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How Long to Beat Cold War? A Deep Dive into Completion Times and More

So, you’re looking to dive into Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War and want to know how much time you’ll be investing? The answer, like most things in gaming, depends entirely on your play style. For a focused run targeting just the main objectives, you’re looking at roughly 5½ hours of gameplay. However, if you’re a completionist aiming for that sweet 100% completion, be prepared to dedicate around 10 hours to the game. This article delves into the factors influencing playtime, the replayability of the campaign, and answers some frequently asked questions to help you plan your Black Ops Cold War experience.

Breaking Down the Playtime: Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies

The overall playtime for Black Ops Cold War isn’t solely determined by the campaign length. The game offers a multifaceted experience with various modes, each demanding a different time commitment.

Campaign Length and Replayability

As mentioned, the core campaign can be conquered in around 5.5 hours. But this estimate drastically increases if you aim for a complete experience. Factors that extend the campaign playtime include:

Difficulty Level: Playing on harder difficulties, like Veteran, will inevitably prolong encounters and require more strategic approaches.
Collectibles: Hunting down all intel, evidence, and other collectibles scattered throughout the levels adds a significant chunk of time.
Multiple Endings: Cold War features three main ending variations depending on your choices. Experiencing all endings requires multiple playthroughs with different decisions, dramatically increasing playtime.
Side Missions: Completing all optional side missions adds depth to the story and characters, and naturally extends your overall gameplay time.
Decision Making: The choices you make throughout the campaign impact the narrative and how missions play out. Exploring different paths will necessitate multiple runs.

Multiplayer and Zombies: The Endless Grind

While the campaign offers a finite experience, the multiplayer and zombies modes provide seemingly limitless replayability.

Multiplayer: Match lengths vary from a quick 2-minute Domination game to a more drawn-out 30-minute Search and Destroy match. Your skill level also affects your playtime. Regular multiplayer engagement can easily add hundreds of hours to your overall Cold War experience.
Zombies: The cooperative Zombies mode offers hours of entertainment as you and your friends battle hordes of the undead, uncover secrets, and progress through increasingly challenging rounds. Dedicated Zombies players can spend hundreds, if not thousands, of hours perfecting their strategies and unlocking all the Easter eggs.

The Value Proposition: Is Cold War Worth Your Time?

The perceived value of Cold War depends on what you seek in a Call of Duty game.

Campaign Enthusiasts: If you primarily enjoy the campaign, the relatively short playtime might be a drawback. However, the multiple endings and branching narrative offer considerable replayability.
Multiplayer Devotees: If multiplayer is your focus, Cold War offers a solid experience, though some criticize the map design and skill-based matchmaking.
Zombies Aficionados: The Zombies mode is a strong selling point, offering challenging and rewarding cooperative gameplay.

Factors Affecting Game Size

The size of Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War has been a point of contention for many players. The game’s large file size is due to several factors:

High-Resolution Textures: The push for 4K gaming necessitates massive high-resolution textures, taking up significant storage space.
Ray Tracing: Ray tracing enhances visual fidelity but requires substantial processing power and storage capacity.
Multiple Game Modes: Including Campaign, Multiplayer, and Zombies in a single package contributes to the overall size.
Constant Updates: Regular content updates, including new maps, weapons, and features, continually increase the game’s footprint.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which Call of Duty game has the longest campaign?

While Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 features the longest solo content in the franchise, at approximately 10.5 hours, it’s important to note that this is not a unified campaign but rather a collection of individual missions.

2. Why are Call of Duty campaigns so short?

Game development has shifted focus to prioritizing visual fidelity over campaign length. Developers are investing more resources into creating visually stunning but shorter experiences.

3. How many endings does Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War have?

There are three main ending variations, built around a good/bad choice, as well as a slightly less rewarding bad ending.

4. Is it worth it to disobey Adler?

Repeatedly disobeying Adler unlocks the “The Red Door” Trophy/Achievement. From a narrative perspective, it adds depth to the story.

5. Should you lie to Adler?

To achieve the ‘good’ ending, you need to tell the truth about Solovetsky when Adler asks you where Perseus is.

6. What is the best Call of Duty campaign?

This is subjective, but Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) and the original Call of Duty are frequently cited as favorites. Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War itself often ranks highly on best-of lists.

7. Which Call of Duty has no campaign?

Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 is the only entry in the series without a traditional single-player campaign.

8. How long do pro Call of Duty players play each day?

Professional Call of Duty players typically practice anywhere between six to eight hours a day.

9. What is the average age of a Call of Duty pro?

The median age of Call of Duty League players who have retired is 26.

10. Do pro Call of Duty players get paid well?

Yes, every player in the League receives a minimum annual base salary of $55,225, plus health care and retirement benefits. Top players earn significantly more through sponsorships, tournament winnings, and streaming.

11. Why was Cold War considered a bad game by some?

Some criticisms of Cold War include bland maps in multiplayer, skill-based matchmaking ruining the experience for some players, and a perceived focus on the battle royale mode over traditional multiplayer.

12. What was the worst Call of Duty campaign?

Call of Duty: Ghosts is widely regarded as having the worst campaign due to a boring storyline and meaningless missions. Call of Duty: Vanguard also faced criticism for its new cast and plot.

13. Which Call of Duty has the hardest campaign?

Many consider Call of Duty: World at War to have the most challenging campaign, particularly the “Heart of the Reich” mission on Veteran difficulty.

14. What Call of Duty game was played the most?

Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) is the best-selling game in the franchise.

15. How many hours have been played in Call of Duty games all time?

Gamers have collectively put in an estimated 25 billion hours into Call of Duty games, which is equivalent to 2.85 million years!

Conclusion: Planning Your Black Ops Cold War Journey

Ultimately, the length of time you spend with Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War depends on your personal goals and playstyle. Whether you’re aiming for a quick campaign run, grinding through the multiplayer ranks, or tackling the challenges of Zombies mode, the game offers plenty of content to keep you engaged. So, gear up, prepare for action, and get ready to experience the Cold War. And remember, gaming is a powerful tool for learning and development, as explored by organizations like the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

How long to beat Cold War?