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Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare puts the franchise back where it needs to be. You get a wonderful campaign, team-oriented spec ops, and a variety of multiplayer options that cater to those who love large and small scale warfare.
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, graphics
Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
82% User Score Based on 15,564 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 53 reviews

Platforms

Xbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassWeb BrowserPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox Cloud GamingXboxWindowsPlayStation
Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare Game Cover

About Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with warfare and violence themes. It was developed by Raven Software and was released on October 24, 2019. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Buy Call of Duty Modern Warfare on PS4. Immerse yourself in a raw and provocative new incarnation of the Modern Warfare series.

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Games Like Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare

Looking for games like Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare? Here are top shooter recommendations with a warfare and violence focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 or Battlefield 4.

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Reviews

82%Audience ScoreBased on 15,564 reviews
story1k positive mentions
stability98 negative mentions

  • The campaign offers a gripping, cinematic, and emotionally engaging story with memorable characters and intense missions.
  • Gameplay is polished and responsive with weighty, realistic gun mechanics and fluid movement, creating an immersive first-person shooter experience.
  • The game features stunning, photorealistic graphics, detailed environments, and excellent sound design, all contributing to a gritty and immersive modern warfare atmosphere.
  • Multiplayer suffers from balance issues, cheaters, frustrating player base, frequent crashes, and technical bugs leading to stability problems.
  • The grind for weapon camos and progression is tedious and repetitive, with aggressive and intrusive monetization practices negatively impacting progression and enjoyment.
  • Some parts of the campaign and spec ops modes are criticized for being repetitive, lacking tactical depth, and having a loose or disjointed story with occasional lazy writing.
  • story

    2,254 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    45% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 5% negative mentions

    The story in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) is widely praised for its gripping, intense, and cinematic campaign with memorable missions like "Clean House" and strong character development, particularly of Captain Price and Farah. It offers a mature, realistic portrayal of modern warfare with a mix of stealth and action-packed scenarios, though some find it short and occasionally disjointed or clichéd. Overall, the campaign is considered engaging and a highlight of the game, especially when experienced at a discounted price.

    • “Other than that, it was amazing; the production value and the pacing were great, along with the weight of the story, the charisma of each character, and even the moments where the game gave choice options to the player, it was extremely satisfying to play this campaign.”
    • “The story feels intense from start to finish, with cinematic missions, realistic gunfights, and strong characters that actually make you care about what’s happening.”
    • “The campaign is engaging, with memorable characters and intense missions that keep players interested from beginning to end.”
    • “Story ending felt like lazy writing.”
    • “The story reads like a teenage boy with no understanding of warfare or politics outside of video games wrote it.”
    • “It really felt like different studios were working on completely different missions for something else and threw it all in together anyway with a plot twist that felt it was thrown together at last minute with no real logic or reason why characters would do the thing they do other than to keep the plot moving.”
  • graphics

    1,001 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    64% positive mentions, 35% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions

    The graphics of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) are widely praised for their stunning, photorealistic quality, detailed character models, and immersive environments that still hold up well years after release. The game features cinematic visuals and realistic lighting, contributing to an intense, movie-like battlefield experience across both campaign and multiplayer. While the graphics demand solid hardware and occasionally cause technical issues for some, they represent a significant leap in visual fidelity for the series and remain a key highlight of the game.

    • “The graphics, animations, and sound design are some of the best in the franchise, making every match feel immersive and high quality.”
    • “The campaign is just so beautiful dude, the graphics are amazing, the cinematics are top tier, the sounds, the effects, the characters and emotions it all gives a strong feeling of a real life war, this campaign is just peak gaming, and also gamemodes in multiplayer are sick, love snd.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, and the audio design is top-tier – you really feel immersed in the battlefield.”
    • “The campaign is decent, graphics are okay though you don't have a shadow, a reflection, you can't shoot bodies, and you have no legs.”
    • “I like the Call of Duty series, and I hated the new ones, and thought I'd give that one a try... it's absolute garbage... I have a brand new $3000 graphics card and the graphics are way worse than when I play that game on my $500 and a few years old PS4... (yes every setting were set on maximum) you are forced to link an Activision account, or else the game closes and you can't do anything... it won't even let you in the menu or settings... you open the game, the first screen you see is register or close the game...”
    • “The game has truly sublime character models, excellent effects, and some expertly crafted environments, but most maps have painfully poor models and rough textures, falling short of the promised 'next-generation visuals'.”
  • gameplay

    834 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    47% positive mentions, 50% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) delivers a polished, realistic gameplay experience with tight shooting mechanics, fluid movement, and a strong tactical focus that balances arcade and mil-sim elements. The campaign offers varied, engaging missions with smooth, satisfying combat, while multiplayer is generally praised for fun, fast-paced action despite occasional balance issues and a frustrating player base. Though some find the gameplay repetitive or hampered by bugs and hackers, overall it is seen as a high point for the franchise’s mechanics and immersive gunplay.

