Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) - Review Thread

Game Information

Game Title: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III

Platforms:

PC (Nov 10, 2023)
PlayStation 5 (Nov 10, 2023)
PlayStation 4 (Nov 10, 2023)
Xbox Series X/S (Nov 10, 2023)
Xbox One (Nov 10, 2023)

Trailers:

Developers: Sledgehammer Games, Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Beenox, Demonware, High Moon Studios, Raven Software, Toys for Bob

Publisher: Activision

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 58 average - 6% recommended - 49 reviews

Critic Reviews

AltChar - Asmir Kovacevic - 70 / 100

If, like me, you’re a fan of a compelling single-player campaign and that’s the sole reason you’re considering playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, it’s advisable to save your money for a more rewarding experience.

Atomix - Alberto Desfassiaux - Spanish - 50 / 100

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is one of the worst games of this year and proof that Activision really needs to give it a long break. A real shame that a series with so mucho history, is being treated like this.

BaziCenter - Mohammad Talebian - Persian - 6 / 10

Trying to slide in a DLC as a full- Fledged AAA title deals a massive blow to Modern Warfare 3’s Single and Multi Player experience, making it the one to forget or never even bother playing.

But Why Tho? - Kyle Foley - 4 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III recycles old ideas in a stale package that is a downright slog for most of the experience. It commits the ultimate sin of being boring, and it does not bode well for the future of a franchise that, for the last 20 years, has been the pinnacle of popular FPS games.

CGMagazine - David Walters - 7 / 10

Despite some moments where the campaign seemed confusing, Modern Warfare III is a decent enough reboot/sequel, allowing for some fun gameplay in the multiplayer and Zombies modes.

Cerealkillerz - Gabriel Bogdan - German - 6.5 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 gets pretty much everything wrong and delivers one of the worst campaigns in the history of the series with forced warzone elements in nearly every aspect of the game. The small hint of nostalgia through the modernized maps from 2009 fades quickly away because of the rest of its bad presentation.

Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 6 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III attempts to rekindle the fire but falls short, particularly in its disjointed campaign. The multiplayer, drawing on iconic maps from series history, excels with responsive controls, intense gunfights, and revamped loadouts. Yet, the biggest letdown is the lazy reskin of DMZ into a zombies mode, undermining the essence of what fans loved about it. Modern Warfare III shines in multiplayer but offends with its campaign, zombies, and blatant money-hungry tactics, leaving fans still yearning for the franchise’s former glory.

Daily Star - Tom Hutchison - 3.5 / 5

Overall, a poor Call of Duty but there will still be enough in the multiplayer for fans to enjoy for months to come.

Digital Spy - Laurence Mozafari - 3 / 5

If you play Call of Duty for the campaigns, you might be disappointed, but if you’re like pretty much everyone else and play everything else the smash-hit franchise has to offer, it might be a fun distraction. However, if you’re totally new, it’s probably not worth your time just for this. In fact, the question is more likely: does Call of Duty even need a campaign mode anymore?

Digital Trends - Billy Givens - 2.5 / 5

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 might just be the series’ worst installment yet.

Downtime Bros - Joe Harby - 4 / 10

If the original Modern Warfare 3 represented the culmination of a genre-defining FPS trilogy, then Modern Warfare III encapsulates everything wrong with contemporary Call of Duty.

Duuro Magazine - Krist Duro - No Recommendation

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 might not be the threequel we all deserved, but in no way in hell it’s a 4/10 game

Entertainment Geekly - Luis Alvaro - 2.5 / 5

It’s a campaign that, despite its moments of graphical splendor and fleeting adrenaline, ultimately feels half-baked—a shadow of what could have been a robust addition to the “Call of Duty” anthology.

Evilgamerz - Daan Nijboer - Dutch - 5 / 10

The single player is extremely lousy, with the terrible open combat missions, and few fans will be really happy with the new zombie mode. Although the multiplayer plays wonderfully, it consists solely of old maps with a slightly modernized look. You can definitely have fun in the online part, it even plays better than the previous part. But in terms of content, Modern Warfare 3 is the absolute low point of the series in recent years and certainly not worth the full price.

GAMES.CH - Sönke Siemens - German - 60%

We were really looking forward to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III campaign. Above all, the concept of open combat zones sounded promising. After our almost 6-hour first playthrough, however, we unfortunately have to admit that we had set our expectations far too high. If you exclude a few highlights such as the London and the missile bunker infiltration mission, then the “MW III” campaign turns out to be a clear step backwards compared to the two previous spin-offs and also the original “Modern Warfare” trilogy.

GGRecon - Alex Garton - 3 / 5

Modern Warfare 3 is disappointingly mediocre. However, as any CoD fan will tell you, the legacy of MW3 will be determined over the course of its multiplayer lifecycle, and how Sledgehammer chooses to respond to community feedback.

