About Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
An iconic saga within the Call of Duty franchise, Modern Warfare returns with the fourth and final installment of its reboot, taking players to the heart of a conflict between South Korea and North Korea. Bringing the story that began in 2019 to a close, this installment features Captain John Price, commander of Task Force 141, who has been on the run since the events of Modern Warfare III. It all begins in a convenience store in Hajin, a fictional town on the border between the two Koreas. The two countries have technically been at peace since the armistice signed in 1953, although no peace treaty has ever been reached. The game, however, imagines a full-scale invasion of South Korea by its northern neighbor.
At the beginning of the game, we follow a group of young Korean recruits as they tease their American comrade on the streets of Hajin. After a quick stop at a local snack bar, the group resumes its patrol when the city suddenly plunges into darkness. A few seconds later, an explosion rings out, and the North Korean army launches its assault, attacking anything in its path. Players take on the role of Private First Class Park Hyun-Jun, a South Korean Marine completing his mandatory military service. Shocked by what he witnesses, he must fight to survive alongside his comrades despite his lack of experience.
Meanwhile, the story follows Price on a revenge-driven mission that takes him to a New York nightclub, then to Paris, and finally to Mumbai, where Ghost and Gaz are waiting for him. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 also introduces the Archer, played by Mads Mikkelsen. Following his roles in Casino Royale and Death Stranding, the Danish actor adds another villain to his impressive roster of characters. What's particularly interesting about Modern Warfare 4 is how different Price is from the hero we've known for years. Stripped of his empathy, he allies himself with a cartel and operates behind the back of Kate Laswell, his former CIA contact.
But perhaps the most surprising aspect of this installment lies elsewhere. A third narrative thread takes us into the heart of North Korea's political establishment, offering a glimpse into the lives of those we are fighting against. The new Supreme Leader, Ri Seung-Ho, has just succeeded his late father, but he faces a threat from his own sister, who commands the army. The result is a story that isn't simply black-and-white: a soldier fighting to survive, a Price consumed by revenge, and a young leader torn between his people and his family's ambitions.
Why Should I Play Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is an FPS (first-person shooter) that plunges players into a spectacular modern-day conflict. Players step into the boots of soldiers across three major game modes. The first is a story-driven single-player campaign with Hollywood-level production values. The second is competitive multiplayer. The third, known as DMZ, is an extraction-based mode similar to Arc Raiders and Marathon.
The campaign returns to a scripted, linear format that pulls out all the stops. Its action sequences, stealth sections, and chase scenes are impressive, and the entire experience wraps up in six to eight hours across sixteen memorable missions. Players switch between characters across the globe, accompanied by blockbuster production values, an orchestral soundtrack, and Korean-language dialogue that adds to the sense of authenticity. While it doesn't reinvent the formula, Modern Warfare 4's single-player campaign is an intense, memorable experience and a genuine cinematic thrill.
As for multiplayer, it returns to the fundamentals established by 2019's Modern Warfare. The pace is more measured than in the latest Black Ops games, infantry combat takes center stage once again, and weapons feel weighty and precise. Treyarch's omnidirectional movement is gone, replaced by more grounded mechanics, such as grabbing onto ledges and crawling along pipes. At launch, twelve 6v6 maps are available, each featuring its own infiltration sequence, alongside maps dedicated to Gunfight and large-scale vehicle battles known as Big War. The standout new feature is Kill Block, a modular map that changes its layout between rounds, offering more than 500 possible combinations. Players must therefore constantly adapt to their surroundings.
Next up is DMZ mode. Up to twenty squads of three players are deployed into the Hajin exclusion zone, an area contaminated by radiation following the events of the campaign. Players must complete story-driven missions, tackle randomly generated operations, fight AI-controlled enemies and rival players, and navigate increasingly harsh weather conditions. The premise is familiar to fans of extraction shooters: explore a hostile environment, gather as many resources as possible, and make it out before the situation becomes too dangerous.
That said, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 isn't without its flaws. The campaign may feel a little short, and Price's story arc seems disconnected from the rest of the narrative. Some multiplayer maps also lack clarity, while several reviewers have criticized the AI for being underwhelming. Despite its extremely linear structure, the campaign remains spectacular. From high-speed car chases through Paris to nighttime SAS infiltrations in Mumbai, snow-covered Korean trenches, and close-quarters combat on the streets of New York, Modern Warfare 4 delivers action worthy of Michael Bay at his best. Infinity Ward knows exactly what it's doing, delivering one memorable sequence after another. Technically, the game is a knockout, especially on hardware capable of handling its latest graphical technologies, with some scenes approaching photorealism.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 may not be the strongest installment in the series, but it is driven by unwavering ambition from beginning to end. For many critics and players, it's quite simply the best Call of Duty in years. And that's certainly worth highlighting.
Is Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Free-to-Play?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a premium, paid game. As you'd expect from a major blockbuster, it comes with a hefty price tag, much like GTA 6. It won't be available on Game Pass at launch, either. Unlike Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7, which are available to subscribers upon release, this installment won't join the Game Pass Ultimate catalog until the end of 2027.
Where Can I Download Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is available on several platforms, including Windows PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. On Windows PC, the game can be downloaded through Steam, Battle.net, or the Xbox app, with support for Xbox Play Anywhere. A single purchase grants access to both the Xbox and Windows PC versions.
This installment also marks the franchise's major return to Nintendo, thirteen years after Call of Duty: Ghosts launched on Wii U. Despite its less impressive graphics, the game runs smoothly and remains fully playable on Nintendo's console. The PC version, meanwhile, features extensive ray-tracing effects, including reflections, ambient occlusion, and photorealistic shadows.
What Games Should I Play If I Enjoy Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4?
Let's start with another entry in the franchise: Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, developed by Treyarch and Raven Software. This installment follows the events of Black Ops 2, with a story set in 2035 that plunges David Mason into a world ravaged by conflict and psychological warfare. Now leading an elite unit sent on a covert mission to the city of Avalon, Mason must overcome numerous obstacles. The game's standout feature is its fully co-op campaign, which also introduces more open environments. The multiplayer mode, meanwhile, offers faster-paced and more frenetic gameplay than Modern Warfare 4. The game also features Zombies mode, which takes the place of DMZ in this year's installment. While far from perfect, Black Ops 7 still delivers some impressive moments.
Widely regarded as one of the best entries in the series, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) was reimagined in 2022 as part of the reboot launched in 2019. This installment is particularly interesting for exploring the characters' backstories. Price, Ghost, Soap, and Gaz form Task Force 141, an elite unit deployed on missions in some of the world's most hostile locations. From the Middle East to Mexico, with stops in Amsterdam and along the U.S. border, Modern Warfare II delivers a spectacular experience. It combines stealth missions, a ship boarding sequence in the middle of a storm, survival challenges, and a memorable sniper mission. The game also introduced the original DMZ mode, the direct predecessor to Modern Warfare 4's extraction experience.
That darn Makarov is back in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. As a direct sequel to Modern Warfare II, this installment puts Task Force 141 in more open environments than ever before. Players can choose between a stealthy approach and a full-frontal assault, whether on foot or behind the wheel. The multiplayer mode pays tribute to Modern Warfare 2 (2009), bringing back classic maps updated for modern gameplay, including Terminal, Rust, Highrise, and Skidrow. It's a real treat for longtime fans. Treyarch also introduced Modern Warfare Zombies, an open-world mode in which multiple squads work together to take on the undead. While far from perfect, Modern Warfare III lays the groundwork for Modern Warfare 4.
