Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 today officially launched worldwide, and the first major review of its highly-anticipated campaign mode has arrived. One of the most trusted voices in gaming, IGN, has awarded the mode a 6 out of 10, calling it a “wildly ambitious swing that doesn’t always connect.”
According to IGN, the new campaign takes some big swings: with 11 missions in its lineup, the game tries to weave in a variety of mission types-from classic stealth and infiltration to open firefights and co-op sequences. It's a mixed bag, some moments shining and others feeling less focused. While the foundation is solid-shooting mechanics sound and player movement smooth-the structure sometimes feels disjointed.
The biggest complaints from IGN relate to pacing and balance. They note that several of the co-op missions-advertised heavily and integral to the identity of the campaign-are far more polished than the solo segments. The story may also become very episodic at times, where one feels like they're jumping from one side story to another rather than following a tightly woven main plot. This results in the campaign feeling a tad repetitive at times, like parts were written simply to fill time rather than to actually move along the story.
Other outlets echo that sentiment, and GameSky chimes in with a similar thought. According to the site, Black Ops 7’s 11-mission lineup is far from unplayable. Play it in the co-op mode the devs heavy-promoted, and it even shines at times. Solo play, though, lays bare the cracks.
Not all of it is negative, though: The review says the game's endgame ideas are commendable, and there is actual promise for progression systems or post-launch content that could appear in future Black Ops games. Some of these endgame mechanics, according to IGN, could become very interesting, but only should Treyarch and Activision choose to refine them.
The series' signature strengths remain intact: solid shooting mechanics and smooth, engaging movement give the campaign a strong foundation. These elements blend different playstyles-run-and-gun chaos, careful stealth, tactical teamwork-seamlessly enough to keep missions from feeling tedious.
The endgame content also hints at potential. As GameSky notices, there are good ideas buried there: side missions that expand the lore, repeatable challenges that test skill. But right now, those ideas feel underdeveloped. They come off as repetitive add-ons rather than integral parts of the main narrative, like extra chapters tacked on after the story wrapped.
IGN's review nails that core problem: ambition outstrips execution. Black Ops 7's campaign isn't bad. It just doesn't live up to its goals. At its best, it can't match the thrill of Black Ops 6's best moments. There are bold choices, but too many of them fall flat.
Early player reactions across social media have echoed the critical consensus. Co-op has become a way for many fans to forgive the sins of the campaign; as one Twitter user said, it's "a fun group hang, but a slog alone." Others praised the gunplay and movement, but complained of inconsistent difficulty spikes and pacing.
For Treyarch, the studio behind the Black Ops franchise, the takeaway is clear. The campaign has glimmers of what could be great—ambition is never a bad thing. But next time, refining those big ideas into something polished will be key. At a glance, the Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 campaign is not great and not bad; it is average, according to IGN. It hits somewhere in the middle, not great and not bad, with a few sparks of originality.