When you boot up Black Ops 7’s campaign, one of the first things you’ll hit is that choice of difficulty. It sounds small, but it can totally flip your experience—from a laid-back action flick to a sweaty, edge-of-your-seat grind. If you’re the type who just wants to breeze through and catch all the big moments, CoD BO7 Bot Lobby style settings like Recruit and Regular are your best bet. Recruit makes you feel almost invincible—bullets barely scratch you, enemies miss a lot, and you can run through missions without much thought. Regular adds a little more bite; you’ll need to duck behind cover now and then, but it’s still more about enjoying the ride than fighting for survival. 

Then there’s Hardened. This is where things start to feel like the “real” Call of Duty. You can’t just sprint into a room spraying bullets—you’ll be punished for it. Enemies get sharper, they’ll actually use cover, and your health drops fast if you’re careless. It’s not brutal, but it’s enough to make you slow down and think about your moves. For most returning players, Hardened hits that sweet spot: challenging enough to keep you on your toes, but not so punishing that you’re stuck replaying the same checkpoint over and over. 

Veteran, though… that’s a whole different beast. You’ve got barely any health, so even a couple of stray shots can end you. The AI here doesn’t mess around—they’ll nail you from across the map, flank you when you least expect it, and throw grenades like they’ve got an endless supply. Every fight becomes a puzzle: where to peek, when to move, which target to drop first. It’s doable, but it’s not forgiving. You’ll need patience, quick reflexes, and probably a few deep breaths between checkpoints. People don’t just play Veteran for fun—they play it for bragging rights. 

So, how do you pick? It’s all about what you want out of the game. If you’re here for the big set pieces and plot twists, stick with Regular—you’ll get the full spectacle without the frustration. If you want a fair fight that makes you think but doesn’t crush you, Hardened is the way to go. And if you’re chasing that “I beat it on the hardest mode” badge, Veteran will give you exactly that… plus a few controller-throw moments. Whatever you choose, remember—it’s your game, your pace, and your story. And if you want to mix things up or test yourself in a different way, u4gm CoD BO7 Bot Lobbies might be worth a look.