Call of Duty: Ghosts is a first-person shooter developed by Infinity Ward and released for the PlayStation 4 in 2013. The Gold Edition bundles the complete base game with the Onslaught content pack, which adds four multiplayer maps, the Maverick weapon, and the first Extinction episode. Players take on the role of members of an elite special operations unit known as the Ghosts in a near-future conflict against the Federation, a powerful alliance that has risen from South America.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on fast-paced combat across large, detailed maps that support varied approaches. Movement includes a sliding mechanic that conserves momentum, allowing players to maintain speed through transitions, along with the ability to lean around corners for better positioning without full exposure. Weapon handling features an expanded arsenal that introduces marksman rifles as a distinct class alongside assault rifles, submachine guns, and other staples. Perks and loadouts can be customized extensively, with options to build squads of AI-controlled teammates for certain experiences. The campaign places emphasis on set-piece sequences and environmental variety, including sequences set in snowy regions, jungles, and even orbital environments, while incorporating a controllable German Shepherd companion named Riley in several missions.
Multiplayer emphasizes tactical positioning on expansive maps that reward map knowledge and team coordination. Killstreaks and scorestreaks provide support options, and the system allows for flexible loadout adjustments mid-match in some playlists. The PS4 version supports up to 18 players in larger formats such as Ground War, which expands traditional objective modes with increased player counts.
Game Modes
Standard multiplayer playlists feature Team Deathmatch, Kill Confirmed, Search and Destroy, Domination, and Free For All. New additions include Cranked, where killing an opponent grants a temporary speed and handling boost that must be maintained through continued eliminations, and Blitz, which introduces a faster-paced variant of capture-the-flag style objectives. Search and Rescue modifies Search and Destroy by allowing downed players to be revived by teammates. Infected pits survivors against progressively turning infected players in a last-man-standing format. Ground War delivers larger-scale versions of Domination and Team Deathmatch.
Squads mode lets players build and deploy teams of up to six AI squadmates for cooperative or competitive scenarios against enemy AI. Available variants within Squads include Squad Assault, Safeguard, Safeguard Infinite, Squad vs Squad, and Wargame. These can be played solo or with friends and support both online and offline sessions.
Extinction provides a four-player cooperative experience against waves of alien creatures called Cryptids. Objectives shift across maps and episodes, focusing on survival, extraction, and completing specific tasks while upgrading weapons and abilities between rounds. The mode launched with an initial episode and expanded through additional content.
Single-Player Campaign
The campaign follows the Walker family and their fellow Ghosts as they confront the Federation's advances. Missions vary in scale and setting, incorporating stealth elements, vehicle sections, and direct assaults. The story unfolds across roughly a dozen missions with a runtime that typically falls between four and six hours depending on difficulty and exploration. Factions in play include the Ghosts themselves, the Federation as the primary antagonist force, and supporting elements from U.S. military and allied groups.
Is It Worth Playing?
Call of Duty: Ghosts on PS4 delivers its strongest experiences through the multiplayer suite and Extinction mode for players who enjoy objective-based matches and cooperative survival against non-traditional enemies. The large maps and movement options suit those who prefer deliberate positioning over constant run-and-gun action. The campaign offers a self-contained story with varied environments but has drawn consistent criticism for its pacing and familiarity with prior entries in the series. Servers remain active years after launch, though population levels have declined compared to newer titles. The Gold Edition provides immediate access to additional maps and the opening Extinction episode, extending the available content without further purchases. Players seeking classic Call of Duty multiplayer structures with some experimental modes will find the most value here, while those prioritizing narrative depth or high player counts in current seasons may prefer later releases in the franchise.