Game Rant - Dalton Cooper - 3 / 5

That’s really the story for Modern Warfare 3 across the board. The campaign is made up of Warzone content, the multiplayer is comprised of maps that are 14 years old, and the Zombies mode uses a map that will be recycled for the battle royale. $70 is a high asking price for what’s here, but those that do decide to take the plunge will find the best Call of Duty multiplayer experience in years and an intriguing open world Zombies mode that, while not quite as fun as the classic round-based Zombies maps, can still dish out memorable moments with friends.

GamePro - Tobias Veltin - German - 65 / 100

Despite the fun multiplayer, CoD Modern Warfare 3 is the biggest disappointment in series history so far.

GameSpot - S.E. Doster - 5 / 10

Player freedom drags down Modern Warfare 3’s biggest moments.

Gameblog - KiKiToes - French - 4 / 10

With this Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3. Activision has unfortunately proved right all those who have criticized the franchise since the dawn of time with arguments that are sometimes a bit excessive.

Gamer Guides - Craig Robinson - 5 / 10

Modern Warfare 3 has moments of Call of Duty classics, with a reinvigorated multiplayer, and a twist on Zombies. However, there is too much Warzone polluting the base experience, and the franchise should try harder to keep both experiences unique.

Gamerheadquarters - Jason Stettner - 4 / 10

Call of Duty Modern Warfare III is the most minimal effort we’ve ever seen from the franchise being essentially the exact same game from the previous year. It really does feel like an expansion pack. They literally took last year’s game, sped it up and shoved maps from fourteen years ago into it.

GamesBeat - Dean Takahashi - 3.5 / 5

Overall, it balanced out and the rest of the campaign was well done. As I mentioned, most players really care more about multiplayer than the single-player campaign. For me, I’ve always liked how the single-player story motivates you to play the multiplayer. And so it really does matter to me. I don’t know if my objections here mean that I don’t like the game overall. I feel like I’m a superfan who nitpicks endlessly while still pouring a lot of time into playing Call of Duty every year.

GamesHub - James O’Connor - 2 / 5

Regardless of your relationship to Call of Duty, your feelings about military shooters, your investment in the rebooted Modern Warfare saga, or how much or little you like to play the new Call of Duty online multiplayer every year, the Modern Warfare III campaign feels more like an indicator of a series in decline than a misstep.

Gaming Age - Austen Canupp - D+

I can’t really say I recommend playing the story, but it’s only 3 hours long, so you’re not wasting much time if you want to experience the disappointment firsthand.

GamingTrend - David Burdette - 75 / 100

Although a lackluster campaign and reused content holds it back, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has a few great tricks up its sleeve. The multiplayer engages in a way its predecessor missed the mark, and open-world Zombies is exactly as entertaining as it sounds. There’s more to be desired as a whole, but as rushed as it was, MWIII has solid elements that can be enjoyed.

Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 65 / 100

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 is a game made of other games, a hybrid that seeks to convince veteran fans with fantastic multiplayer. However, neither the homages, nor the “innovations” of the campaign and the zombies manage to disguise the obvious. This game is nothing more than a wild recycling of ideas made in a hurry.

IGN - Stella Chung - 6 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 reheats and reserves the same multiplayer from Modern Warfare 2 with some extra maps and tweaks as garnishes. This smooth combat remains gaming comfort food, but slower unlock progression makes it harder to get excited about.

IGN - Simon Cardy - 4 / 10

Underbaked, rehashed, and cobbled together from multiplayer parts, Modern Warfare 3’s single-player campaign is everything a Call of Duty story mode shouldn’t be.

IGN Italy - Angelo Bianco - Italian - 7.5 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III turned out to be what many feared: a sort of DLC of the previous chapter developed by Infinity Ward. Although undoubtedly fun for fans of arcade and fast-paced multiplayer shooters, Sledgehammer Games has done nothing but focus only on the nostalgia effect and few notable innovations, also creating an uninteresting and barely sufficient campaign.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 6 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 feels unfinished. The campaign feels like a spin-off of something much bigger, and the zombies don’t quite fit in the open world. The multiplayer acts as a redemption for a product that should have stayed in DLC.

INVEN - Kyuman Kim - Korean - 5.5 / 10

In granting players a bit of freedom, the campaign of this latest title has lost too much in return—perhaps even the reputation it had built up until now and the potential for the future. Fortunately, the refreshing zombie mode managed to somewhat heal the disappointment.

Invision Community - Craig Edwards - 5 / 10

Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 single-player campaign does blow me away and feels like a rushed attempt at finishing the trilogy. What showed signs of promise in the lead-up to release with Vladimir Makarov making a return, I was excited to see what Sledgehammer Games had done. However, it instead ends up being a lackluster attempt to relive the glory days from twelve years ago. Some story missions had moments of enjoyment but it’s attempted to introduce new open combat missions designed as an interesting premise but doesn’t work when you put it into the campaign.

