Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Review – Is It Worth Playing?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 comes with a strange mix of ambition, tiredness, and contradiction for a franchise that was once considered the gold standard of first-person shooters. This Call of Duty Black Ops 7 review looks at whether the series has finally found its footing again or continues to struggle under familiar design problems.

After playing the campaign, multiplayer, and zombies modes, and comparing player feedback with critical reactions, it is clear that Black Ops 7 is not a complete failure. However, it also falls short of being the bold reinvention the franchise truly needs.

This review explains what Black Ops 7 does well, where it fails, and what players can realistically expect in 2025.

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Campaign Review: Style Over Substance

The campaign is easily the weakest part of this Call of Duty Black Ops 7 review. While the story tries to maintain the psychological and mind-bending identity of the Black Ops sub-series, its execution feels unfocused and creatively exhausted.

Raul Menendez initially appears central to the plot but ultimately serves as a red herring. The true antagonist, Emma Kagan, the CEO of the criminal organization known as the Guild, fails to leave a lasting impression. Returning characters like David Mason add familiarity but do little to elevate the narrative. Dialogue often feels stiff, and pacing issues affect nearly every mission.

The campaign heavily relies on hallucinatory sequences tied to the “Cradle” concept from the previous game. Instead of enhancing immersion, these moments feel like excuses for poorly designed levels. Open combat areas lack meaningful objectives, boss fights remove player agency by explicitly telling players what to shoot, and platforming sections feel unnecessary.

From a gameplay perspective, the campaign continues to disappoint. Weapon rarity systems feel out of place, enemy AI behaves inconsistently, and co-op restrictions, such as limited saving and the inability to pause, make the experience frustrating.

Overall, the Call of Duty Black Ops 7 campaign is a letdown, difficult to follow, and largely forgettable.

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Multiplayer Review: Familiar but Improved

Multiplayer is where this Call of Duty Black Ops 7 review becomes more positive, though improvements remain incremental rather than transformative.

The map pool is noticeably stronger than last year’s. New maps such as Forge, Imprint, and Blackheart strike a better balance between traditional lane-based layouts and more open designs that encourage flanking, repositioning, and varied playstyles.

Visually, multiplayer benefits from cleaner art direction. Environments are easier to read, colorful without becoming cartoonish, and largely free from excessive visual clutter. This improves moment-to-moment gunfights by making enemy visibility more consistent.

Movement has also been toned down compared to Black Ops 6. The wall-bounce mechanic initially feels concerning but works surprisingly well in practice. It functions as a situational movement option rather than a dominant mechanic. Reduced slide spam and bunny hopping give matches a more classic Call of Duty rhythm.

Gunplay stands out as one of multiplayer’s strongest elements. Weapons feel powerful, responsive, and satisfying. While balance issues remain, particularly with forgiving sniper builds, there is a healthier mix of SMGs, ARs, LMGs, and sniper rifles than expected.

That said, persistent issues remain. Netcode inconsistencies lead to uneven engagements, spawn logic can still create frustrating death loops, and skill-based matchmaking (SBMM) combined with disbanding lobbies continues to hurt the overall experience.

Multiplayer is enjoyable in short sessions but still held back by long-standing design decisions.

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Zombies Mode Review: Safe but Uninspired

The zombies experience in this Call of Duty Black Ops 7 review plays things extremely safe. The main mode introduces a vehicle-based map connecting multiple zones where players complete objectives, install Pack-a-Punch, and upgrade gear on the move.

While the concept is interesting, it suffers from execution issues, particularly when teammates take control of the vehicle and abandon the group.

Core zombies mechanics remain unchanged: survive rounds, earn higher-tier weapons, Pack-a-Punch for damage boosts, upgrade armor, and unlock perks. New enemy types like the Zersa add minor variety, but overall threats feel underdeveloped.

For fans of classic zombies, only one traditional survival map, Van Dorn Farm, is available at launch. While compact and filled with secrets, it feels more like a side offering than a central experience.

Zombies works as expected but lacks innovation and meaningful evolution.

Technical Performance and Presentation

From a technical standpoint, Black Ops 7 runs smoothly across platforms with stable performance and fast load times. The art style maintains a gritty but readable look without relying on dull grayscale filters. Weapon audio and sound design enhance the feel of combat.

However, the long-term health of the game will depend heavily on post-launch support, balance updates, and whether developers address ongoing matchmaking concerns.

Final Verdict: Is Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Worth Playing?

This Call of Duty Black Ops 7 review paints a picture of a franchise caught between effort and exhaustion. The campaign is one of the weakest entries in the series, zombies mode plays it far too safe, and multiplayer, while improved, remains restricted by controversial systems.

There is a clear effort here. Maps are better designed, gunplay feels more satisfying, movement is more controlled, and the game has a clearer identity than its predecessor. However, effort alone is no longer enough for a $70 release from a multi-billion-dollar franchise.

Pros

Improved multiplayer map design
Satisfying gunplay and smoother movement
Cleaner art direction and better visual clarity

Cons

Weak campaign narrative and mission design
Aggressive SBMM and disbanding lobbies
Zombies mode lacks meaningful innovation

Overall rating: Mixed

If you primarily play multiplayer and enjoy the Black Ops formula, there is some value here. For everyone else, Black Ops 7 feels less like a celebration of the franchise and more like a reminder that Call of Duty still truly struggles to evolve.