Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War is out now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. It continues the story begun in the original Black Ops games, set during the Cold War era. The result is mixed: a strong single-player campaign, a familiar multiplayer suite, and a returning wave-survival mode that longtime players will know well.
Trailer, via IGN.
The Campaign’s Strength
The single-player campaign is the strongest part of the game. Players work with a field handler as they track a hidden enemy agent across a series of missions spanning several countries.
The game lets players choose their own field agent’s name, background and some dialogue lines, a first for the series. That choice doesn’t change the shape of the campaign, but it gives weight to briefings and mission talks that would otherwise feel plain.
Mission variety stands out. One level plays like a quiet break-in, another turns into an open fight through a mountain base, and a late mission built around questioning and memory scenes breaks from the usual shooting format entirely.
A Familiar Map Returns
Multiplayer brings back a fan-favorite map from the original Black Ops games.
The mode set includes staples like team-based combat and Domination alongside newer additions such as a larger objective mode built for bigger player counts. The shooting feels tight, matching what the series has delivered in recent years. Weapon fitting runs deep, with an attachment system that rewards trying new setups without confusing new players.
Wave Survival Mode
The wave-survival mode returns with a new story mode tied to it, available first on PlayStation platforms.
It’s familiar ground for series veterans: waves of enemies, mystery-box weapons, and map-based side puzzles. Nothing here changes the formula in a big way, but it stands as a solid addition to the package.
A Look at the Campaign Timeline
The campaign moves across several real-world locations and time jumps, laid out roughly below:
| Mission Stage | Setting | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | East Berlin | Meeting the hidden threat |
| Mid-campaign | A mountain range | Base break-in |
| Mid-campaign | Southeast Asia | Field mission with the handler |
| Late campaign | A U.S. facility | Questioning scene |
| Finale | Several locations | Story shaped by player choices |
The finale is a rare touch for the series, letting choices made during the campaign shape how the story ends.
Loading Speed and Visuals
On PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, loading is faster than on older hardware.
Picture quality is strong throughout, though some scenes between missions look less polished than the actual gameplay. PC performance is solid, with a wide range of graphics settings for players with higher-end machines.
Where It Falls Short
The game doesn’t fully escape the sense of sameness that has followed the series for years.
Multiplayer maps, while solid, lack the standout design found in earlier entries. A few missions lean on parts — long vehicle sections, in particular — that feel added for variety rather than need. None of this hurts the experience badly, but it keeps Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War from feeling like a big step forward for the series.
The Bottom Line
Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War does best where it takes chances: the custom field agent, the branching campaign finale, the return of a beloved map. It falls flat where it plays it safe. Taken as a whole, across PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, it’s a satisfying entry in the series, though not one that breaks new ground.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
