Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Call of Duty: Black Ops 6
For a series built on high-octane thrills and explosive gratification, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6's withdrawal to the well-trodden formula echoes the wider industry's continued allergy to risk.
Call of Duty's strongest multiplayer offering in years is dragged down by a tedious campaign.
With a fun campaign, incredible multiplayer, and the return of round-based Zombies, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 is the best Call of Duty game in years.
It’s a shame because everything else Black Ops 6 iterates on is a smashing success, synthesizing the best elements of past games to create something greater. This is the first truly unique CoD experience we’ve received in half a decade. Omni-movement and more old-school gameplay design have gotten me excited about multiplayer again, while its rendition of Zombies might be my favorite in franchise history. Outside of several standout missions, however, I wasn’t impressed with the campaign, but I’ve begrudgingly come to accept that campaigns just don’t matter to the wider community at this point. The real value is in the multiplayer and Zombies; in that regard, Black Ops 6 is a strong return to form.
With the best Call of Duty campaign in years, and a tweaked movement system that comes to life in multiplayer, Black Ops 6 is both a return to form and a great entry point for new or lapsed players. Just don't expect it to do anything interesting with the Gulf War setting.
Fluid Omni-movement feels great in Black Ops 6 multiplayer, but design that facilitates intense close-range fights can feel limiting. Treyarch's latest entry into the Call of Duty series uses creative mission design and its new omni-movement system to tell a fun but sometimes nonsensical story. [OpenCritic note: Phil Hornshaw separately reviewed the campaign (8) and multiplayer (8) on behalf of GameSpot. The scores have been averaged.]
Black Ops 6 isn't just a strong new entry in a massive franchise that feels like going to Burger King and getting exactly what you ordered. It's the most confident Call of Duty has been in years, with both Raven and Treyarch taking a few well-calculated chances where they could afford to do so, and trimming the fat off the core 'Twitch FPS' experience that regular customers come for year after year.
There’s a good reason why Treyarch and Black Ops are so beloved by the Call of Duty community. The sub-franchise usually delivers the stronger campaigns, multiplayer and third modes in the series. Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 does all of those things, especially when compared to the more recent Call of Dutys. The campaign, from Raven Software, may drop the ball at the end with its story, but it’s filled with fantastic characters and a wide variety of missions that help elevate it into must-play territory.
Industry Coverage
Call of Duty Giving Away 20 Free Battle Pass Tier Skips for Black Ops 6 and Warzone
Call of Duty gives Black Ops 6 and Warzone players the chance to earn 20 free Battle Pass tier skips for Season 5, but fans need to act fast.
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Call of Duty Reveals Season 5 Reloaded Content for Black Ops 6 and Warzone
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 and Warzone reveal all of the new content coming in Season 5 Reloaded, including maps, modes, and more.
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New Call of Duty Update Could Be Great News for Players
New information suggests that the next major update for Call of Duty HQ may include a significant change, which will be great news for players.
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Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Trailer Backlash Could Push Fans to Battlefield 6
Call of Duty fans are seemingly unhappy with Black Ops 7's Gamescom trailer, and the backlash may push fans right into the arms of Battlefield 6.
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