Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is earning strong reviews from critics, with praise for its campaign, refined gunplay, multiplayer variety, and the return of DMZ as a fully fledged extraction shooter. While some reviewers point to a rushed story conclusion, limited innovation, and a few issues across its different modes, the overall consensus is positive, with many considering it one of the strongest entries in the series in recent years. Here's what critics are saying.
8.4
Average Score (adjusted)
Confidence: High
Strong consensus
Reviews: 8
Top Review: dayone (9.0)
Spread: 1.0
GameSpot's verdict is that Modern Warfare 4 delivers a strong and engaging multiplayer experience to complement an epic campaign conclusion and captivating DMZ mode. It praises the campaign as the best since Modern Warfare 2019, with a strong narrative, varied missions, and the standout Stranded mission, plus DMZ's huge dynamic Hajin map, deep progression, and heat/bounty system, and multiplayer's grounded movement, new modes, Killblock map, and reduced leveling grind. As negatives, it cites disappointing final boss fights, confusing DMZ onboarding with only six story missions, underwhelming scavenging in Stranded, an unrewarding hybrid killstreak system for objective play, and Vault Edition bonuses raising pay-to-win concerns now that DMZ isn't free.
Campaing Review: IGN thinks the campaign is the best Modern Warfare has been since the 2019 reboot, praising its consistently strong missions, the standout DMZ-inspired Stranded level, the compelling Korean squad and their emotional anchor, refined gunplay and movement, and impressive blockbuster spectacle with excellent sound design. It notes the campaign lacks an all-time classic mission, Price's half is the weaker side, Makarov is underdeveloped and The Archer underused, and the unforgiving stealth segments and imprecise melee combat are frustrating. Its verdict is that while it's not among the very best Call of Duty campaigns, it sends this Modern Warfare saga out on a high note.
Vandal concludes that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a brave entry and one of the strongest in recent years. It praises the campaign as one of the best in years, along with solid mobility and gunplay, a varied arsenal, a complete multiplayer with fresh new modes, and the Hajin map with dynamic weather as the best part of DMZ, which finally feels like a true extraction shooter. As negatives, it cites the excessive darkness in certain campaign environments that disorients and breaks pacing, irregular multiplayer audio, and certain DMZ bugs that can ruin matches.
Hardcore Gamer concludes that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is not innovative but more fun than Infinity Ward's recent entries. It praises the fun-over-realism approach across campaign, DMZ and multiplayer, balanced gunplay and movement, strong 6v6 map design and launch content, excellent visuals, smooth performance, and an improved DMZ. As negatives, it cites the unsatisfying and rushed ending of the rebooted storyline, DMZ's limited content and shallow objectives that may not hold attention long-term, visual recoil, Factions removal causing friendly-fire confusion, a lopsided third Perk category, and strict matchmaking with disbanding lobbies that could bring back a sweatfest.
Game Informer's verdict is that Modern Warfare 4 is a strong return to form and a solid sendoff for the rebooted subseries. It praises the fun campaign with strong character dynamics, thrilling multiplayer with good weapon and map variety, new modes like Combat Outpost and Hijack, impressive gun customization, DMZ as the definitive Call of Duty extraction shooter with its challenging Hajin world, and outstanding visuals. As negatives, it cites the campaign rushing some character arcs and story beats, underused cast members like Archer and Ri Ju-Young, multiplayer repetition over time, and technical hiccups including slow framerate in campaign scenes and frequent texture loading.
COGconnected's verdict is that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a return to form and a remarkably complete package that is easy to recommend. It praises the return to Call of Duty's roots, excellent combat and mission variety, a compelling dual narrative, stunning graphics and sound design, polished multiplayer with diverse maps and the dynamic Kill Block, Apex Attachments and Gunny, deep progression, and an addictive DMZ. As negatives, it cites repetitive quick-time events, inconsequential dialogue choices, no co-op campaign, tedious DMZ traversal, overwhelming and punishing DMZ progression for newcomers, and a slower multiplayer pace that may not appeal to Black Ops 7 fans.
PlayDay's verdict is that Modern Warfare 4 is one of the most rock-solid Call of Duty games ever made. It praises the campaign as one of the best in years, DMZ as an extraordinary extraction shooter, and multiplayer as Infinity Ward's most balanced and content-packed in ages, with well-designed maps, a revamped mantling system, strong new modes, the Korean setting's unique style, and a notable technical upgrade including a strong Switch 2 version. As negatives, it cites some disappointing story choices and notes the game isn't as revolutionary or groundbreaking as some other Modern Warfare entries.
Destructoid's verdict is that Modern Warfare 4 is a hallmark of excellence and Call of Duty's strongest argument for a full-length development cycle, with flaws that are negligible and won't cause massive damage. It praises one of the best CoD campaigns of all time for plot and scale, DMZ as chock full of extraction shooter goodness with many updates to come, multiplayer's return to a grounded feel with enough skill gap for expression, and flawless performance and great looks. As negatives, it cites multiplayer concerns over skill-based matchmaking and its maps, DMZ's dueling PvE versus PvP identity to keep an eye on, and general Call of Duty fatigue.