Call of Duty: Black Ops III

"While three years has given us some time to possibly forget how masterfully crafted Black Ops 2 was, Black Ops 3 is both the biggest and best Call of Duty game we’ve seen since then."

81%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

optimization, stability

89% User Score Based on 371,446 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

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Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$59.99

About

Call of Duty: Black Ops III - Zombies Chronicles Edition includes the full base game and the Zombies Chronicles content expansion, with 8 remastered classic Zombies maps from previous Black Ops and World at War games. This action-packed edition offers three game modes: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies, providing a deep and immersive Call of Duty experience. The game also supports dynamic 4K gaming on PS4 Pro, ensuring high-definition gameplay.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

+16

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 72,885 reviews

story623 positive mentions

optimization422 negative mentions

story
2,519 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
61%
14%
The story in "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it convoluted and difficult to follow, often requiring external resources to fully understand the plot. While the campaign features a futuristic narrative with some interesting concepts, it lacks the depth and connection to previous installments that fans expected, leading to disappointment. In contrast, the Zombies mode is praised for its intricate storytelling and engaging gameplay, often considered the highlight of the game, showcasing a well-developed narrative that resonates with long-time fans of the series.
- “The campaign is one of the best in the series, with a complex and engaging storyline with plenty of twists and turns.”
- “A deep storyline: Black Ops 3 Zombies has a deep, intricate storyline that spans multiple maps, with hidden easter eggs and secrets.”
- “The story is so convoluted, deep, and complex, that even four playthroughs later, entire contextual perceptions of the events taking place can be foundationally shifted.”
- “First off, the campaign is so convoluted that it makes Inception look like a children's bedtime story.”
- “The narrative was very lackluster; they completely removed player choices, stuffed in more collectibles which do nothing, then stacked the story full of characters that instantly disappear from the tutorial only to return later for 10 minutes to be slaughtered by you.”
- “The story is so convoluted, deep, and complex that even four playthroughs later, entire contextual perceptions of the events taking place can be foundationally shifted.”
gameplay
1,644 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
54%
6%
The gameplay of Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and innovative features such as wall-running and specialist abilities, which add depth and variety to both multiplayer and zombies modes. While many players appreciate the engaging and addictive nature of the gameplay, some criticize the campaign for its lack of excitement and depth, as well as the presence of microtransactions that can affect gameplay balance. Overall, the game is praised for its solid mechanics and extensive mod support, particularly in the zombies mode, making it a favorite among fans of the series.
- “Not to mention the gameplay is just really solid and addicting and will keep you playing for hours.”
- “The gameplay is really smooth, especially when wallrunning and 360 no-scoping a guy with a shotgun in campaign.”
- “The zombies mode in Black Ops 3 is a marvel of design, combining the best aspects of survival horror and first-person shooter gameplay to create an experience that is both terrifying and exhilarating.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is infested with hackers, the gameplay lacks joy or excitement, and multiplayer matches are plagued by lag and/or glitches.”
- “This sounds fun on paper, but the abilities and attributes don't feel like they were added to strategize or to use them within certain instances of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is a steaming pile of shit that I've wasted 6 hours of my life trying to get used to an absolute shit game.”
graphics
1,444 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
52%
8%
The graphics in Call of Duty: Black Ops III have received a mixed reception from players. Many praise the visuals as impressive and well-optimized for a game released in 2015, highlighting the vibrant art style and detailed environments, particularly in the Zombies mode. However, some users report significant performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, especially on lower-end systems, leading to frustration with the game's optimization. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered good, they are marred by technical problems that affect gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are top-notch and the gameplay is smooth and satisfying.”
- “The graphics are some of the best in the Call of Duty series, with detailed and immersive levels, and the character models and special effects look great.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, gorgeous even, and the guns are amazing; the slide is a good parkour/mobility feature and the Chronicles map pack along with the other DLC maps are golden opportunities that you cannot miss if you love zombies.”
- “This combined with frequent graphical glitches (guns and knives not appearing, armor and helmets missing, and missing or broken textures) meant that this doesn't even get a pass technically.”
- “Bought on sale, played for about 25 minutes while watching my fps slowly decrease until it became unplayable no matter what graphics settings were selected.”
- “The graphics are so smooth and sweet it is crazy! The campaign is literally laughable with graphics and shading being sub par for a cod game.”
optimization
1,165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
47%
36%
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback from users, with many reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, frame drops, and unplayable conditions even on high-end hardware. While some players have found temporary fixes through community patches or driver updates, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for PC, requiring significant adjustments to settings for a playable experience. Despite its enjoyable gameplay, the optimization problems detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “There are a few performance issues related to recent updates, but fan patches have aided with the situation.”
