Battlefield and Call of Duty have been at odds for decades. Even though Battlefield was the first to enter the first-person shooter fray, Call of Duty has racked up a far bigger fan following, on account of the former’s recent games dropping the ball in certain aspects.
However, the Call of Duty series has made its own missteps, too, most recently in the form of Modern Warfare 3‘s disastrous reception. And it’s not a stretch to say that there have been Battlefield games in the past that are head and shoulders above their Activision-made rivals. Here are five Battlefield games that might just make you switch over from CoD.
Battlefield 3 (2011)
EA was aiming straight for Call of Duty when they shot the Battlefield 3 bullet. With a return to the franchise’s roots and debut of the Frostbite 2 engine, BF3 was positioned as a massive release. It certainly achieved that by being the fastest-selling Battlefield game so far.
The campaign fell short of expectations, but BF3 excelled in multiplayer, delivering a deep and engaging experience that encouraged teamwork and large-scale warfare. The high bar BF3 set was one that even DICE themselves haven’t been able to surpass.
Battlefield 1 (2016)
Ditching modern warfare for the gritty trenches of World War 1, Battlefield 1 stands as the franchise’s most ambitious chapter. The campaign is the biggest one to date, with a four-in-one “War Stories” approach that was a runaway hit with players.
After a string of uninspired campaigns, the stories offered a refreshing change, weaving intimate tales from diverse perspectives across the conflict. The multiplayer, meanwhile, introduced Behemoths – colossal vehicles that fundamentally altered the battlefield – as well as bayonets, flamethrowers, and horses. BF1 not only stands as a peak for the series but for the entire FPS genre.
Battlefield 1942 (2002)
A true legend of the FPS genre, 1942, took the hardcore military sim and made an accessible game out of it. This wasn’t just historically significant. It was a phenomenal FPS is isolation as well. With vast maps and groundbreaking 64-player battles, it pushed the technical limits of PCs at the time.
This title laid the foundation for the entire Battlefield series, featuring the now-iconic class system, diverse vehicles, and team-oriented multiplayer. DICE clearly struck gold with a formula that continues to resonate with shooter fans decades after, which is why it deserves a spot on this list.
Battlefield 2 (2005)
Battlefield took a trip to the present for the first time with BF2. It dumped the World War 2 settings of its predecessors and ushered in a new era for the franchise. The campaign modernized the series with a fictional war between allies America and Europe versus China and the Middle East.
BF2 encouraged players to form squads, providing mobile spawn points and focused objectives beyond simple flag captures. The introduction of defibrillators for medics and ammo bags for support classes further emphasized a more fluid and collaborative style of play.
Battlefield 1942 and Vietnam laid the groundwork, and BF2 built upon it hugely, shaping the core gameplay that came to define the series today.
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010)
Bad Company 2 broke the Battlefield franchise’s pattern of taking its military themes too seriously and proved it can have fun too.
The campaign has some of the best writing and characters in the series, with Bad Company‘s titular team returning in a WW2 setting; just as enjoyable and hilarious, despite the frequent clichés. The zippy, engaging missions and nutty finale make spending time with the misfits a joy.
The multiplayer embraced the same lighthearted chaos, offering a plethora of maps, impressive physics, and destructible environments thanks to the Frostbite 1.5 engine.
The underrated Vietnam expansion also delivered a historically accurate experience, making the multiplayer even more worthwhile. With its carefree spirit and surprising depth, it’s no wonder Bad Company 2 rockets to the top of this list.
Which Battlefield games are your all-time favorites, and are you hyped for the upcoming reboot? Let us know in the comments!
