By Adam Roffel
There was a time when getting a major Call of Duty game on a Nintendo console meant making some pretty significant compromises or simply missing out altogether. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is available on Nintendo Switch 2 alongside the other console versions, and that's a pretty big deal. Nintendo players get to join in from day one instead of waiting on the sidelines.
Of course, simply getting the game running on Nintendo's latest console is one thing. Making it a worthwhile experience is another. Fortunately, Modern Warfare 4 makes a pretty good case for itself, with a fun campaign, solid technical performance, and a multiplayer offering that caters to a surprisingly wide range of players. Then there's DMZ, an extraction mode that could end up being one of the most interesting parts of the entire game.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Details
Platform: PS5, XBOX Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, PC
Reviewed on: Nintendo Switch 2
Developer: Infinity Ward / Digital Legends
Publisher: Activision
Genre: First-person shooter
Game Modes: Single-player, Multiplayer, DMZ
An Eight-Hour Campaign That Gets Straight to the Point
The campaign clocks in at around eight hours, and honestly, I had a great time with it. It's an incredibly fun ride with plenty of action. Nothing drags on longer than necessary.
That said, this isn't a campaign where you'll wander far from the main objectives. It's fairly direct, with clear goals and few chances to experiment. If you're hoping for a huge sandbox, you might find it restrictive.
Personally, though, I don't think every shooter needs to offer that level of freedom. Sometimes, it's nice to jump into a campaign, get caught up in the action, and enjoy a tightly focused experience. You don't always need a dozen different distractions along the way. Modern Warfare 4 does that well, and its relatively short runtime keeps things moving.
It's the kind of campaign that knows what it wants to be. While I would have appreciated a little more room to experiment, I had a lot of fun with the time I spent playing it.
A Surprisingly Strong Package on Nintendo Switch 2
Perhaps the most impressive thing about Modern Warfare 4 is how well the overall game comes together on Nintendo Switch 2. It's a major release arriving alongside its counterparts on other consoles. The Switch 2 version doesn't feel like an afterthought.
The visuals are strong, with good lighting helping to bring the action to life. There are some minor visual issues here and there, but nothing that stopped me from enjoying the experience. Considering the hardware this is running on, there's plenty to appreciate. The game generally looks good while keeping the action moving.
Performance is solid throughout, too, although the frame rate does vary depending on the mode you're playing. That's worth keeping in mind if you're sensitive to frame-rate differences. The experience isn't entirely uniform across the game. Even so, the overall performance does a good job of supporting the fast-paced action that Call of Duty is known for.
Ultimately, this is the kind of release I want to see more often on Switch 2. It doesn't need to be completely identical to every other version to be worthwhile. What matters is that it delivers a good experience, and Modern Warfare 4 largely gets that right.
Multiplayer Has Something for Everyone
A Call of Duty game wouldn't be complete without multiplayer. Modern Warfare 4 offers a decent variety of maps to keep things interesting. Nintendo Switch 2 players also had an early chance to try the campaign and multiplayer during the August Open Beta.
Personally, I gravitated toward the closer-combat maps. I enjoy the faster pace and the way these smaller environments encourage you to stay alert, react quickly, and get straight into the action. There's less time spent travelling around looking for trouble, which suits the way I like to play.
The larger maps that incorporate vehicles weren't quite as much to my taste. They offer a different kind of experience, with more space to cover and a greater emphasis on movement and positioning. They're just not necessarily where I had the most fun.
That said, I don't think my personal preference should take away from what's being offered here. Having different styles of multiplayer available is one of the game's biggest strengths. Not everyone wants the same kind of firefight. Providing options for players who prefer close-quarters combat and those who enjoy larger battles is a really good move.
It's something I'm genuinely excited about. The smaller maps are more my style, but having different kinds of battles makes multiplayer more inviting overall.
On Nintendo Switch 2, you'll also need a Nintendo Switch Online membership to play Multiplayer and DMZ.
