stellar, whether it’s a harrowing sequence of intimidating civilians in a North Korean village or witnessing floors shatter into debris upon marking targets.
Performance is rock-solid throughout on PS5, though facial details noticeably lose their luster outside cutscenes and the odd pop-in when moving quickly through environments occurs. Small prices to pay, considering the sheer fidelity on display and how well it otherwise runs.
Even with its issues, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 (2026) is an enjoyable experience. It’s unabashedly over-the-top but does so with a sense of restraint that’s as surprising as it is welcome. Your mileage will vary on whether it’s worth $70, but for the first time since the original three games, Call of Duty has finally delivered an enjoyable campaign.
This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.
