Every Battlefield Game Ranked (Battlefield 6 Included)

** Battlefield 6

This one’s a bit of a wild card. It’s not out yet (launch is set for October 10, 2025) but it still earns a spot on the list. Expectations are high, and for good reason.

Battlefield 6 is trying to walk a fine line. It wants to feel new without losing what made the series work. Bigger maps, but tighter design. Familiar mechanics, but cleaned up. After the mess that was Battlefield 2042, DICE needed to show they were paying attention. So far, it looks like they are.

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12. Battlefield Hardline

Battlefield Hardline was a strange paradigm shift that didn’t hit too well with the Battlefield community. Developed by Visceral Games, it swapped military conflicts for a “Cops vs. Robbers” foundation.

Hailed as a brand new, more personal-centered experience, Hardline failed to live up to the billing. It never at any point felt as though you were playing a classic Battlefield game.

The foremost criticisms center around its flat and weak storyline that failed to emphasize the characters’ development. While it was visually pleasing and had some innovations in the gameplay, these changes just didn’t fit Battlefield’s DNA.

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11. Battlefield Vietnam

Battlefield Vietnam was released in 2004, exclusively on PC, built using the same engine as the Battlefield debut title.

It was the second Battlefield game ever, and for some, it seemed odd jumping from World War II to the jungles of Vietnam.

As the title suggests, it is set during the infamous Vietnam War. It is impressive how EA took real-life historical settings and events like the 1968 Battle of Hue and implemented them into the game. Battlefield Vietnam has one of the longest campaigns in the series, with the main story lasting for around 14 hours.

10. Battlefield 1942

Battlefield 1942 is where it all began, way back in 2002. It was a debut title, released on September 10, 2002, developed by Digital Illusions CE, and it easily became one of the best-selling games of the day.

It was a remarkable game for the era and boasted near-unparalleled realism.

Since the title’s first release, EA’s FPS franchise has produced more than 10 main games. 1942 kick-started the entire franchise, laying the essential groundwork for everything we love about large-scale combat.

9. Battlefield 2042

The most recent release prior to BF6, 2042 (2021), released on November 19, 2021, tried out a new formula that just didn’t succeed.

The game is solely a multiplayer experience, something that main entries in the franchise had previously avoided.

The biggest problem wasn’t the elimination of a single-player mode, it came down to its inadequate launch state and a severe lack of content. DICE ditched the class system and introduced heroes (Specialists) who come with special abilities.

They also increased the server capacity from 64 to 128 players. It didn’t take players long to realize that the older Battlefield systems worked much better. The developers spent the span of a few years rolling out updates to bring back the old system. While it shows flashes of potential through its large-scale battles and Portal mode, it launched in a terrible, heartbreaking condition.

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8. Battlefield V

Battlefield V (2018), released on November 20, 2018, continued the historical theme after BF1, centering around World War II.

Although by no means a bad game, it was nowhere near as well received as its predecessor.

The core gameplay is generally among the best in the series, and the maps are quite good for the most part, but everything else about the package tended to be divisive. BFV had a bad rap, and was seen by some as the beginning of the downfall of the Battlefield franchise, as it couldn’t live up to the greatness of Battlefield 1.

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7. Battlefield 2142

Battlefield 2142 (2006) was the big outlier, and the only time that Battlefield depicted futuristic warfare.

Released on October 17, 2006, it took place two centuries beyond the oldest Battlefield game, set in the new Ice Age of the 22nd century. The conflict saw the European Union and the Pan Asian Coalition fighting over the Earth’s unfrozen territories.

It was not a terrible game by any means and boasted some highly enjoyable combat sequences and solid multiplayer, allowing up to 64 players on one server. It was refreshing because it was the first Battlefield game not to have the US as the main protagonist. However, some critics considered it an unexpected injection of innovation into a series that had previously focused on real-world conflicts.

6. Battlefield: Bad Company

Bad Company is where the best sub-franchise in the Battlefield series began.

Released on June 23, 2008, it kicked off the Frostbite engine era and garnered praise for its atmosphere and graphics which were way ahead of its time.

The plot centered around an army battalion of cannon fodders: Private Preston Marlowe, Terrence Sweetwater, George Gordon, and Sergeant Samuel D. Redford, fighting off the fictional First Russo American War. Although the main story was a little short at just 7.5 hours, there was enough extra content on offer, with the average completionist time reaching a whopping 56 hours, thanks to challenging trophies and achievements.

5. Battlefield 2

Battlefield 2, released on PC on June 21, 2005, is a classic and stands out as one of the successful entries in the franchise.

Technically the third game in the series, it was a great step up from the debut title launched three years prior.

Image credit: DICE

According to some portals, Battlefield 2 is the highest-ranked title out of all Battlefield games. It was one of the most collaborative shooters of its time, making it a brilliant multiplayer option and one of the best team-based first-person experiences. It featured varied gameplay and provided truly memorable experiences.

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4. Battlefield 4

Battlefield 4 (2013) quickly cemented itself as a modern classic and a massive step up for the new generation of consoles.

It boasted one of the most balanced and memorable multiplayer modes in franchise history.

BF4 delivered fantastic destruction mechanics, multi-faceted combat roles, and some of the greatest maps we have ever seen. It also featured one of the best campaigns we have ever seen in the series. So much so that certain campaign characters made a return in 2042 almost ten years later.

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3. Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Bad Company 2 was the perfect sequel, taking everything the first game did and improving upon it across the board.

Launched in 2010, it was a send-off of sorts for the beloved sub-franchise, but to this day, fans are still expecting a resurgence.

It introduced a better story, more quips (one-liners), larger maps, and a more immersive multiplayer experience. While it was a massive release, the next game in the franchise (BF3) would be so mighty that it completely overshadowed Bad Company 2. The destruction mechanics here were legendary. Marlowe, Sweetwater, Gordon, and Redford were the best squad in franchise history. The destruction here was next-level, you could literally level a house someone was hiding in. This game took all the humor and action sequences from the first Bad Company and refined them perfectly.

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2. Battlefield 1

If BF3 mastered modern warfare, Battlefield 1 mastered atmosphere and emotion.

Taking the series back to World War I, this game, released on October 21, 2016, remains the best-selling Battlefield game ever. It was a cutting-edge experience that successfully brought history to life.

A lot of gamers describe this as the most emotional, heart-wrenching title of them all. In the multiplayer offering, players discovered a brutally realistic, immersive ecosystem that felt incredible to play every single time. It looked flawless and felt authentic, offering a gritty and honest portrayal of one of human history’s most devastating wars. It was also iconic for the story mode alone.

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1. Battlefield 3

Battlefield 3 is, hands down, the best Battlefield game ever made, period.

Launched way back on October 25, 2011, it remains a masterpiece of a first-person shooter that still holds up to scrutiny today. DICE developed some truly exceptional games over the years, not only in the multiplayer space but also single-player titles too. This is their absolute peak in modern warfare.

This game effortlessly competed against heavyweights like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Killzone 3, and Crysis 2. Even if it did not come out on top in some of those bouts, it was a game that never refused to quit. It came with stacks of post-launch content, some of the most instantly recognizable maps in franchise history, jaw-dropping visuals, and mountains of destruction. It had a fantastic and gripping story and cooperative missions. The multiplayer just felt so good to play over and over again.

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