- “Great game, but horribly optimized for PC.”
- “Despite having a 3060 laptop, I sometimes get the same performance as my 960 PC.”
- “The performance is outright unplayable; I'm going between 0 to 14 frames in the menu, where a single guy and nothing else is being rendered.”
- “Horrible optimization, loads of errors, and kicking out of lobbies.”
- “The game is poorly optimized; you could be playing on an RTX 3090 and still have massive frame drops.”
stability
427 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
82%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that significantly impact gameplay, particularly in multiplayer and campaign modes. While some users have noted that the game runs well on higher-end systems, others have experienced severe performance issues, including lag and connection problems. Overall, the game is described as buggy and in need of further optimization, making it a frustrating experience for many players.
- “Fantastic game! It has local co-op so my family and I can play together, and it runs great without any issues when expanding to dual monitor with NVIDIA Surround.”
- “The game runs great on my PC with a few small hiccups here and there, but it's nothing game-breaking.”
- “This game runs great on my GTX 960, AMD Black Edition, and 8GB of RAM.”
- “The game freezes at the same point very early in campaign mode, not allowing me to progress any further.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is infested with hackers, the gameplay lacks joy or excitement, and multiplayer matches are plagued by lag and glitches.”
- “Steam update a while ago messed up the game causing low FPS, freezes, and crashes, and has not been fixed in months. Do not buy; you'll have to fix it yourself with mods or play in offline mode due to how old this game is.”
humor
314 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
2%
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players enjoying the comedic elements of the zombie mode, funny mods, and hilarious interactions with friends. Many reviews highlight the amusing voice lines, absurd scenarios, and the entertaining nature of custom maps, making it a source of laughter and memorable moments. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, contributing to its enjoyment and replayability.
- “Zombies is perfect, got me laughing, crying and shitting my pants.”
- “I love the zombies gamemode of this game because there's an amazing storyline as well as you can download custom zombie maps which are either funny as hell to play on or fun as hell.”
- “Playing this game has made me laugh harder than I have ever laughed in my life.”
- “Funny game, unfunny price”
- “It's not funny.”
- “So bad it's not funny.”
replayability
255 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The replayability of "Call of Duty: Black Ops III" is highly praised, particularly for its Zombies mode, which offers an extensive array of custom maps and mods that provide virtually infinite replay value. Players appreciate the variety of gameplay experiences available through community-created content, alongside the engaging mechanics and challenges of the official maps. While the campaign mode lacks significant replayability, the overall experience remains compelling due to the depth and creativity found in the Zombies mode.
- “The zombies mode is easily one of the best in map design and layout, with a massive fanbase, tons of maps, and a seemingly endless replayability factor.”
- “The custom maps and mods are amazing and add tons of replay value, making this game one of the most replayable in the Call of Duty series.”
- “Zombies offers infinite replayability and modded maps make the experience 100 times more fun.”
- “The campaign, although very confusing and nonsensical story-wise, did prove to be fun on the first playthrough; however, with little to no replay value or intriguing plot points or characters, it is a very forgettable one that did not live up to the standards and expectations set by the past three Treyarch COD games.”
- “Bought this game for zombies, turned out disappointed because of the maps lacking any real creativity or replayability. If you plan on getting this for customs, just know it won't be as fun as YouTubers make things look; actually, a lot drier and lacking fun maps.”
- “The game feels a bit underwhelming and loses some replayability after a while.”
monetization
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
58%
35%
The monetization model in this game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a cash grab due to the prevalence of microtransactions, loot boxes, and expensive DLCs. While some aspects, like the zombies mode, are praised, the overall sentiment is that the aggressive monetization tactics detract from the gameplay experience, making it feel exploitative and frustrating for players who prefer to unlock content through regular play. Many reviews suggest avoiding the game at full price due to these issues.
- “Multiplayer is fun, good maps and balancing, microtransactions are completely optional.”
- “The gunplay feels smooth yet slightly basic, but the fun range of weapons makes up for that. The gobblegum system is super rewarding, and every 7/8 rounds an in-game purchase gives you a chance for a 'liquid divinium', which is an in-game currency used to purchase small boosts to your game.”
- “While there are paid skins and other items, at least weapons are unlockable through the game and do not require microtransactions.”
- “Microtransactions have ruined the entire series and this game is what started it 10/10.”
- “The system of microtransactions forced into this game is simply deplorable.”
- “The addition of microtransactions is scummy as anything for a full priced AAA game, but thankfully you can just avoid them.”
grinding
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
30%
68%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely regarded as both a significant draw and a source of frustration. Players enjoy the extensive grinding opportunities in Zombies mode, which offers a rewarding progression system and memorable experiences, but many find the campaign and multiplayer modes tedious and overly reliant on repetitive tasks. Overall, while grinding can be fun and engaging, it often feels excessive and can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game, especially when played solo.
