The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (2023) has responsive, enjoyable combat, but its 14-mission campaign is brief and offers less sustained cinematic spectacle than some players may expect. Open Combat Missions add welcome freedom to choose routes and tactics, though reviewers disagree about whether those sandboxes improve the campaign or leave too few traditional story missions.
What is the Modern Warfare III campaign like?
This is the 2023 reboot-series sequel to Modern Warfare II, not the 2011 game with a similar name. Activision lists its release date as November 10, 2023, and its platforms as PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Activision’s product page identifies the game and platforms.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III - Xbox | $41.58 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III (Xbox Series X/Xbox One) | $38.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Call of Duty Modern Warfare III - PS4 | $68.92 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Call of Duty : Modern Warfare III | $73.93 | Buy on Amazon |
The single-player campaign combines conventional, cinematic missions with Open Combat Missions. Its key trade-off is between a combat system reviewers found satisfying and a short, mixed-format campaign that may not provide the long run of set pieces some Call of Duty players want.
How long is the Modern Warfare III campaign?
There are 14 campaign missions, according to Blizzard’s campaign guide; GamesBeat also reports 14 and compares that count with 17 missions in Modern Warfare II. Mission count is not the same as playtime, and the available review accounts do not establish an average completion time for players.
#1 Best Overall
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III - Cross-Gen Bundle
- Pre-Order and Receive Early access to the Open Beta*
- Some features may require an online subscription
PC Gamer describes its reviewer’s playthrough as around four hours, with Open Combat Missions making up roughly half of that experience. That is a reviewer estimate, not a guaranteed finish time: pace, difficulty, exploration, and play style can affect an individual run. GamesBeat reviewer Dean Takahashi says he completed the campaign over one evening and the following morning, but explicitly did not record exact hours. PC Gamer’s review and GamesBeat’s review describe those separate experiences.
What are Open Combat Missions?
Open Combat Missions are campaign levels with fixed objectives but more choice in how to achieve them. Activision’s August 2023 campaign deep dive says players can choose routes and tactics, use weapons and supply boxes found in the mission, and move between stealth and direct attacks. They appear alongside more traditional single-player missions, rather than replacing the whole campaign.
Rank #2
- ADAPT OR DIE IN A FIGHT AGAINST THE ULTIMATE THREAT
- Combat means making choices — different loadouts, different paths through the mission. Combat missions that provide more player choice. There is no one-size-fits-all solution – it is your choice whether to take the stealthy approach or go loud taking on any and all foes.
- One of the greatest collections of Multiplayer maps ever. Launching with new Ground War maps boasting innovative play spaces and the epic return and evolution of the popular War Mode
Robert Pitts, Associate Director of Level Design at Sledgehammer Games, described the design goal this way: “We knew we wanted a bit more opportunity for the player to craft their own experience.” The flexibility is real, but it sits within missions whose objectives are still set by the campaign.
Does the combat make up for the short campaign?
For GamesBeat’s Takahashi, combat is a strength: he praises the weapons’ responsiveness, solid firefights, and gritty close-quarters encounters. He also says the campaign’s quality matters more to him than its length. That is his assessment, not a guarantee that every player will find the short runtime a worthwhile trade.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Rank #3
- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III - Cross-Gen Bundle
- Pre-Order and Receive Early access to the Open Beta - first on PlayStation*
- Some features may require an internet connection and an online subscription
PC Gamer sees a more complicated balance. Its review finds the compact Open Combat sandboxes brief and varied, with room for experimentation, but argues that their share of the campaign makes it feel padded and leaves too few longer story missions. It also criticizes the pacing, the reduced showmanship of conventional missions, and the finale. GamesBeat likewise objects to the shift from cinematic tension to looting-style play. These are distinct reviewers’ judgments, not a universal consensus.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Who should play the campaign?
- You may enjoy it if responsive gunfights and trying different gear, routes, or approaches in compact missions sound appealing.
- You may be disappointed if your main reason to play is a longer sequence of cinematic set pieces or a steadily developed story. The short runtime and mixture of mission styles may not deliver that experience.
In short, the campaign’s best case is its feel in combat and the occasional freedom to choose how to tackle an objective. Its weakest case is the limited time it gives those strengths to build into a longer, more spectacular story.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- ADAPT OR DIE IN A FIGHT AGAINST THE ULTIMATE THREAT
- Combat means making choices — different loadouts, different paths through the mission. Combat missions that provide more player choice. There is no one-size-fits-all solution – it is your choice whether to take the stealthy approach or go loud taking on any and all foes.
- One of the greatest collections of Multiplayer maps ever. Launching with new Ground War maps boasting innovative play spaces and the epic return and evolution of the popular War Mode
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
