Call of Duty: Vanguard Review: Score and Verdict

Call of Duty: Vanguard, released in 2021, is also set in the Second World War. It focuses on an international special unit across several theatres of the war. Its campaign mixes missions with different playable characters, and its multiplayer took the series in a more tactical direction.

What works

The campaign presents varied locations and characters.
Multiplayer's tactical pace suits players who want more deliberate fights.

What does not

The story and characters are less memorable than the best entries in the series.
Many players felt the multiplayer changes were not enough to stand out.

Category	Score
Gameplay and shooting	7.5/10
Visuals and sound	8/10
Content and modes	6.5/10
Multiplayer and community	6.5/10
Value for money	6.5/10

Our scores are editorial ratings out of 10, based on each game's design and reported features. They are not a record of hands-on play sessions on this site.

Who should play it

Fans of World War II shooters who want a more tactical multiplayer than recent Call of Duty games.

Verdict

A solid but unremarkable entry. Our score: 7.0 out of 10.

Getting the most from the campaign

Vanguard's campaign moves between several characters and theatres, so pay attention to who you are playing and why. The missions vary in pace, with some built around stealth and others around large battles. Taking time to explore side areas can reveal extra context for the characters, which helps the story feel more connected.

Multiplayer and the tactical focus

The tactical pace of the multiplayer suits players who prefer to hold positions and plan each push. Learn the maps by playing a few matches in quick modes first. Many players find that teamwork and map control matter more here than fast reflexes alone.