Call of Duty campaigns have been on a rough streak. Modern Warfare 3's story fizzled. Black Ops 7 was a mess. Expectations for Modern Warfare 4 were basically on the floor. Good news: MW4 doesn't just step over them, it sprints past.
Infinity Ward had real time on this one, and you can feel it. This is a proper, old-school CoD campaign: tight, loud, and built to keep you hitting "one more mission." It's also the finale for the rebooted Modern Warfare saga that started in 2019, and it plays like one.
Story and setting
Two stories run side by side, and they don't go in order.
First up is Captain Price. After the events of MW3, he's gone rogue. He's hunting Makarov's network and a Russian official called the Archer, played by Mads Mikkelsen, who is clearly having a great time being menacing. To get close, Price teams up with cartel boss Valeria Garza. She doesn't care much about collateral damage. He does. Their back-and-forth is some of the best writing in the game, and the question of how far Price will go sits at the center of everything.
The second story follows Private Park, a drafted kid from South Korea who's never fired a shot in anger, caught up in the North's invasion. He didn't sign up to be a hero. He's just trying to keep his squad alive.
The game keeps both threads clear and it does land. Price is the drama. Park is the heart. By the end, plenty of familiar faces won't make it, so long-time fans will feel it more. Newcomers can still follow along fine.
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Missions and level design
About 16 missions, and nearly all of them are linear. That's a good thing here.
The mission I can't stop thinking about is "Gone Dark." You play as Gaz, hunting Price through a pitch-black hotel. Staring down the sights at the man who trained you hurts in all the right ways, and it plants a seed that pays off beautifully later in the campaign.
Then there's "Stranded," the one open-world mission. Park is stuck behind enemy lines in snowy Korean mountains. You scavenge supplies, crack combination locks on shipping containers, raid outposts and craft gear for the squad. Think of it as a bite-sized survival sandbox with clear DMZ DNA. The smart part: you can fast travel straight to the three main objectives if you don't want to explore. You'll be worse-equipped, but it's your call. That fixes the biggest complaint about MW3's open-combat missions. Nobody is forced to wander around.
Elsewhere, MW4 runs through the greatest-hits checklist: stealth with night vision, slow-motion room breaches, a careful civilian-filled house clear, vehicle chases, tank driving, chopper gunner duty, a big trench-and-tank ground push and a defensive stand where you switch between soldiers. It moves fast and rarely repeats itself.
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Gunplay and set pieces
CoD gunplay is always good. This year it's a step up. Every weapon has real kick, your soldier feels like they weigh something compared to the floaty recent Black Ops entries, and being able to scramble up ledges and over cover makes every level feel more hands-on.
Price's missions lean straight into action-movie territory. Yes, there's a nightclub shootout. Yes, it rules. A train-yard fight where you climb over and ride moving cars is another highlight.
There are also a few hand-to-hand "boss" fights built on blocking and countering. They're simple, but they break things up nicely. The exception is the finale with the last two fights being a little too short and easy, which is a letdown for a send-off this big.
The optional dialogue choices from MW2 are back too. They let you chat with squadmates between fights. They don't change the story, but they add a bit of personality. One tough mission hands you control of a North Korean officer, where those choices set the tone of a grim scene.
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Visuals and performance
It looks fantastic. The cinematics are gorgeous, the cities are packed with detail, and the snowy Korean mountains in Stranded are a highlight. The visuals are just downright impressive.
It's out on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S and Switch 2.
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
How long is it?
Roughly 7 to 8 hours for a straight run. Explore Stranded properly and you can add an hour or more. That's the right length. Nothing feels like busywork.
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
What works
- Price's fall from grace is a strong, focused story spine
- "Gone Dark" is an all-timer CoD mission
- Stranded is the best open-ended mission the series has done, and it's optional
- Huge mission variety and great pacing
- Gunplay and movement feel heavier and better
- Gorgeous presentation, and a deliciously villainous Mads Mikkelsen
What doesn't
- The final boss fights are short and weak
- Very little here is truly new
- A few missions keep you on a short leash
- A big cast means some characters get thin screen time
Image: Activision (official Steam store screenshot)
Verdict
Modern Warfare 4 isn't here to change Call of Duty. It's here to remind you why you loved these campaigns: relentless pacing, huge moments and characters worth caring about. That's enough to make it the strongest CoD campaign in years, and for our money the best of the rebooted Modern Warfare era, and a fitting ending for Price's saga.
If you skipped the last couple of campaigns, come back for this one.
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