Established in 2002 with the release of Battlefield 1942, the long-running Battlefield franchise has regrettably fallen off the deep end in recent years with a number of lackluster releases, but the first-person shooter series still holds a special place in the hearts of gamers everywhere for its nostalgic properties.
The last main Battlefield title to be released was Battlefield 2042, which received mixed reviews from critics and failed to appease the player base. Thankfully, EA’s FPS franchise has produced over 10 full games and a variety of expansion packs, so there’s truly something for everyone when it comes to Battlefield.
Although their placement in the ranking differs depending on individual preference, these Battlefield titles are arguably the cream of the crop from the last few decades.
The best Battlefield games, ranked
10) Battlefield V
Although Battlefield V wasn’t as critically acclaimed as some of the other titles, there’s a lot to love about it. Its enhanced player customization is one of its biggest selling points, as well as the introduction of the multiplayer modes Firestorm and Grand Operations.
In general, the core gameplay—which plays like an updated version of Battlefield 1—and wide array of map offerings are what stands Battlefield V apart as a worthy entry, as it features some of the best gun play and movement mechanics in the entire series.
9) Battlefield: Bad Company
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 has become a hot commodity nowadays, but very few Battlefield enthusiasts mention the original with the same ardor, despite it serving as a springboard for the sequel with all the foundations of what made Bad Company 2 so renowned. Battlefield: Bad Company memorably marked the very first use of DICE’s infamous Frostbite engine, which became a staple of the franchise.
Bad Company features a gripping storyline and characters who aren’t entirely insufferable, even if the clunky AI models make the experience less immersive at times.
8) Battlefield Vietnam
As the name suggests, Battlefield: Vietnam takes place during the notorious Vietnam War, which saw massive destruction and casualties across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. As such, the game features a handful of maps inspired by historical settings, such as the Fall of Saigon.
The settings are presented to an exceptionally accurate degree and the soundtrack is to die for, so while Battlefield: Vietnam didn’t wow in the same way 1942 did, it was—at the time—leaps and bounds ahead in the graphics department and still holds up pretty well today.
7) Battlefield 1942
Speaking of Battlefield 1942, there’s a nice segue into the next entry, which honors the title that kicked off the Battlefield series. Around the time of release and even years later, Battlefield 1942 became a goldmine for mod developers, who have assisted in maintaining the game’s relevancy over the last 20 years by refreshing the gameplay with modifications, while also keeping with the game’s structural integrity.
Battlefield 1942 marked the revival of the FPS genre even before Call of Duty was conceived, and remains one of the franchise’s best titles—no matter how far technology advances.
6) Battlefield 1
It became more apparent as time went on that some of the Battlefield series’ more successful outings seem to correlate with famous eras, such as Battlefield Vietnam and later, Battlefield 1—based on World War I. Battlefield 1 became such a hit because it prides itself on historical accuracy, particularly with the use of faithful World War I weapons and multiplayer maps resembling noteworthy battlegrounds, such as the Middle East and the Alps.
Battlefield 1 has an immersive and comprehensive atmosphere, perhaps one of the best, and really makes players lose themselves in the harsh reality of fighting in the trenches.
5) Battlefield 4
As it pretty much builds on the premise of Battlefield 3, it could be argued Battlefield 4 didn’t bring too much extra to the table. However, there are plenty of improvements DICE made to Battlefield 4 to make it memorable, such as the beginnings of refined soldier movement and gun play (perfected in Battlefield V), iconic maps (including some reworked from previous games), good weapon variety, and the fact that teamwork was highly encouraged and rewarded. Battlefield 4 also introduced the Levolution mode, which utilizes a dynamic battlefield that allows players to interact with the environment to build barricades and change up the weather to their advantage.
Essentially, DICE just improved upon Battlefield 3 in many ways, which was precisely what made Battlefield 4 so great—it didn’t need to be revolutionary.
4) Battlefield 2142
Titans abound. Image via Dice/EA
Battlefield 2141 takes place during an “ice age” period in which Earth’s temperatures plummet to below freezing (and stay there) for an extended period of time. It was the first game in the series to not feature the U.S. as a playable faction, instead giving the honor to the European Union (EU) and Pan Asian Coalition (PAC). If there’s one thing to be said about Battlefield 2142, the multiplayer aspect was guaranteed to be a fun-filled ride, especially with the Titan mode.
Most Battlefield players will reminisce fondly about defending their Titan against enemy forces while going in guns blazing to take down the other. As most Battlefield fans will agree, it’s been hellish holding out hope for a remake.
3) Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Although some other installments were more influential, Battlefield: Bad Company 2 is considered by many to be the pinnacle of the Battlefield franchise. All of DICE’s trial and error led to one singularly engaging spectacle with interactive environments that acted as more than glorified set-pieces, as did the vehicles, and the sound design was hands-down some of the best in any game franchise, not just Battlefield.
Both Bad Company and Bad Company 2 had some of the most appealing campaigns with complex characters and a storyline that didn’t take itself too seriously. There was also a lot of love for the Rush game mode, which is one of the most intense multiplayer experiences to date.
2) Battlefield 2
Arguably, the next two spots are interchangeable depending on predilections of Battlefield’s most exemplary games. Both of them are equally formidable in their own right, so it’s a real toss up. Battlefield 2 had so many memorable maps (Strike at Karkand and Road to Jalalabad, to name a few) that held a cultural significance reminiscent of Nuketown for Call of Duty. Karkand alone was one of the best map designs of any multiplayer game ever, which proves how believes Battlefield 2 really was—and still is. Battlefield 2: Special Forces is a shining example of how to do an expansion pack right, which sadly became less of a priority for EA over the years.
Aside from some of the best maps, expansion packs, and overall content from any Battlefield property, Battlefield 2 also gave players the Project Reality mod, which made such a lasting impact that it was turned into its own stand-alone game in 2015.
1) Battlefield 3
Battlefield 2 could have easily taken the top spot, so consider the placement of these two masterpieces entirely subjective. Many players were introduced to the franchise with Battlefield 3, myself included, so it holds a special place in many people’s hearts. That doesn’t mean Battlefield 2 is any worse—or any better—as both of them are referred to as the apex predators of the Battlefield universe. Battlefield 3 broke EA records by becoming the fastest-selling game at the time, but it wasn’t the statistics that carried the game to legendary status.
While the single-player experience dragged down the game’s overall appeal, the multiplayer is still untouchable with beautiful scenery, an excellent array of weapons, and gameplay mechanics that set the standard for many like-minded FPS games.