    • “Overall, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare reinvents a beloved sub-series with a bold, grounded narrative and refined gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and responsive, with weighty gun mechanics that make every shot feel real.”
    • “Modern Warfare carries an exceptional level of detail—spanning across the gunplay, sound design, maps, and fast-paced movement mechanics—creating a perfect and addictive first-person experience.”
    • “However, gameplay wise this is the most camper friendly Call of Duty you could play; I am convinced that the people who made this game were the camping players from previous Call of Duty games making a game just for them.”
    • “Spec ops is just a bunch of missions in Verdansk (yes the exact same battle royale map) and they didn't even bother to add new areas; the gameplay is just shooting a million enemies repeatedly and blowing stuff up. There is no tactics or interesting gameplay. At least the campaign had night missions where you raid houses, those could have been implemented. As of now, the player base is dropping and not sure when it will go on another sale but personally, if you don't have a lot of time, I would recommend any of the newer games like MW2 (2022) instead.”
    • “The multiplayer part of Call of Duty is a pure mess in my opinion, overall chaotic gameplay experience, so I wouldn't even bother with it.”
  • optimization

    187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    42% positive mentions, 37% neutral mentions, 21% negative mentions

    Optimization in this game is generally praised for delivering smooth performance and good graphics on a wide range of hardware, including mid-tier and lower-end PCs, with many users reporting stable frame rates even on ultra settings. However, some players experience issues such as stuttering, shader loading delays, occasional crashes, and worse performance in multiplayer, indicating inconsistencies possibly related to specific setups or updates. Overall, it is considered well optimized compared to newer titles, though a few complaints about poor optimization persist.

    • “Overall it is a well optimized and well polished game.”
    • “The optimization is excellent as well - the game runs very smoothly without any issues.”
    • “Game is very well optimized.”
    • “Horribly optimized and runs like crap in 4K, at least.”
    • “The game crashes regularly due to being outdated on PC; it needs heavy performance updates if it wants to charge 60 dollars.”
    • “I have Ryzen 5 3600 and 3070 Ti with 32GB of RAM, this game installed on NVMe SSD and still stutters like hell.”
  • stability

    116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    15% positive mentions, 1% neutral mentions, 84% negative mentions

    The game suffers from frequent crashes, freezes, and various bugs, particularly in multiplayer, causing frustrating gameplay and stability issues. While many users report smooth performance on high-end PCs and praise the campaign experience, numerous players face technical problems such as screen freezes, glitches, and server instability. Overall, the game has notable stability challenges, especially on PC, that impact the multiplayer experience despite good graphics and campaign quality.

    • “Very well optimized, runs great on humble machines.”
    • “Graphically the game still looks stunning and runs great, my 4070 averages 200+ fps on max settings at 1080p.”
    • “Game runs great with 4k and ultra settings with ray tracing enabled, DLSS set to quality mode on my modest 12700 and 3060 ti.”
    • “Recently it crashes or freezes as soon as I try to start a game.”
    • “Game freezes immediately after launch.”
    • “Once I'm in game, either co-op or single player, my screen freezes every 20 seconds making firefights completely handicapped.”
  • atmosphere

    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    54% positive mentions, 42% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The game excels in creating a gritty, realistic, and immersive atmosphere that captures the intensity and moral complexity of modern warfare. Praised for its photorealistic graphics, detailed environments, authentic sound design, and cinematic missions, it delivers a tension-filled experience reminiscent of military films and offers a standout, enduring atmospheric quality within the Call of Duty series.

