Dive into the adrenaline-fueled world of Modern Warfare 3, where the campaign unfolds across 14 intense missions blending classic linear gameplay with groundbreaking open combat scenarios. From high-stakes hijackings to sprawling battlefields that let you choose your own tactical approach, MW3 offers a compact yet thrilling campaign experience that can be completed in just 3 to 5 hours, rewarding players with exclusive multiplayer bonuses along the way.
To that end, we’ve put together the full Modern Warfare 3 campaign mission list plus the multiplayer rewards you get for each mission, alongside an explanation of how long it takes to beat the Modern Warfare 3 campaign.
How long is the MW3 campaign?
The Modern Warfare 3 campaign typically takes between 3 to 5 hours to complete on standard difficulty, making it relatively short compared to other Call of Duty titles. The campaign consists of 14 missions, including six “open combat” missions that allow more freedom in approach, which can affect the total playtime depending on how thoroughly players explore and complete objectives. More experienced players or those on easier difficulties may finish closer to 3-4 hours, while newcomers or those playing on harder settings might take longer. For players aiming for 100% completion or collecting all rewards, the time investment can increase significantly.
You can complete the Modern Warfare 3 campaign on four difficulty levels, in order from easiest to hardest: recruit, regular, hardened, and veteran. These directly affect how long it takes to finish the Modern Warfare 3 campaign, since they affect how much damage you cause and can take before dying.
As a reference, on the regular difficulty mode, it takes five to seven hours to complete the Modern Warfare 3 campaign. On standard difficult, you’ll have to reasonably use cover in combat, but you also won’t die from just a couple of bullets.
Rolling the credits will take considerably longer if you’re a completionist and want to go for a run trying to get all achievements – like the tricky Elevator Out of Order, A Shot Blocked, or Back in the Field trophies – or spend time finding every weapon and item in the open-world-ish levels.
MW3 campaign mission list – all missions and multiplayer rewards
The Modern Warfare 3 campaign consists of 14 missions, including a mix of traditional linear missions and innovative open combat missions that allow players more freedom in approach and exploration. Each mission offers unique multiplayer rewards such as Operators, Calling Cards, XP Tokens, and weapon Blueprints, enhancing the multiplayer experience. Notable rewards include the Corso Operator for completing Reactor, the Pathfinder Operator for Crash Site, and the Brogue Weapon Blueprint unlocked after finishing the final mission, Trojan Horse. The campaign typically takes between 3 to 7 hours to complete, depending on difficulty and how thoroughly players explore the open combat missions to collect hidden items.
To complete the Modern Warfare 3 campaign, you officially have to finish 14 missions. One mission, “Countdown,” is not listed in the game’s campaign menu – it follows the last one, “Trojan Horse.” The length of each Modern Warfare 3 mission varies depending on the type of mission.
Completing these missions is a good opportunity not only to know what is happening with the folks of Task Force 141 but to also get rewards to use in the multiplayer modes, such as XP tokens. In Modern Warfare 3, there are two types of missions:
- Linear missions, in which reaching the end of it is limited to a single predetermined path. These are the more traditional missions that seasoned Call of Duty players are used to.
- Open Combat missions, new to Call of Duty with Modern Warfare 3. While you have specific goals, how you tackle them is up to you. You can explore the map and try different approaches to complete the mission, adjusting your loadout while playing (or replaying) based on items you’ve unlocked. Besides that, you can use vehicles and even find Sentry Guns or UAVs to use during the mission.
Here is a full list of all Modern Warfare 3 campaign missions. We’ve also denoted which ones are Open Combat missions, and how many items and weapons you can discover on each map. Lastly, we’ve included the multiplayer rewards you get from completing each mission:
- Operation 627 (Multiplayer rewards: Calling Card Breather)
- Precious Cargo – Open Combat mission, 21 items and weapons to discover (Multiplayer rewards: XP Token 30 minutes, Weapon XP Token 30 minutes)
- Reactor – Open Combat mission, 29 items and weapons to discover (Multiplayer rewards: Operator Corso)
- Payload (Multiplayer rewards: Calling Card Ghillie Guy)
- Deep Cover (Multiplayer rewards: XP Token 30 minutes, Weapon XP Token 30 minutes)
- Passenger
- Crash Site – Open Combat mission, 10 items and weapons to discover (Multiplayer rewards: Operator Pathfinder)
- Flashpoint (Multiplayer rewards: Calling Card Troxic Drip)
- Oligarch – Open Combat mission, 21 items and weapons to discover (Multiplayer rewards: XP Token one hour, Weapon XP Token one hour)
- Highrise – Open Combat mission, 19 items and weapons to discover (Multiplayer rewards: Operator Doc)
- Frozen Tundra (Multiplayer rewards: Calling Card Skull Rhapsody)
- Gora Dam – Open Combat mission, 21 items and weapons to discover (Multiplayer rewards: XP Token one hour, Weapon XP Token one hour)
- Danger Close (Multiplayer rewards: Operator Jabber)
- Trojan Horse (Multiplayer rewards: Weapon Brogue, Emblem Soapy)
What surprises await in the open-world style missions of MW3 campaign
The open-world style “Open Combat Missions” in Modern Warfare 3’s campaign offer players a surprising level of freedom and strategic choice unseen in previous Call of Duty titles. Instead of linear progression, these missions provide sizable landscapes where you can approach objectives in multiple ways-whether stealthily using night-vision and suppressed weapons, or going in loud with heavy armor and explosives. You start with a fixed loadout but can find additional weapons, tactical gear, and loot boxes scattered throughout the mission, allowing you to adapt your strategy on the fly. Vehicles are also available, adding another layer of tactical options.
Enemies dynamically adapt to your playstyle, making each approach feel fresh and challenging. The missions encourage experimentation, with opportunities to replay and try different tactics within the same mission boundaries. For example, in the “Return to Gora Dam” mission, you can choose how to defuse bombs across a large area with multiple paths and equipment options, emphasizing player choice and empowerment. This open-ended design blends seamlessly with the traditional cinematic missions, creating a campaign experience that balances narrative intensity with player-driven gameplay variety.
How unpredictable are the open-world elements in MW3 campaign missions
The open-world elements in Modern Warfare 3’s campaign missions are notably unpredictable but also divisive in execution. These “Open Combat Missions” offer players freedom to approach objectives in multiple ways, such as stealth or direct combat, and allow exploration of large maps with scattered loot and gear, creating a roguelike element where you can choose loadouts upon respawn. This design introduces a level of unpredictability in enemy encounters and tactical options, as you never quite know when stealth will fail or when you’ll be overwhelmed by enemies and combat vehicles.
However, this unpredictability is often criticized for feeling shallow and uninspired, with many players and critics describing these missions as loosely assembled snippets of multiplayer maps with random objectives rather than crafted, memorable experiences. The AI lacks depth, and the missions can feel like solo runs through empty spaces rather than engaging, dynamic battles. While some missions with more enclosed environments or better map design offer moments of excitement and tactical variety, overall the open-world elements are seen as a proof of concept that falls short of the franchise’s traditional scripted intensity and polish. The unpredictability is more a result of limited AI sophistication and map design than emergent gameplay, leading to mixed reactions about how well these open missions integrate into the campaign narrative and pacing.
