EA’s answer to Call of Duty, Battlefield, has amassed a massive following thanks to its large-scale, team-based first-person gameplay. The franchise’s vast diversity in time periods means there’s a Battlefield game for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a history buff or sci-fi geek.
Destructible environments and slick gunplay are the hallmarks of Battlefield, and even though it has slightly paled in comparison to the juggernaut that is Call of Duty, a lot of people still believe in the franchise. With a new reboot on the horizon, let’s take a look back at the 16 Battlefield games so far and see how they stack up, based on Metacritic ratings.
Battlefield Play4Free
Metacritic Score: 68
Despite not having all the bells and whistles of the main titles, Play4Free did offer a decent selection of maps, vehicles, and weapons, especially for a game that was, as the name suggests, free to play. However, hardcore fans weren’t swayed by the simplified, multiplayer-only experience, and the game lacked the polish and features to sustainably attract new players. Ultimately, the stripped-down model couldn’t justify its existence in the shadow of the mainline games, leading to EA shuttering Play4Free in a few years.
Battlefield 2042
Metacritic Score: 68
DICE took a big risk ditching Battlefield 2042’s single-player campaign. Going multiplayer-only could’ve worked, since Battlefield multiplayer tends to be quite fun. However, not leaning into the multiplayer side enough was 2042’s fatal flaw. Launching in a bare-bones state with missing features and content massively hurt 2042’s chances at success, as well as EA blaming players for not understanding the mechanics.
The large maps and the creative Portal mode showed promise, but everything else around it was undercooked to the point where players flocked back to previous Battlefield games. Thankfully, updates have improved the experience, but the rocky start left a lasting mark.
Battlefield Heroes
Metacritic Score: 69
A free-to-play, browser-based twist on the iconic series, Heroes is probably the most experimental title in the series so far. In sharp contrast to the realism of other entries, Heroes features smaller-scale, faster online battles with cartoonish visuals; perfect for casual players and younger audiences. While lacking the depth expected from a Battlefield game in modes and customization, Heroes offered a streamlined and fairly enjoyable online experience. Unfortunately, it didn’t catch on like EA hoped it would, and the servers were shuttered in 2015.
Battlefield Hardline
Metacritic Score: 73
Battlefield: Hardline’s big sell was a character-driven, personal story that was unlike anything the franchise had seen before. Upon launch, however, critics were disappointed with the short, shallow campaign and underdeveloped characters. The innovative stealth gameplay was Hardline’s only saving grace, but it unfortunately wasn’t enough to save its developer, Visceral Games, who were shut down in 2017.
Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Metacritic Score: 77
Even though it was overshadowed by the critically acclaimed Bad Company, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat signified an important point in the franchise’s history. It was the first Battlefield game to be launched on consoles. Modern Combat was a stripped-down experience that lacked the depth and complexity of its PC counterpart, but it did offer a fun, accessible experience for console players.
Battlefield 2142
Metacritic Score: 80
2142 was a massive departure from every Battlefield that came before it. The game was set in the 22nd century, where a new Ice Age gripped the planet. Battlefield 2142 broke tradition by ditching America as the central force and offered a refreshing change in perspective. The campaign was centered around a war between 2 global superpowers: the European Union and the Pan-Asian Coalition. 2142’s 64-player online mode also proved to be incredibly fun, making it one of the best games in the franchise.
Battlefield V
Metacritic Score: 81
Following a rather confusing naming convention, Battlefield V acted as the direct sequel to the World War 1-centered Battlefield 1 and shifted the focus to World War 2. The core gameplay was among the strongest in the series, but due to the WW2 setting already being explored in Battlefield 1943, as well as the short 6-hour campaign, BFV received lukewarm reception from players.
Battlefield 4
Metacritic Score: 81
2013’s Battlefield 4 puts you in the driver’s seat of a fictional 2020 war as Sgt. Daniel Recker, rejoining the Tombstone squad from Battlefield 3. Thanks to the Frostbite 3 engine, destruction was greatly enhanced, with players being able to topple skyscrapers in the multiplayer mode. However, while the multiplayer garnered praise, the single-player campaign fell short for many. Critics found it shallow and rushed, clocking in at around 6 hours, with DLC adding little depth.