    • “From the first mission, the game creates a gritty modern war atmosphere with solid gunplay and action-packed gameplay.”
    • “Every mission feels like part of a military movie: tense gunfights, emotional moments, special forces operations, night raids, building assaults — everything is detailed and atmospheric.”
    • “The tension, atmosphere, and meticulous design create an unforgettable experience that stays with you long after the mission ends.”
    • “The story was well written from my perspective. The mechanics and graphics are very good, especially the 'clean house' and hospital missions, which amazed me with their intense atmosphere. I felt as if I was in a real-life operation.”
    • “From the opening missions to the tense night raids, the game nails the atmosphere of modern conflict—dark, morally complex, and uncomfortably close to reality.”
    • “It dials back the spectacle in favor of a gritty, morally complex atmosphere that emphasizes the harsh realities of modern conflict.”
  • emotional

    60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    97% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 3% negative mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its gripping, cinematic, and realistic portrayal of modern warfare, with many players describing deeply touching and intense moments that evoke genuine tears and emotional investment. While some find the story impactful and character-driven, others feel it occasionally relies on shock value or lacks the emotional build-up seen in earlier series entries. Overall, the campaign is recognized for its powerful narrative, memorable characters, and thought-provoking moral complexity.

    • “The campaign is immersive, emotionally engaging, and filled with intense, cinematic moments that keep players hooked from start to finish.”
    • “The characters—Captain Price, Farah, and Alex—are well-written and memorable, giving the story emotional weight beyond the usual 'shoot the bad guys' formula.”
    • “The narrative succeeds in portraying the harsh realities of war and the toll it takes on the characters, making it an emotionally charged experience that leaves a lasting impact.”
    • “Game itself is below basic with a boring storyline and uneventful missions.”
    • “I believe online mode is used as an excuse for the game's short and boring story.”
  • music

    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The music and soundtrack receive mixed but generally positive feedback, with many praising its atmospheric quality, emotional impact, and fitting the game’s mood, though some find it minimal or less memorable compared to previous entries. The main menu music and sound design are often highlighted as strengths, enhancing immersion and focus. However, a few users consider the music underwhelming or slow-paced, impacting overall engagement for them.

    • “Little things like map easter eggs, the ambient sound effects, the soundtrack, the story, all of it was amazing and when comparing it to something like BO6 the difference is night and day.”
    • “Mw19 is the best Call of Duty ever made, and I will always stand by that. Does that mean it's perfect with zero issues? No, of course not, but this was when CoD reeled me back in with a game that actually felt different and fresh and (for its time) truly next gen: graphics, music, campaign, animations, sound effects; this game is the standard that CoD would follow going forward (for better or worse is up for you to decide).”
    • “The soundtrack fits the game and its atmosphere masterfully.”
    • “There’s no noise, no soundtrack in the middle, it’s very slow paced in a very tight environment where a single mistake can cost your life.”
    • “Music isn’t anything special.”
    • “Also, the soundtrack is not as powerful as it used to be.”
  • grinding

    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    6% positive mentions, 45% neutral mentions, 49% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is often described as tedious and repetitive, especially for unlocking camos and weapon progression, which many find slow and uninspiring. While some players appreciate the multiplayer experience and find leveling manageable, others are frustrated by unfair matches, cheaters, and the overall grind feeling like a chore. Achievements and certain objectives are noted as more balanced, but the core progression system heavily relies on extensive grinding that can dampen motivation.

    • “100% completion is super easy, no grinding required.”
    • “I love the gunplay, sliding feels nice, leveling isn't too grindy (the only thing I'd say you grind for are camos and operators), and the overall gameplay feels peak.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Mechanically boring and the main storyline continuation they offer isn't worth grinding through.”
    • “The camo unlock system is probably the weakest bit of weapon customization, as grinding for the same set of camos for every gun gets old pretty fast.”
    • “♥♥♥♥♥♥ broken servers, game has multiple bugs / glitches, too much grinding to level up / unlock weapons, block menu is limited, can't block players outside of game lobbies, and cheaters still prevalent even with anti-cheat.”
  • monetization

    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    6% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 53% negative mentions

    Monetization in the game is widely criticized as overly aggressive and intrusive, with excessive microtransactions, overpriced cosmetic bundles, and DLC that many feel spoil the experience and progression. Users report that constant advertising for other Call of Duty titles and in-game store promotions break immersion and create a sense of the game being a cash grab rather than a complete, standalone experience. Despite solid gameplay and campaign content, these monetization practices significantly detract from the overall enjoyment for many players.