DMZ Has Incredible Potential
If you're unfamiliar with DMZ, it's Call of Duty's extraction shooter. It plays differently from traditional multiplayer. Instead of chasing eliminations in a regular match, you deploy into a large combat zone called Hajin. There are objectives to complete, valuable resources to collect, and the ever-present question of how long you should stick around before getting out.
You can tackle missions, take on dynamic operations, explore the map, gather loot, and encounter both AI-controlled enemies and other players. The catch is that getting in is only half the job. You need to make it to an extraction point and escape with what you've collected. Push too far or take on more than you can handle, and a promising run can quickly turn into a disaster.
And that's where the appeal lies. Every deployment can play out differently depending on your decisions. Other players might help you or make your life considerably more difficult. There's a nice balance between having objectives to work toward and being able to make your own decisions about how to approach them.
The persistent progression adds more to the experience, too. Your equipment, inventory, and operator development carry significance beyond a single match. That gives you reasons to keep working toward something rather than treating every deployment as an isolated experience. Do you extract safely with what you've collected? Or take another risk in hopes of finding something better? It's a simple question, but it's one that can make every run interesting.
Having played DMZ, I think it has incredible potential. It offers something different from the campaign and traditional multiplayer. There's an opportunity for players to develop their own routines, take on increasingly ambitious objectives, and create memorable moments when plans go wrong. Sometimes, the most interesting part of a multiplayer game isn't winning a match. It's the unexpected situation you find yourself in along the way.
Of course, an extraction mode like this needs reasons to keep people coming back after the novelty wears off. Missions, rewards, progression, and varied encounters will determine whether DMZ keeps players interested for months.
Still, the foundation is exciting. The freedom to choose objectives, the risk of losing loot, and other players all make DMZ unpredictable. There's plenty of room for it to grow into something special. I'm interested to see how DMZ develops over time. It could become a major reason to keep coming back to Modern Warfare 4.
Options for All Players
One thing I appreciate about Modern Warfare 4 is that its modes appeal to different players. I prefer smaller multiplayer maps, but that doesn't mean larger vehicle battles shouldn't be there. The campaign's direct approach will suit some people, while DMZ offers more freedom.
That variety is especially welcome on Nintendo Switch 2. It gives players several ways to enjoy a major Call of Duty release without waiting for a later port.
Final Thoughts
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 is a strong addition to the Nintendo Switch 2 library. The campaign is a lot of fun despite its relatively short runtime and limited opportunities to stray from the main objectives. The visuals and overall performance also make for an impressive technical showing. Multiplayer rounds things out nicely, with a good selection of maps and play styles that should give different kinds of players something to enjoy.
DMZ is another exciting part of the game, particularly because it offers an experience that's distinct from the other modes. Its extraction-based gameplay and persistent progression give it plenty of potential, and I'm interested to see how far it can go.
There are minor visual issues, the frame rate varies between modes, and not every multiplayer map is going to suit everyone's preferences. But honestly, I think those are reasonable compromises for a game that offers this much variety and generally delivers where it counts.
More than anything, I'm happy to see a major Call of Duty release land on Switch 2 alongside the other console versions. It's a promising sign for the platform, and one I'm excited to see continue with future releases.
If you're looking for a fun shooter on Nintendo Switch 2, Modern Warfare 4 is well worth considering. It might not be perfect, and some parts will appeal to you more than others. But it's still an easy game to recommend to fans of the series and newcomers alike.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Review Summary
Liked
- Fun, action-packed campaign with a brisk eight-hour runtime
- Strong visuals and solid overall performance on Nintendo Switch 2
- Multiplayer variety caters to different play styles
- DMZ offers exciting extraction gameplay and persistent progression
Didn't Like
- Campaign offers limited opportunities to explore or experiment
- Minor visual issues and inconsistent frame rates between modes
- Larger vehicle-focused multiplayer maps weren't as enjoyable
Overall Assessment of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4
Gameplay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 / 5)
Presentation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 / 5)
Performance: ⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.5 / 5)
Story / Narrative: ⭐⭐⭐✨☆ (3.5 / 5)
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 / 5)
Overall Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4 / 5)
Adam Roffel
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