I’ve been playing Call of Duty campaigns since the original Modern Warfare rocked my world back in 2007. I’ve replayed the iconic “All Ghillied Up” mission more times than I can count, and I can quote Captain Price’s speeches better than some of my favorite movie lines. For me, Call of Duty has always been about that perfect blend of cinematic storytelling and heart-pounding action that makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger.
But after spending countless hours with the Black Ops 7 campaign, I’m left with a sinking feeling that this franchise I’ve loved for nearly two decades has lost its way. What should have been a triumphant return to form for the Black Ops series instead feels like a identity crisis wrapped in a co-op experiment that nobody asked for.
Black Ops 7’s campaign represents one of the most radical departures in Call of Duty history. Set in 2035 as a direct sequel to Black Ops 2, the story follows David Mason (now played by Milo Ventimiglia) and his elite squad Spectre One as they investigate The Guild, a powerful tech corporation that’s weaponized a fear-inducing substance called Cradle.
The campaign’s big selling point is its full co-op integration – you can play through the entire story with up to three friends, a feature we haven’t seen since Black Ops 3 in 2015. On paper, this sounds like an exciting evolution for the series. In practice, it’s a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes Call of Duty campaigns special.
What’s particularly frustrating is that the campaign had all the ingredients for success. The return of beloved characters like Frank Woods, Mike Harper (played by Michael Rooker), and even the ghost of Raul Menendez should have been a nostalgia-fueled home run. Instead, these characters feel like props in a hallucinatory fever dream that makes less sense the more you play.
I’ll admit it – I’m that guy who always plays the campaign first. There’s something magical about being dropped into a carefully crafted narrative where every explosion, every character moment, and every set piece feels intentional. The best Call of Duty campaigns understand that they’re essentially interactive action movies, and they embrace that identity wholeheartedly.
When I play a Call of Duty campaign, I want to feel like the hero of a blockbuster film. I want those “wow” moments that stick with me years later – like the nuclear explosion in Modern Warfare, the Vietnam river assault in Black Ops, or the Paris mission in Modern Warfare 3. These moments work because they’re carefully scripted and designed to maximize impact.
Black Ops 7 completely misses this mark by trying to be too many things at once. It wants to be a co-op looter shooter, a psychological thriller, a nostalgia trip, and a multiplayer progression system all rolled into one package. In trying to please everyone, it ends up satisfying no one.
If you’re determined to play through the Black Ops 7 campaign despite its many flaws, here are some strategies I discovered during my playthrough:
Play Solo First: Despite being designed for co-op, the campaign actually works better solo. You’ll experience the story more naturally without friends talking over cutscenes or rushing through objectives.
Embrace the Chaos: The story doesn’t make much sense, so don’t try too hard to follow it. Just enjoy the ridiculous hallucination sequences and over-the-top boss fights for what they are.
Focus on Progression: The one bright spot is that campaign progression carries over to multiplayer. Level up your weapons and unlock attachments to give yourself a head start in competitive play.
Skip the Avalon Missions: The open-world Avalon missions are particularly weak. Focus on the more linear, traditional missions that actually feel like Call of Duty.
Take Breaks Often: Since there are no checkpoints and you can’t pause, make sure to complete missions in one sitting or risk losing progress.
For more detailed strategies, check out our Black Ops 7 Zombies Ashes of Damned Easter Egg Guide for additional gameplay tips that apply to the campaign as well.
While the campaign itself is disappointing, there are some rewards worth unlocking:
Campaign-Specific Camos: Complete missions to unlock unique weapon camos that carry over to multiplayer.
Character Skins: Finish the campaign to unlock special operator skins for David Mason and other squad members.
Calling Cards: Earn exclusive calling cards by completing campaign challenges and achievements.
Weapon Blueprints: Discover hidden weapon blueprints throughout the campaign missions.
Endgame Mode Access: Complete the campaign to unlock the Avalon Endgame mode, which is actually more enjoyable than the main story.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any traditional cheat codes or secret unlocks like in older Call of Duty games. The focus here is purely on progression-based rewards.
Since launch, Treyarch has been working to address some of the campaign’s most glaring issues:
While these patches have improved the technical performance, they can’t fix the fundamental design problems at the core of the campaign experience.
After struggling through the campaign multiple times, here are some advanced strategies that actually work:
Master the Movement System: The new wall-jumping and grappling mechanics are actually quite good once you get used to them. Use them to flank enemies and reach advantageous positions.
Focus on Weak Points: Boss fights have glowing weak points that take significantly more damage. Target these exclusively to end fights faster.
Save Special Abilities: Don’t waste your special abilities like shield bubbles and damage boosts on regular enemies. Save them for boss encounters and challenging sections.
Use the Environment: The hallucination levels often have environmental hazards you can use against enemies. Look for explosive barrels, electrical panels, and other interactive elements.
Play with Headphones: The audio cues in this game are crucial. You’ll hear enemies before you see them, giving you a crucial advantage in the chaotic firefights.
How long is the Black Ops 7 campaign? The campaign takes about 4-5 hours to complete if you rush through it, but expect 6-8 hours if you explore and complete optional objectives.
Can you play the campaign solo? Yes, you can play solo, but the experience is clearly designed for co-op. You’ll play alone without AI companions, which feels strange for a Call of Duty game.
Why can’t I pause the campaign? The campaign is always-online, even when playing solo, which means there’s no pause option. This is one of the most frustrating design choices.
Are there difficulty options? No, there are no traditional difficulty settings. The game scales enemy numbers based on how many players are in your squad.
Do I need to play previous Black Ops games to understand the story? While it helps to have played Black Ops 2, the story is so convoluted that even veterans will be confused by the hallucination sequences and time jumps.
Is the campaign required to access multiplayer or Zombies? No, you can jump straight into multiplayer or Zombies without touching the campaign, though completing it does unlock some exclusive rewards.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 7’s campaign is a masterclass in how not to evolve a beloved franchise. What should have been a celebration of the series’ rich history instead feels like a betrayal of everything that made Call of Duty campaigns special. The always-online requirement, lack of checkpoints, and co-op-first design fundamentally break the single-player experience that fans have cherished for years.
The most frustrating part is that there are glimmers of greatness here. The gunplay still feels satisfying, the movement mechanics are genuinely innovative, and the return of classic characters should have been a nostalgic triumph. But all of this is buried under layers of poor design decisions and a story that makes less sense the more you try to follow it.
If you’re a die-hard Call of Duty fan like me, you’ll probably play through it anyway, if only to see how the story unfolds. But go in with managed expectations. This isn’t the triumphant return to form we were hoping for. It’s a cautionary tale about what happens when a franchise loses sight of what made it special in the first place.
For those looking to get the most out of their Black Ops 7 experience, I’d recommend focusing on the multiplayer and Zombies modes, which are significantly more polished and enjoyable. And if you haven’t already, check out our Black Ops 7 Preload Times & Countdown Timer Guide to make sure you’re ready for launch day.
What do you think about the Black Ops 7 campaign? Are you enjoying the co-op experiment, or do you miss the traditional single-player experience? Let me know in the comments below!
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