10 Best Battlefield Games, Ranked By Metacritic | ScreenRant
From works set during World War I to those taking place decades in the future, which title is the best Battlefield game ever released?
The Battlefield franchise has expanded continuously from its humble roots as a strictly PC game released way back in 2002. Since then, the franchise has evolved to include over a dozen games in the franchise across numerous platforms. The game's multiplayer has grown the most of all, with the multiplayer game mode being a staple of the series for years and being the only game mode for the upcoming Battlefield: 2042 which doesn't feature a campaign mode for the first time ever.
Frequently compared to Call of Duty by fans and critics alike, Battlefield prides itself on taking a slightly more realistic and gritty approach to the world of first-person shooters, with an emphasis on team and vehicle play as well as maps that are generally far larger than the those in Call of Duty. Not all of the Battlefield games are created equal and although there have been a few duds over the years, there are plenty of excellent games with hours of great gameplay to be had.
9 Battlefield: Hardline (73)
Perhaps disappointing for many gamers, Battlefield Hardline got some pretty harsh reviews when it was first released. However, the game is still tons of fun and looking back with several games released since then, it had a major impact on lots of the gameplay featured in current Battlefield titles as well as in the upcoming Battlefield 2042.
Ditching the idea of all-out war for a more urban assault-themed game, much of the aesthetic that the franchise had been building was thrown out the window. Still, the game is loads of fun if you approach it expecting something a little different than one might expect from the franchise.
8 Battlefield 1943 (84)
A game that first-person shooter fans will have good memories of, Battlefield 1943 is somewhat unique amongst the franchise as it was a digital-only release in a time where such games were quite unusual. However, this odd rollout didn't stop the game from becoming the most popular Battlefield title ever when it was released on Xbox Arcade.
Featuring just three multiplayer maps upon release, it seems like the game would have been too small or limited to be successful, but insanely fun gameplay allowed for hours of fun despite the repetition.
7 Battlefield: Bad Company (84)
Even though the game's sequel would go on to eclipse the original in terms of critical reception, the original Bad Company title is still a force to be reckoned with in the world of first-person shooters.
Focusing much more on the campaign mode than more recent releases, the campaign mode is as gorgeous as it is exciting. With a dark sense of humor, the campaign mode feels so different than other releases at the time and still holds up to today's games in terms of story and gameplay.
6 Battlefield 3 (85)
One of the Battlefield games that seemed to take the franchise to the next level was Battlefield 3. The game had one of the best campaign modes in the franchise, with the story allowing players to play as a variety of soldiers throughout as well as including some fantastic missions in Paris and in New York City.
Additionally, the game managed to capture the mayhem that makes Battlefield great while still being rooted in reality with realistic movement and storylines as well as a massively popular multiplayer mode.
5 Battlefield 4 (85)
Another favorite amongst fans, Battlefield 4 didn't do too much different compared to its predecessors but it did manage to do everything just a little bit better. Virtually every small aspect of this game was improved just slightly.
The weapons and multiplayer in general are balanced, the vehicles are much easier and more enjoyable to operate, and the campaign mode is exciting and does plenty of story-telling the other games in the series have lacked. The game also featured some of the best destructive environments allowing for scenes straight out of an action movie.
4 Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (88)
Continuing the story from the original Battlefield: Bad Company, the second game in the mini-series is one that tons of gamers will look back fondly on. Although the first game had generally positive reviews, most fans can agree that the sequel is far superior in pretty much every way.
Although the graphics themselves may look a little bit dated by today's standards, the game is still just as gorgeous as it was upon release and helped set the standard for the Battlefield aesthetic and what was possible in large-scale multiplayer gameplay for years to come.
3 Battlefield 1 (89)
One of the more recent additions to the franchise, Battlefield 1 is not actually the first game in the franchise as the name might suggest. The "1" refers to the game's setting, which sees the series leave the present in favor of a World War I themed game.
This is one of the most well-received games in the franchise for good reason, from the fantastic storytelling in Battlefield 1's campaign to the addicting multiplayer, and there is not a whole lot to dislike about it. The gunplay is smooth, the graphics are clean, and the multiplayer is exciting yet balanced, all while maintaining a sense of gritty realism.
2 Battlefield 1942 (89)
A PC-only release from 2002, the original Battlefield game is still one of the best the franchise has ever released. Taking the world of first-person shooters by storm Battlefield 1942 added a ton of concepts and features never seen before in a video game.
Seamlessly incorporating vehicle combat into the game's multiplayer was something that franchise would go on to make its signature. Even with the badly dated graphics, the game is just as fun as it was almost 20 years ago.
1 Battlefield 2 (91)
The highest-ranked game in the franchise is also one of the oldest. Putting payers right in the heat of battle in some of the biggest moments of WWII, Battlefield 2 was unrivaled at the time in terms of immersion and intensity.
With a heavy emphasis on vehicle gameplay, the game featured 35 different vehicles throughout the campaign that players could drive or fly. Setting the standard for years to come in first-person shooters and action games in general, Battlefield 2 is one of the most influential games of all time.