Battlefield 1943
Metacritic Score: 83
More an expansion of Battlefield 1942 than a new entry in the series, 1943’s only claim to originality was bringing the 1942 experience to consoles. Solely focussed on multiplayer, 1943 recycled its maps from 1942, and offered 24-player matches, which was decent for the time. Though it wasn’t a groundbreaking evolution for PC players, it plugged a multiplayer gap for console users.
Battlefield: Bad Company
Metacritic Score: 83
Marking the debut of the Frostbite Engine, 2008’s Battlefield: Bad Company set an impressive benchmark for the series in visuals and atmosphere, something future games continued to accomplish. Players control the ragtag “Bad Company” squad looking for treasure through a fictional war. Although short, Bad Company is hailed as one of the best campaigns in the franchise.
Battlefield Vietnam
Metacritic Score: 84
The second game of the series, Battlefield Vietnam immersed players in the Vietnam War’s brutal realities. The game was lauded for impressively recreating historical events, as well as featuring a lengthy 14-hour campaign. The core gameplay was unchanged from the first game, but the addition of cool features like air-lifting tanks into battle made the experience worthwhile.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Metacritic Score: 88
Preceding the first Bad Company’s events, Bad Company 2 jumps back in time to World War 2. The story features the same “Bad Company” squad, who are sent to search for special operatives trapped behind enemy lines. The story was just as adventurous and intense as the first Bad Company, and the Frostbite 1.5 engine allowed players to demolish massive structures, opening up new map exploration possibilities.
Battlefield 1
Metacritic Score: 88
Disregarding the name, Battlefield 1 was a game of many firsts. Immersing players in the gritty trenches of World War 1, it was the first Battlefield game to explore this setting. Featuring four diverse campaigns spanning deserts, skies, and WW1 frontline stories, BF1 is veritably ranked among the best in the series by fans. The addition of gameplay features like horses, and weapons like flamethrowers, poison gas, and bayonets all made it true to the setting. BF1 therefore resonated extremely well with critics, and went on to sell over 15 million copies.
Battlefield 3
Metacritic Score: 89
Battlefield 3 was the debut of the cutting-edge Frostbite 2 engine. Featuring four campaigns set in a fictional 2014 war, large-scale military combat with jets and vehicles, and a 64-player online mode, BF3 was a force to be reckoned with when it launched in 2011. It became a runaway success, and the fastest-selling entry in the franchise at the time. It’s also one of the longest Battlefield campaigns by far, requiring over 65 hours for 100% completion.
Battlefield 1942
Metacritic Score: 89
The trailblazer that started it all in 2002, Battlefield 1942 offered a refreshing perspective on the World War 2 shooter genre. 1942 binned the capture the flag and deathmatch modes that were popular at the time, and took a more compelling Conquest approach. Players captured control points spread across the map and had to launch attacks against other locations. 1942 also introduced a class system that allowed players to choose roles such as assault, medics, anti-tank, scouts, and engineers.
1942 quickly amassed over $27 million in sales, and with estimates of over 50 hours of gameplay, many considered it money well spent. This innovative title paved the way for the ever-popular Battlefield franchise we know today.
Battlefield 2
Metacritic Score: 91
Acclaimed as the pinnacle of the franchise, Battlefield 2 revolutionized not only the series but the FPS genre. Ditching the World War settings of its predecessors, it plunged players into a fictional conflict between global superpowers America and Europe against China and the Middle East. Battlefield 2 boasts the series’ highest critical acclaim and impressive longevity. The campaign alone offers 10 hours of gameplay (almost 90 hours for 100% completion) and 15 maps, with each map having three variations. This depth, coupled with its phenomenal online mode, cemented Battlefield 2 as a beloved classic still cherished by many fans today.
