Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Reviews Roundup: What Critics Are Saying

The review embargo for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 lifted on October 22, a day before the game’s October 23 worldwide launch. With 37 critic reviews counted so far, the game sits at 85 on Metacritic (“Generally Favorable”), the highest Metascore for a mainline Call of Duty since Black Ops Cold War’s 85 in 2020. The consensus: Infinity Ward delivered the series’ strongest complete package in years, even if the formula still shows its age.

The verdict so far

Modern Warfare 4 lands as a confident finale to the rebooted Modern Warfare trilogy. Reviewers call it the most complete Call of Duty launch since the original Modern Warfare 2019. Three fleshed-out modes (campaign, multiplayer, and DMZ) each feel essential. The 85 Metascore reflects broad agreement, with 95% of reviews positive and only two mixed scores (70 from Shacknews, 80 from Hardcore Gamer). No outlet scored it below 70.

Windows Central awarded a perfect 100, calling it “the quintessential Call of Duty experience” and possibly “the best CoD ever.” TechRadar Gaming matched that score, saying it “delivers on all fronts” and is “Call of Duty at its very best.” GamesRadar+ gave 90, noting the campaign brings “almost a decade of storytelling to a satisfying conclusion” with “surprising moral complexity.” Destructoid’s 90 praised the three-mode package as “Call of Duty’s strongest argument for a full-length development cycle.”

At the measured end, Hardcore Gamer’s 80 acknowledged the “best set of launch content an Infinity Ward title has had in years” but flagged matchmaking as “an albatross around multiplayer’s neck.” Shacknews’ 70 called it a “fun attempt to reinvent the series” that’s “only partly successful,” arguing the franchise “desperately needs a fresh start.”

What critics loved

Campaign finale. Nearly every review highlights the single-player campaign as a series high point. Windows Central called it a “gut-wrenching campaign that is nothing short of a cinematic masterpiece.” GamesRadar+ praised “spectacular set pieces, strong performances, and surprising moral complexity.” The Games Machine described it as “spectacular” and a fitting conclusion to Captain Price’s arc. Even Shacknews admitted the campaign “has moments of genuine brilliance.”

DMZ evolution. The extraction mode returns dramatically overhauled. DMZ is Call of Duty’s extraction-shooter mode where squads loot, complete contracts, and exfiltrate before the radiation closes in. TechRadar Gaming called it “an expansive DMZ extraction shooter mode” that adds real tension. Destructoid noted it as one of “three distinct and fleshed-out modes” instead of a side attraction. Gaming Age (95) said the mode “evolves into a robust, engaging experience” with genuine progression.

Multiplayer gunplay. The return to grounded, skill-based shooting drew consistent praise. Hardcore Gamer said maps like Kill Block and Collateral feel “made for 6v6, and not just copied from Warzone.” Vandal (87) highlighted “fantastic gunplay” and “great multiplayer modes.” SECTOR.sk (90) noted multiplayer “balances fast-paced action with tactical gameplay.”

PC performance. Windows Central specifically called out “stellar PC performance,” and multiple outlets noted strong optimization across platforms including the Nintendo Switch 2 version.

The complaints

Matchmaking and SBMM. The most consistent criticism. SBMM is Skill-Based Matchmaking that pairs players of similar skill. Hardcore Gamer warned strict SBMM could drive the franchise “back into the sweatfest fans had gotten sick of.” Shacknews echoed this, saying matchmaking “remains an albatross.” CGMagazine (90) noted “occasional repetition” in map rotation that matchmaking exacerbates.

Spawn issues and map balance. Several reviewers flagged poor spawns on certain maps. Hardcore Gamer mentioned “some poor spawns” as a launch-week issue. The Games Machine noted “uneven AI” in campaign and “occasional repetition” in multiplayer layouts.

Gunsmith bloat. Adrenaline (90) and others called the Gunsmith system “bloated” with too many attachments that feel redundant. This has been a recurring CoD complaint for years.

Formula fatigue. Shacknews’ core critique: even a well-executed CoD is still CoD. “This franchise is desperately in need of a fresh start,” they wrote. Vandal noted the game marks “what supposedly is the end of the Modern Warfare era,” implying the formula has run its course.

Performance and platforms

Modern Warfare 4 launches on PC (Steam and Battle.net), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The PC version supports ultrawide, DLSS 3/FSR 3, and uncapped frame rates. Early Steam player data tracked by Pixel Herald shows a peak above 450,000 concurrent in the first 48 hours. That is strong but below Modern Warfare III’s 550,000 launch peak.

Valve rates it Playable on Steam Deck (ProtonDB players rate it Platinum with 2,100+ reports). The Switch 2 version targets 60 fps in multiplayer with dynamic resolution. Handheld mode runs at 1080p/60 with minor texture downgrades. Cross-play is enabled across all platforms by default.

Should you play it? A decision guide

For our launch-week guides, see Modern Warfare 4 Launch Guide: 11 Mistakes to Avoid and Can You Play Modern Warfare 4 Offline?. Season 1 details are in Modern Warfare 4 Season 1 Start Time: November 6 at Midnight ET.

Analysis: The 85 Metascore tells a clear story. Modern Warfare 4 is the most competent Call of Duty in half a decade, but competence isn’t innovation. Infinity Ward polished every system (campaign pacing, DMZ progression, multiplayer map design). Yet the structural complaints (SBMM, Gunsmith bloat, annual fatigue) persist because they’re baked into the live-service model Activision won’t change. Our Steam player data shows a 450,000 peak, 18% below MWIII’s 550,000, suggesting launch interest is strong but not record-setting. The Switch 2 port proves the engine scales beautifully. The question is whether the next CoD (likely Treyarch’s 2027 Black Ops) uses that flexibility for something new, or just another lap.

What’s your take: does MW4’s campaign finale justify the price of admission alone, or are you waiting for Season 1 to decide?

Edited by Kerwin Stewart, Editor-in-Chief · How we report