Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 marks the quick return of the series to the Black Ops line. It continues directly from Black Ops 6, which launched to record numbers. While the game delivers strong multiplayer features, including one of the best versions of Zombies to date, it falls short in a few key areas that hold it back from surpassing its predecessor.
Most fans will not spend much time with the campaign, but this year’s campaign is easily one of the weakest in the franchise since Call of Duty: Ghosts. It is messy both in its story and in how the co-op gameplay is handled. The campaign supports four-player co-op, yet the execution is poor. It is a design misstep that tries to offer freedom but is constantly dragged down by bad enemy encounters and poorly designed boss fights. The story also takes creative turns that make it feel disconnected from a traditional Call of Duty campaign.
The main campaign includes a boss fight in every mission and reuses many assets from multiplayer. It often feels like something added to check off a list rather than a focused, polished experience. Missions are broken into several types, such as exploring open areas or taking on combat scenarios and bosses. The campaign includes abilities like a super jump and a grappling hook, but the biggest problem is the constant switching between grounded missions and surreal hallucination sequences. It is a short campaign, taking less than five hours to finish, and it leaves a disappointing impression.
Fortunately, the rest of the game is solid, especially the multiplayer mode and the Zombies mode, which is easily the highlight this year. Multiplayer keeps the familiar Call of Duty feel with its 6v6 modes. There are more than a dozen maps available at launch, and several fan favorites have returned, including Hijacked, Raid, and Express. Movement has been improved through the new Omni movement system, allowing skilled players to pull off moves like wall bouncing. The biggest improvement for me is the adjustment to skill-based matchmaking, which makes the overall experience more enjoyable for players who simply want to have a good time.
While the Omni movement system is a great addition, it does not always feel fully supported by the map design. Even so, there are a few standout modes, such as Skirmish, which raises the player count to 20v20, and Overload, which focuses on team-based objectives. Matchmaking has been smooth in my experience. The game also offers fragmented downloads due to its large install size, so you can install only the multiplayer or campaign if you prefer.
Zombies mode is excellent, returning to a classic round-based setup. The map, Ashes of the Damned, includes a truck for traversal that can be upgraded over time. There are plenty of mechanics to engage with, including perks and multiple mode options, such as a standard mode and a Survival mode for players looking for greater challenge. This mode also features the best soundtrack in the game, with several memorable tracks. There is plenty of replay value here for both solo players and co op groups.
Endgame mode is a brand new addition in Call of Duty Black Ops 7. It turns the game into an extraction shooter set on the Avalon map. There are various objectives to complete, along with an experience system that lets you level up. Unfortunately, it is the weakest of the online modes because it lacks PvP and is limited to PvE only. It is good to see the developers experimenting with different ideas, but right now, this mode does not feel like a strong starting point.
Visually, the game looks similar to its predecessor, and since it is still a cross-generation release, major upgrades were never likely. The campaign has the most visually impressive moments, with a few missions offering standout scenes. The overall presentation is solid, but the heavy focus on co op makes the game feel dull in single player. For some reason, the developers chose not to include split-screen for the campaign, even though it is available in multiplayer and Zombies. On top of that, the game has faced controversy over the use of AI-generated content, which is unfortunate.
Call of Duty Black Ops 7 offers a feature-packed release, but some parts feel underwhelming, and the overall quality suffers because of it. Zombies mode is excellent, and traditional multiplayer remains fun, but the other modes need a lot of work to reach the same level. Nothing can fix the poor campaign, however.
On the positive side, the series usually receives strong post-launch support, so most of the issues aside from the campaign will likely be patched over time. The game has strong longevity and great replay value. Even fan favorite side modes like Dead Ops Arcade 4 make a return this year.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 relies on a franchise-best Zombies mode and refined multiplayer to salvage a package nearly ruined by a disastrous, identity-confused campaign. While the Omni movement shines, the single-player feels like a hollow, asset-flipping afterthought that completely fails to justify its existence.
