Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

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"Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" is a single-player spy action thriller set in the early 90s, featuring an intriguing story, sensational gameplay, and delightful visuals. The Vault Edition includes various digital items such as operator packs, mastercraft weapons, and a battle pass. However, be prepared for some bugs that might affect the overall gaming experience. The game offers a mind-bending narrative, set during a period of global political transition, and is unbound by the rules of engagement.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 5,623 reviews

story189 positive mentions

optimization52 negative mentions

The campaign is engaging with a compelling story and varied missions.
Zombies mode is a return to form, offering fun gameplay and challenging easter eggs.
Omnimovement adds a fresh and enjoyable dynamic to the gameplay.

Multiplayer suffers from poor map design, spawn issues, and aggressive skill-based matchmaking.
The game is plagued by technical issues, including frequent crashes and packet burst problems.
Microtransactions and the battle pass system detract from the overall experience.

story
642 mentions
29 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The story of "Call of Duty: Black Ops 6" has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its engaging campaign filled with cinematic moments, twists, and a variety of mission types, including horror elements and open-world segments. However, many critics found the narrative convoluted and lacking depth, with certain missions feeling out of place or overly drawn out, leading to a sense of disconnection from the characters. Overall, while the campaign offers enjoyable gameplay and some memorable moments, it struggles to deliver a cohesive and satisfying story compared to previous entries in the series.
- “The campaign is a standout, weaving a compelling, action-packed story filled with twists and memorable characters.”
- “It masterfully blends emotional depth with adrenaline-pumping missions, keeping players engaged from start to finish.”
- “The campaign was fun until you are forced to play zombie missions.”
- “The campaign is mid, having a mid story that gives no detail, the last missions and the ending being pure ass.”
- “Campaign mode felt like it was lacking quite a bit, the story never seemed to actually follow a set story and ended up confusing most of the time.”
- “The storyline is completely uninspiring, and the missions are overly drawn out, killing all the excitement.”
gameplay
376 mentions
27 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest Call of Duty installment has received mixed reviews, with many players praising the fast-paced action and new movement mechanics, such as "omnimovement," which adds tactical flexibility. However, criticisms focus on poor map design, frustrating spawn mechanics, and a perceived lack of innovation, leading to chaotic and often luck-based experiences rather than skill-driven gameplay. While some enjoy the nostalgic elements and satisfying gunplay, others feel the game is bogged down by issues like skill-based matchmaking and repetitive mechanics, making it a divisive entry in the franchise.
- “The gameplay feels smooth and natural.”
- “All in all, I love this game for its deeply challenging gameplay and a sense of discovery every time you see a new area or find a secret in an area you couldn't access before.”
- “The gameplay is surprisingly solid, and I genuinely recommend giving this game a shot.”
- “Additionally, poor map design and random spawn systems exacerbate the chaotic experience, making gameplay feel luck-based rather than skill-driven.”
- “While it's true Call of Duty has some awesome gunplay and fun moments, it seems that these highlights are overshadowed by poor map design, bad respawn mechanics, and downright frustrating game modes.”
- “The gameplay loop is painfully repetitive.”
graphics
208 mentions
37 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the impressive detail and smooth performance on high-end hardware, while others criticize the visuals as outdated or inferior to previous titles in the franchise. Many users report issues with graphical settings resetting and performance drops, particularly on lower-end systems, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, while some find the graphics stunning and immersive, others feel they fall short of expectations, especially given the game's long development time.
- “The graphics are stunning, making each match visually engaging.”
- “The graphics quality, lighting, and environmental details are superb, creating a realistic and immersive battlefield.”
- “The graphics are amazing and I love the zombies the most.”
- “The game straight up gives me a headache due to the graphic quality now and I've tried changing every setting.”
- “Even the graphics haven't improved to the last 3 games.”
- “The visuals feel outdated, and the environments lack any real creativity.”
optimization
157 mentions
11 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The optimization of Black Ops 6 has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including crashes, stuttering, and high ping due to poorly designed matchmaking systems. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on mid-range systems, the overall consensus highlights a lack of polish and stability, particularly on high-end PCs, leading to a frustrating gaming experience. Many reviews emphasize that the game's technical shortcomings detract significantly from its potential enjoyment.