- “Game play wise there are some brilliant maps and guns; there is a gun progression system, but this isn't too tedious.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Almost no grinding.”
- “Sure you can grind to get them, but it's really tedious.”
- “The missions are mostly tedious and boring.”
- “The multiplayer was unsurprisingly very addicting at first but quickly became a very tedious chore.”
music
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its variety and quality, enhancing the overall experience with memorable soundtracks that fit the game's atmosphere. Players particularly enjoy the unique tracks associated with different maps, as well as the nostalgic appeal of classic zombie songs. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in the music's integration with gameplay, with occasional jarring transitions and a few tracks feeling out of place.
- “Game is definitely a vibe late at night while listening to music.”
- “The soundtrack for each map matches perfectly with the tone that it tries to convey.”
- “Shadows of Evil - a true masterpiece, it's pretty new player friendly if they look out for visual cues, but for the most part, hardcore players would find a lot of enjoyment from this map. I truly find it to be one of zombies' must-play experiences; I love the jazz music as a jazz musician myself, it's awesome to hear it in a zombies map with ancient evils lurking around.”
- “The voices will sometimes be so quiet you can't hear or process what's being said, then the music cuts back on in a jarring smack to the face, drawing blood from your poor, poor ears.”
- “The main menus have no consistent tone or mood with a variety of either incredibly generic or incredibly odd musical choices.”
- “Black Ops III plays some of the most random and unfitting music I could think of, and although you can disable the random tracks playing, the original main menu music for it is an incredibly generic 'ominous' tune.”
emotional
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
8%
Players express a wide range of emotional experiences with the game, particularly through the Zombies mode, which evokes nostalgia, joy, and even sadness. Many reviewers highlight the emotional impact of specific gameplay moments and character arcs, while others criticize the campaign for lacking depth and emotional engagement. Overall, the Zombies experience is often described as a source of personal connection and fulfillment, contrasting sharply with the perceived shortcomings of the campaign and multiplayer modes.
- “I love this game, so before I start getting overly emotional and start crying about my love for it, I want to thank you for making it.”
- “Black Ops 3, the twelfth entry in the COD series, is the most aggravating, emotionally devastating game I have ever played.”
- “This game made me cry when I was younger.”
- “You're trapped by a boring storyline that takes forever to develop!”
- “The emotional moments feel forced and lack genuine impact.”
- “I found it hard to connect with the characters, making the emotional scenes fall flat.”
atmosphere
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
The atmosphere in "Call of Duty: Black Ops 3" is widely praised for its unique and immersive settings, particularly in the Zombies mode, where maps like "Shadows of Evil" and "Gorod Krovi" evoke distinct themes ranging from 1920s noir to dark swamps. While some players appreciate the atmospheric charm and character development, others feel that the futuristic elements detract from immersion, leading to a mixed reception regarding the campaign's atmosphere. Overall, the game's graphics and map design contribute significantly to its atmospheric appeal, making it a standout feature for many players.
- “The atmosphere and character development that came from Origins, then The Giant, then Der Eisendrache just made the map perfect.”
- “Each map has its own unique atmosphere which I really like; updated maps like Kino, Nacht, and Verruckt look outstanding and dare I say better than the originals.”
- “The atmosphere of this map is just something else; it is totally different from the past BO3 maps, there are no Lovecraftian horrors or interdimensional beings.”
- “The main problem I find with these overly futuristic installments is that they're not believable enough to immerse yourself in, and atmosphere is completely non-existent.”
- “The previous zombie modes had more level of atmosphere and it was easier to feel fear in those.”
- “Unoptimized for certain hardware like i5 CPUs for example, dull story, dull characters, poor voice acting, very dull atmosphere in campaign for a COD game, very disappointing.”
character development
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
42%
33%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its lack of depth and impact compared to previous titles in the series. While some appreciate the narrative and character use in the campaign, others criticize it for being melodramatic and unengaging, leading to a feeling of missed potential. Overall, the consensus suggests that character development is a significant weakness, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere and character development that came from Origins, then The Giant, then Der Eisendrache just made the map perfect.”
- “One of my favorite games ever, it rewards you for just being yourself. You get lost in the character development, and it never just comes down to one choice that decides it all. 10/10, you will get the most enjoyment if you just be yourself.”
- “Campaign 9/10 - nearly impossible to finish alone, but with a friend, things shake up a lot. Without being extremely linear, the campaign is the most narrative the franchise has ever seen, with great character development and great use of said characters. It feels very Call of Duty at its core, without being too familiar.”
- “15 minutes in, we have a melodramatic cutscene with zero real impact on character development.”
- “It's sad to me because I really used to love the sneaky missions, player choices, level variety, and character development of BO1 and BO2, but there is literally none of that to be found here.”
- “For the record, the story was kind of interesting... like barely... but not really. I'd give this a 1.4 out of 10 for boring gameplay, no real challenge, a pointless advancement/upgrade system, terrible weapons across the board, corny dialogue to match the garbage story, and even worse character development... complete pile of poo.”