The Battlefield franchise has expanded continuously from its humble roots as a PC-exclusive series, but the best Battlefield games can be found from across all the years of the franchise. Originally debuting in 2002, the EA and DICE-developed FPS franchise has seen quite a few changes, taken place in multiple different historical eras, and attracted a major following on consoles as well. Battlefield games have never been afraid to change up elements of style and setting, but some risks have paid off more than others.
Frequently compared to Call of Duty by fans and critics alike, Battlefield takes a slightly more realistic and grittier approach to the world of first-person shooters. An emphasis on team and vehicle play and a focus on large-scale maps help Battlefield avoid copying Call of Duty, which ensures its viability as a franchise of its own. Not all the Battlefield games are created equal, however, and there have definitely been a few duds over the years. Still, there are plenty of excellent games with hours of great gameplay to be experienced.
14 Battlefield 2042
The most recent entry in the Battlefield franchise, Battlefield 2042 failed to live up to the legacy of the series in the eyes of most fans. It wasn't the only game in the franchise to feature a buggy launch, but compounding an unfinished release with a lack of content (including the omission of a single-player mode) and crucial errors like poor hit registration made it uniquely frustrating.
The addition of good content to Battlefield 2042 over time and fixes for many of the worst issues have stabilized the game into an experience that can be perfectly fun. All the same, it still falls short of what stronger Battlefield titles managed to accomplish. A score of 68 on Metacritic memorializes a mediocre legacy for the game.
13 Battlefield: Hardline
Perhaps disappointing for many players, Battlefield Hardline got some pretty harsh reviews when it was first came out. Its 73 on Metacritic, while far from awful, marked a low point for the series. 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.
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. Battlefield 2042 has since claimed the title of the worst launch in the Battlefield series, however, and the game can entertain those who approach it expecting something a little different from standard franchise fare.
12 Battlefield 2142
At first glance, the 2006 FPS outing Battlefield 2142 seems absurd; set in the far future - a background the series had not previously explored - Battlefield 2142 initially seems nothing like a Battlefield game. However, with a creative campaign and interesting multiplayer mode that blends old and new, the title comes across as an important crossroads between the historical original titles and the modern-era newer ones.
Battlefield 2142 earned an 80 on Metacritic, a solid score that reflected its status as a weaker but interesting entry. Unfortunately, Battlefield 2142 is essentially unplayable today. Unoptimized for current PCs and unavailable on digital storefronts like the EA Desktop App that replaced Origin, it's now nothing more than a unique relic of the mid-2000s.
11 Battlefield 2: Modern Combat
Released in 2005 for sixth-gen consoles, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat was the franchise's first foray into the home console space. Plus, having beat the Call of Duty games to the modern warfare punch by two years, it's strange to think that this game doesn't receive near the attention later modern military shooters would earn.
One of a very small number of games to offer an online multiplayer mode on the PlayStation 2, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, while a bit unrefined, paved the way for console counterparts to come. With an 80 on Metacritic, the title made a reasonably graceful transition to a new market and deserves to be recognized as the trendsetter that it was.
10 Battlefield 5
Battlefield 1 was a tough act to follow; having reinvigorated the series after the lackluster Battlefield: Hardline and introduced Battlefield to a World War 1 setting, some were skeptical about Battlefield 5's return to World War 2. That said, while initial reception was pretty mixed and some rumblings were heard regarding the game's disregard for historical accuracy, Battlefield 5 became a well-regarded series installment.
Pushing new squad mechanics and introducing smaller maps that emphasized close-quarters combat, Battlefield 5 felt unique in the pantheon of titles bearing the Battlefield name and earned an 81 on Metacritic. Despite fan misgivings, it's currently very active, as players have returned to it after largely abandoning the unfortunate dud that was Battlefield 2042.
9 Battlefield 1943
A game of which first-person shooter fans ought to have good memories, Battlefield 1943 is somewhat novel among the franchise, as it was a digital-only release in a time when such games were quite unusual. However, this odd rollout didn't trap the game, instead propelling it to become 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. Ridiculously fun gameplay allowed for hours of fun despite the repetition, however, earning the title an 84 on Metacritic.
8 Battlefield: Bad Company
Even though the game's sequel would go on to eclipse the original in terms of critical reception, the original Bad Company was still very well recieved. It's 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 different from other releases at the time, and it still holds up to today's games in terms of story and gameplay.
7 Battlefield Vietnam
Franchise-birthing WW2 FPS Battlefield 1942 was followed up by Battlefield Vietnam, which transplanted the massive multiplayer battles of the original into a new conflict and innovated by introducing features like jets and helicopters. Production values were also slightly higher, and on the whole, the title felt like the big-budget follow-up to a smash hit game fans would have expected.
Despite an 84 on Metacritic, Battlefield Vietnam doesn't fully hold up today. Far too burdensome to get running on modern hardware, the title is in desperate need of a remaster. That said, it wasn't the only Battlefield title to be set during the Vietnam War.
6 Battlefield 1
One of the more recent additions to the franchise, the number in the game's title refers to the game's setting, which sees the series leave the present in favor of a World War 1 Battlefield setting. This is one of the most well-received games in the franchise with an 89 on Metacritic, and for good reason.
From the fantastic storytelling in Battlefield 1's campaign to the engrossing multiplayer, there is not a lot to dislike about it. The gunplay is smooth, the graphics are clean, and the multiplayer is exciting yet balanced while maintaining a sense of gritty realism. It may not reach franchise peaks, but it's far from being a weak Battlefield title.
5 Battlefield: Bad Company 2
Continuing the story from the original Battlefield: Bad Company, the second game in the spinoff series is one that tons of players will look back fondly on. Although the first game had generally positive reviews, the second earned an 88 on Metacritic, and most fans can agree that the sequel is far superior in pretty much every way.
Without a sign of Battlefield: Bad Company 3 on the horizon, Bad Company 2 remains the peak for this subseries. The graphics themselves may look a bit dated by today's standards, but the artistic choices of the game are still just as gorgeous as upon release. Bad Company 2 helped set the standard for the Battlefield aesthetic and what was possible in large-scale multiplayer gameplay for years to come.
4 Battlefield 1942
A PC-only release from 2002, the original Battlefield game is still one of the best in the franchise with an 89 on Metacritic. Taking the world of first-person shooters by storm, Battlefield 1942 added a ton of concepts and features rarely seen before in a video game.
Spawning vehicles on the map in Battlefield 1942 multiplayer was a huge deal, and vehicle combat became 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.
3 Battlefield 4
Another favorite among fans, Battlefield 4 didn't do too much to stand out from its immediate predecessor, but it did manage to do everything very well. The game's 85 on Metacritic is a marker of quality that the title easily earns.
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 great destructible environments that Call of Duty has never managed to rival, allowing for scenes straight out of an action movie.
2 Battlefield 3
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 step into the roles of a variety of soldiers, as well as including some fantastic missions in Paris and 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. A well-balanced and massively popular multiplayer mode helps carry Battlefield 3 to its 85 on Metacritic.
1 Battlefield 2
The highest-rated game in the franchise is also one of the oldest. It brought the series into the modern era, revolving around a fictional conflict involving the United States, China, and a fictitious organization known as the Middle Eastern Coalition. Expanding on Vietnam to bring a renewed focus on squad- and team-based tactics, which made it unrivaled at the time in terms of immersion and intensity.
With a heavy emphasis on vehicles, 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 easily earned its 91 on Metacritic and remains one of the most influential games of all time.