Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Is Out - First Critic Reviews Revealed

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4—the new game from Infinity Ward and the final installment in the subfranchise that was rebooted in 2019—has already been rolled out on all platforms. Additionally, the embargo on reviews has been lifted, and critics have already posted their ratings.

Reviewers generally gave Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 positive reviews. The campaign mode received particular praise, with some calling it one of the best in the franchise’s history—featuring well-developed characters and excellent direction. Furthermore, they specifically highlight the DMZ mode, which has taken a noticeable step forward, as well as the detailed graphics, and describe Modern Warfare 4 as a classic return to its roots. Among the drawbacks, critics note a lack of balance in multiplayer, technical bugs, and monetization in DMZ mode. Currently, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 has a score of 84 on Metacritic and 85 on OpenCritic —where 100% of reviewers, so far, recommend the game. You can check out some of the brief reviews below:

Destructoid - 90/100:

With a total package of three distinct and fleshed-out modes, Modern Warfare 4 is Call of Duty's strongest argument for a full-length development cycle. When given time and resources, Infinity Ward has shown it can still be at the top of the craft, and that CoD is still a game worth playing each year.

DayOne - 90/100:

Could Modern Warfare 4 have been a bit more bold and daring? Perhaps, but the end result is one of the most rock solid Call of Duty games ever made, one that anyone even slightly interested in this franchise should really consider playing. Infinity Ward knocked it out of the park with this one, and I can see myself losing countless hours to this game throughout its life cycle.

PSX Brazil - 90/100:

Back on track, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 recovers from previous stumbles (mainly in MW3 and BO7) and, in a safe and steady manner without any major surprises, delivers an exciting campaign, truly engaging modes for both single-player and multiplayer, spectacular graphics and sound, and the same precise and satisfying gameplay as always. It doesn’t take any risks, but it’s undoubtedly the best game in the series in a decade-and possibly one of the best CoD games of all time.

GamingTrend - 87/100:

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 boasts the series most well-rounded experience. Excellent outings for campaign, multiplayer, and the outstanding DMZ mode come together to make for a strong Modern Warfare entry, and possibly the best of the reboot series. Infinity Ward has found their magic again – this is how you evolve a long-running franchise.

Game Informer - 85/100:

While the plot execution is a bit shaky, engaging multiplayer options, including DMZ, aptly demonstrate that Infinity Ward can still deliver compelling military-FPS experiences. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a strong return to form that serves as a solid sendoff for the rebooted subseries.

GameSpot - 80/100:

Modern Warfare 4 delivers a strong and engaging multiplayer experience to complement an epic campaign conclusion and captivating DMZ mode.

By comparison, Black Ops 7, which was released last year, has a score of 65 on Metacritic, while the previous installment, the third Modern Warfare game, scored even lower—56. Clearly, Infinity Ward has managed to deliver a high-quality product: this is also evidenced by the Steam reviews, which show the highest ratings since 2010, when Black Ops 2 was released.

Activision has also confirmed the next Call of Duty, set for release in 2027, will mark the start of a subfranchise, similar to Modern Warfare and Black Ops. According to early rumors, Sledgehammer Games is leading development, and the game will feature an entirely new story set in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Additionally, the Call of Duty film adaptation is also confirmed to be in development. Director Peter Berg has revealed it will be set in the Modern Warfare universe, though he didn’t clarify whether this means the original trilogy or the 2019 soft reboot. The film premieres on June 30, 2028.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2.