- “The attention to detail in environments, character models, and weaponry is remarkable, and the game runs smoothly even in the most chaotic battles.”
- “Graphically, the game looks great and the optimization has been pretty good.”
- “I’ve had very few issues with lag or bugs, and any minor hiccups were patched quickly by the devs. It’s optimized really well, which makes it enjoyable and immersive without performance interruptions.”
- “The matchmaking in Black Ops 6 (BO6) is engagement-optimized (EOMM), not skill-based, meaning matches are predetermined to maximize player retention.”
- “Worst COD to date, it actively rigs your gameplay, it is terribly optimized, just an overall shitfest.”
- “This game is terrible, it does not run well, it does not play well, it is not optimized.”
stability
107 mentions
3 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
96 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with players reporting numerous bugs, glitches, and crashes that severely impact gameplay. Many users experience issues with menus, freezing, and lag, making the game frustrating and often unplayable. Despite some players having minimal issues, the overall consensus is that the game is a buggy mess, leading to disappointment given its price point.
- “The game looks amazing, and if you are not doing anything, it runs great.”
- “Graphics set to extreme and no glitches or issues yet.”
- “I re-downloaded after the patch, and it runs great.”
- “Completely infested with bugs, glitches, and hackers.”
- “This game is actually terrible, glitches, settings not saving, it's just so boring.”
- “Game runs terribly, drops to single digit framerate during cutscenes, freezes up, constant crashes to desktop, if you lose internet connection your single player game is interrupted, unplayable garbage.”
monetization
78 mentions
4 % positive mentions
31 % neutral mentions
65 % negative mentions
The monetization in Black Ops 6 has been widely criticized for being excessively aggressive and manipulative, with many players feeling that microtransactions provide unfair matchmaking advantages and detract from the overall gaming experience. Reviewers describe the game as a "cash grab," highlighting the high prices for content and the overwhelming presence of ads for in-game purchases, which overshadow the gameplay and progression. Despite some enjoyment in the core mechanics, the pervasive monetization tactics have left a sour taste among the player base, leading to frustration and disappointment.
- “It's a real shame that the game itself is fun, because the wretched stain of the monetization is putting in so much work to make the game feel like complete trash.”
- “Black Ops 6 will try to sell you on the idea of a personalized experience, but the reality is, it’s just a way for them to wring more money out of players, while making you feel like you’re 'progressing.' It’s an insult to anyone who just wants to play the game without being bombarded by pushy in-game purchases.”
- “The content feels recycled, the gameplay stagnates, and the passion from developers—if it’s there—seems buried under layers of microtransactions.”
- “Players who spend money on microtransactions seem to receive matchmaking advantages, further skewing the experience.”
- “What I absolutely hate about this game is the absolutely predatory cash grab, from the way too high standard price to everything else; there's nothing okay with that kind of pricing for skin packs and other mechanics.”
- “Black Ops 6 will try to sell you on the idea of a personalized experience, but the reality is, it’s just a way for them to wring more money out of players while making you feel like you’re 'progressing.' It’s an insult to anyone who just wants to play the game without being bombarded by pushy in-game purchases.”
grinding
72 mentions
4 % positive mentions
4 % neutral mentions
92 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding the camo and weapon leveling systems tedious and repetitive, often comparing it unfavorably to previous titles. While some enjoy the challenge and the nostalgia of grinding for camos, others express frustration over the lengthy and monotonous nature of the tasks, compounded by issues like server disconnections and matchmaking problems. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant part of the game, but one that could benefit from improvements to enhance enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Slowly losing my soul grinding for camos.”
- “The lack of innovation in gameplay, combined with repetitive maps and a grindy progression system, makes each session more tedious than enjoyable.”
- “The camo grind is annoying too, since most of the camos require a ton of headshot kills, which makes it pretty tedious.”
music
43 mentions
26 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the powerful and immersive soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, particularly in single-player and campaign modes. However, many players criticize the menu music as annoying and difficult to turn off, while also noting that the sound design can be inconsistent, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the soundtrack is often described as a significant improvement over previous titles in the franchise, contributing positively to the atmosphere during combat.
- “The sound design is equally impressive, immersing players in the heat of combat with crisp audio effects and an intense soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack is powerful, bassy, and well-timed.”
- “The soundtrack for multiplayer and zombies brings back the vibes of Black Ops 2.”