Kakuchopurei - Lewis Larcombe - 70 / 100

Overall, Modern Warfare III seems to follow the narrative tone of Modern Warfare 2019 more closely than it does that of Modern Warfare II. Regarding gameplay, I’d hesitate to make a similar claim as the gameplay in this instalment stands out in its uniqueness compared to past versions. Despite this, I found the story quite enjoyable and eagerly anticipate its continuation.

Merlin’in Kazanı - Murat Olcan - Turkish - 48 / 100

Sometimes words are not enough to describe how bad a game is. If Modern Warfare III had never been released, we could say a lot more good things about it. Call of Duty 3 gave birth to a legend like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare. We don’t know what this game will lead to in the future.

PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 50 / 100

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 gets it wrong in practically every possible aspect, from the campaign with dubious design and shallow story, to the uninteresting zombies mode and even its classic competitive multiplayer mode delivering far below expectations. Little is really original and the game feels more like a reuse of parts of Warzone to create a new product to be sold at full price.

Press Start - Toby Berger - Unscored

It’s clear that Modern Warfare III’s campaign needed a lot more time to cook. It feels underbaked in so many areas, and I’d struggle to ever recommend it to anyone – whether you’re a series veteran or a relative newcomer. Comprised of uninteresting missions, an open zone structure that completely derails any narrative flow and a generally boring story, Modern Warfare III’s campaign is as drab as they come.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 4 / 10

“We need a new Call of Duty game every single year,” the Activision executives bellowed, and out popped Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 after the development times caught up with them. A truly anaemic release, there’s never been a surer sign to press pause on the series. 14-year-old content is the best thing about this year’s entry and if that’s not enough of an indictment of where Call of Duty is at in 2023, we don’t know what is. A franchise in serious need of a complete reboot, Modern Warfare 3 has to be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

Rectify Gaming - 5 / 10

In general, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III has an unimpressive Campaign that is forgettable compared to the rest of the franchise. The game’s multiplayer is expected to carry the load with the return of classic maps that are not even original to the new game and a weird twist on Zombies. The single-player mode of the game does not justify its price.

Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Jeremy Peel - Unscored

Folded-in features from battle royale can only go so far in saving this rushed production.

SECTOR.sk - Peter Dragula - Slovak - 5 / 10

Overall, it can’t be said that Modern Warfare III is explicitly bad. However, the issue lies in the fact that it largely consists of recycled content, and everywhere you look, there’s an effort to simplify the work. If it were released as DLC or at a lower price, it would be acceptable, but the full price and the attempt to present it as a full-fledged Call of Duty title bring down the rating. The brighter moments of the game include some campaign missions, Makarov, as well as nostalgic maps in multiplayer, but that’s about it.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

Modern Warfare 3 has provided everything call of duty players wish for – it’s undoubtedly very enjoyable in all its phases.

Seasoned Gaming - Alex Segovia - 5 / 10

If you hope to see the series’ campaign design feel like it’s not simply going through the motions, rehashing past glories and not half-baking potential new ideas, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III will leave you wanting.

Spaziogames - Nicolò Bicego - Italian - 5.5 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is an incredibly tired game.

The Game Crater - Tom Wilson - 4 / 10

The MW3 campaign gets by on Call of Duty’s expertly refined gunplay and little else. Its nonsensical narrative comes across as pitiful and dull, further hindered by the uninspired mission design that never extends beyond “go here and shoot them.” Purchasing MW3 for its campaign is a massive waste of money, let alone time.

TheSixthAxis - Gareth Chadwick - 5 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 isn’t an outright bad game, but it’s also not a particularly good one. Taken on its own, it’s a slightly above average first person shooter with a poor campaign, but in context, you can see how hurried and limited in scope this game really is. The multiplayer is effectively a classic map pack, Zombies and Open Combat Missions are game modes built within the existing Warzone map, and the campaign’s pacing and story come up short. It all adds up to a lacklustre experience and even a sense that Call of Duty is at risk of losing its identity.

We Got This Covered - Jonathan Wright - 2.5 / 5

Incomplete, unsatisfying, and utterly nonsensical. This shallow excuse of a sequel might just be the worst ‘Call of Duty’ entry to come out in a decade.

ZdobywcyGier.eu - Paweł Bortkiewicz - Polish - 4.5 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III is the first real failure in the series. Activision needs to immediately rethink the production process of the series, because unfortunately the declining form has continued for several years, and we are already approaching the bottom very quickly. Let’s hope that now, under the leadership of Xbox, the planning and mindset of those in charge of the series will change, because at this point it’s headed for a huge loss in the public eye.

Zoomg - Afshin Piroozi - Persian - 5.5 / 10

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III feels like a DLC that is released as full game. Campaign fails to deliver enjoyable story or missions and the open-world structure of the Zombies mode takes away the horror and tension that defined it in previous Call of Duty games. However, Multiplayer is where Modern Warfare 3 offers its most fun with good gunplay and vast variety of items but still it’s not enough to save the game completely. Modern Warfare 3 is a game that show the series maybe need a bit of rest to return to its glorious days again.