    • “Despite the fact that some monetization decisions ruined the fun of progression (because all good looking stuff can only be bought, not achieved by playing), the game is still fun to play.”
    • “And the aggressive monetization through the in-game, real-money store where shortcuts to the battle pass weapons and guns with attachments the player hasn't unlocked yet were sold.”
    • “Your multiplayer save (weapons/loadouts/in-game purchases such as skin bundles and CP coins) all carry over to Steam.”
    • “Most of what Activision is doing—especially for MWII and III—is milking the success of their previous games (with new campaigns getting shorter, lazier, and worse) to sell DLC and push microtransactions.”
    • “On launch, multiplayer was perfect, but they ruined it with a terrible interface, integration with Warzone, endless monetization that made progression feel pointless, clown skins after integrating with BO and Vanguard, and bundle ads everywhere.”
    • “The microtransactions in this game are really bad and are super expensive.”
  • humor

    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    98% positive mentions, 2% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, often stemming from unintentional bugs, absurd game design choices, and player interactions such as cheating and matchmaking imbalances, which some find amusing while others see as frustrating. The game itself lacks a deliberate sense of humor or satire, resulting in moments that are sometimes funny for their sheer outrageousness or irony rather than comedy crafted by the developers. Overall, humor arises more from the chaotic and flawed aspects of gameplay than from narrative or character-driven wit.

    • “Then we move to the hospital section, which is where I had to pause because I was laughing too hard.”
    • “Overall, the game is great, hands down one of the best multiplayer competitive FPS's out there, but with its own issues regarding hackers and minor bugs. If you can get a 50% sale and are looking to waste at least 20 hours laughing and crying in random lobbies with Russians and Brits cussing each other funnily... definitely get it.”
    • “Not aggressive, but all serious and knows when to be funny and focused.”
  • replayability

    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    46% positive mentions, 42% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions

    Replayability for the game is mixed, with praise for its multiplayer, cooperative modes, and campaign's engaging story and tactical missions offering solid replay value. However, many note the campaign's linearity, short length, and some repetitive or tedious missions limit long-term replay appeal. Seasonal content, unlocks, and warzone integration help extend longevity, but the experience is generally not as infinite or varied as previous series entries.

    • “Replay value: with constant unlocks, seasonal content, and Warzone integration, the game offers strong longevity—though frustration with balance may wear on some players over time.”
    • “The campaign offers a thought-provoking and emotionally charged ride, the multiplayer delivers endless replayability with sharp, satisfying mechanics, and the production values are among the best in the industry.”
    • “The cooperative multiplayer experience pits players against hordes of the undead in a variety of unique and challenging scenarios, offering endless replayability for those looking for a break from the traditional multiplayer grind.”
    • “One can say that the replayability lies within the multiplayer, but it's copy/pasted from previous entries anyway and it's bad, so, there is that.”
    • “Coop: it was cool at first, but the replay value is bad. There's no point in replaying these missions unless you are nostalgic for the old Warzone 1 days. Survival is barebones; I wanted the CoD MW3 2011 style or even Advanced Warfare's survival since it expanded.”
    • “Several missions are such a drag that the game is un-replayable in practice (please don't make me play stealth missions as a 5-year-old for 15 minutes ever again).”
  • character development

    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    44% positive mentions, 37% neutral mentions, 19% negative mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed feedback, with praise for emotionally rich storytelling and key characters like Farah, Hadir, Alex, Kyle, and Captain Price, while some find it lacking depth or breadth beyond a few central figures. The campaign is often noted as serious and engaging, though some players feel the plot is loose and character growth not consistently strong. Overall, character development contributes positively to the campaign's appeal but is not universally regarded as groundbreaking.

    • “Overall campaign compared to Black Ops 6 is, from my personal view, really serious, emotional and it has great character development.”
    • “While the gameplay is pretty good, it's the character development of resistance commander Farah and her brother that make it special, with emotional flashbacks to their childhood during the brutal Russian invasion of their country.”
    • “The character development and plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat, making it one of the most engaging campaigns in recent memory.”
    • “The character development leaves a lot to be desired, but considering this was the first game in the Modern Warfare reboot, it is understandable.”
    • “Plot is very loose, things just kind of happen for no reason and there isn't weight behind the missions, because there isn't enough time for other character development outside of Farah and Hadir.”
    • “It killed the character design, the weapon design, the overall aesthetic of the game.”
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Play Times

8h Median play time
202h Average play time
6h Main story
14h Completionist
5-15h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 48 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is a shooter game with warfare and violence themes. Common tags for Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare include first-person, realistic, gaming, mature and combat.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Web Browser, PlayStation 5 and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 14 hours to finish. On average players spend around 202 hours playing Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare was released on October 24, 2019.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare was developed by Raven Software.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 4, Call of Duty®, Call of Duty: Vanguard and others.