- “The music doesn't fit the game at all.”
- “People are praising the game when it's been the same song just remixed differently every year.”
- “No audio cues hype you up, or get that blood running like when the Kino song came on, or when that Thunder Gun goes off.”
humor
31 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as unintentional, stemming from server issues, inconsistent gameplay mechanics, and the absurdity of certain design choices, leading to a mix of frustration and laughter among players. Many find the game's shortcomings, such as hit registration problems and the high cost of skins, to be ironically amusing, while others appreciate the comedic elements in character dialogue and unique gameplay moments. Overall, the humor is a blend of genuine enjoyment and a recognition of the game's flaws, creating a lighthearted experience despite its shortcomings.
- “It has had me spending more hours and laughing harder than I've laughed at a game in a long time.”
- “My favorite character being Felix, his funny one-liners, his sarcastic sense of humor.”
- “The campaign is quite good, and I find the multiplayer to be hilarious, especially with all the diving.”
atmosphere
20 mentions
30 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is a mixed bag, with the campaign praised for its engaging storyline and immersive military feel, reminiscent of earlier titles like Black Ops 1 and 2. However, the Zombies mode has been criticized for losing its atmospheric charm and personality, with some maps feeling lackluster compared to the classic settings. While certain maps like Terminus are noted for their depth and secrets, overall, the game's atmosphere does not fully capture the nostalgic essence of previous installments.
- “There are 2 maps on launch: Terminus, the classic dark and ominous zombies setting clearly designed for veteran players, and Liberty Falls, a much brighter tone and atmosphere adding a fresh experience to zombies gameplay, which has clearly been designed for casual players as it's more spacious but still very fun regardless.”
- “Some of the more abstract scenes also allow the developer to really show off its artistic chops, with bright primary colors and an effective dream-like atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack, too, is outstanding and really adds to the atmosphere, making every firefight feel like a scene from a blockbuster movie.”
- “There is no atmosphere; the story for zombies is disappointing, like the maps.”
- “I feel like the zombies interface has been completely lost; it doesn't seem like the typical atmosphere that has always given that feeling.”
- “It was lacking in the personality, atmosphere, and difficulty of older zombies titles.”
replayability
15 mentions
47 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game offers decent replayability through its branching storyline, multiple endings, and various modes like campaign, zombies, and multiplayer. While some players appreciate the depth provided by challenges and character upgrades, others feel that the content may become stale quickly, particularly in the zombies mode. The campaign's engaging missions and choice-based mechanics contribute positively to replay value, but some players express disappointment over the lack of innovative features that could enhance long-term engagement.
- “The branching storyline and multiple endings offer great replayability, making every decision feel impactful.”
- “It has much replayability because of the campaign and zombies that have many easter eggs and the multiplayer that will work for a couple of years.”
- “Every mission feels distinct, and the choice-based mechanics allow for different outcomes, making it feel personal and replayable.”
- “Return of round-based zombies sounded cool, only to be ruined by giving us very little content which is exhausted in the first week. Of course, new content will come, but open-world zombies in MW3 offered way more content and replay value.”
- “The experience and unlock system for special abilities and perks is cool, but there is a lack of replay value in zombies. Maxing them out would burn most people out, to be honest, and defeat the purpose of the system.”
- “No easter egg boss fights, no buildable special weapons, no replay value at all.”
emotional
14 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its intense dialogue and well-developed characters, creating powerful moments that resonate with players. While many appreciate the blend of emotional depth and action, some express frustration over technical issues that detract from their experience. Overall, the game evokes nostalgia and strong feelings, with some players reporting lasting emotional impacts from the storyline.
- “It masterfully blends emotional depth with adrenaline-pumping missions, keeping players engaged from start to finish.”
- “The developers went all out creating fleshed-out personalities for each zombie; some moan, some groan, and some write you emotional letters before you obliterate them.”
- “Bo6 has perfected the storytelling formula, combining deep, emotional moments with high-octane action sequences.”
character development
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while there is a noticeable effort in the cutscenes and character development, the overall execution suffers from poor character design and cheesy elements, detracting from the game's immersive experience.
- “You can tell they really put effort into making the cutscenes and character development.”
- “So much of the game just looks terrible and is terribly cheesy, from character design to emotes, to user interface and even the gameplay.”