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My introduction to the Battlefield series came from the iconic Rendezook clip from Battlefield 3. Hitting another fighter jet with a rocket launcher while ejecting from your own fighter jet and getting back to it once the job was done blew my mind. Since then, I have played almost all Battlefield titles to date, because every second in the game was full of action and randomly chaotic only in "Battlefield" moments.
The journey from Battlefield 4's modern combat to World War 1 trenches and then Battlefield 2042's messy near-future setting was a rough ride for longtime fans. So when EA confirmed Battlefield 6 was returning to modern warfare, I was immediately on board.
After spending some time with the game, I can confidently say that Battlefield 6 is an excellent return to the game's traditional roots, but with some noticeable issues that prevent it from reaching greatness.
Single-Player Campaign
First up, let me start with the game's campaign. Battlefield 6's campaign is the first full-fledged campaign we have received in the last seven years. Frankly, Battlefield has always been about the multiplayer aspect, and the campaign always served as a nice little bonus rather than the main attraction.
Jumping into the campaign, I was instantly transported to the good old Battlefield action, with large-scale combat. The campaign has exactly nine linear missions with intense firefights that demand tactical thinking rather than just running and gunning.
The Always Faithful and Night Raid missions of the campaign were the highlights for me. Although the other missions felt notably well-paced, they fell short when the most impactful moments turned into cutscenes, breaking the immersion. Moreover, the NPC behaviour felt too artificial to ignore at times.
The campaign tries to recapture classic Battlefield storytelling but stumbles with a forgettable narrative. The gameplay aspect of the campaign is excellent, which can also be said for stunning maps, graphics and sound design.
Unlike recent Call of Duty campaigns, Battlefield 6 shies away from political themes and the horrors of war. Portraying such themes is always risky, but that risk is often what makes campaigns memorable.
The Crown Jewel: Multiplayer Mode
This is what Battlefield 6 was built for. The multiplayer is a royal return to the roots of the Battlefield series. It is grounded in reality with its full focus on squad play and objectives. EA has managed to bring back the feeling of Battlefield 3 and 4 wrapped in a modern shell, with breathtaking visuals.
The gunplay in Battlefield 6's multiplayer is excellent. It is beginner-friendly and, at the same time, extremely rewarding for veteran players. From the role of assault class to recon class, each role stands out on its own. Classes are back, and they are better than ever.
Squad play is the real focus in Battlefield 6. With each player picking their own role, it feels like there is actual impact from everyone involved. You can drag a teammate from combat to revive them, even if you are playing the assault class, which is a major factor in determining the result of the game.
The weapons in Battlefield 6 sound as good as you want them to be. With good headphones or a sound system, every weapon feels weighty and powerful. The recoil pattern for most weapons is easy to learn with time, and you don't need to be a series veteran to catch onto it. Moreover, with the open weapons system, all classes can pick any weapon they want to, which allows players to play their favourite role without sacrificing the choice of weapon seen in the class-locked system of previous titles.
The visual and technical performance from the get-go was smoother than I imagined. From the horrendous performance issues seen in many AAA games at launch in the past few years, it was a relief to see that the game launched with minimal issues, even when it came to multiplayer servers.
Unfortunately, the multiplayer mode falls behind due to a few tedious issues. Let me begin with the progression system. The progression in Battlefield 6's multiplayer is extremely slow compared to many multiplayer titles in the same category. While I understand that the current title is here to stay for several years, it still feels tedious to grind at such a slow pace. The early experience gets hindered on a massive level due to the most exciting and powerful items being stuck behind the high-level threshold.
Another thing that holds back the multiplayer's potential is the absence of dynamic weather and the levolution mechanic. While both of these things might feel like an unnecessary gimmick, there was something in seeing the large skyscraper collapsing in Battlefield 4's Siege of Shanghai or the severe sandstorm in Battlefield 2042's Hourglass map. Even as negligible mechanics, these two features made the game truly stand out from other shooters out there.
The biggest balance issue? Tanks. On larger maps, a skilled tank driver with a good engineering squad can dominate entire matches. I got repeatedly destroyed by tanks, often with my team making zero effort to counter them. Vehicles should complement infantry gameplay, not dictate it. I believe EA needs to adjust this dynamic.
Final Thoughts
Battlefield 6 is a solid return to form that both veterans and newcomers will enjoy. The multiplayer nails the squad-based chaos the series is known for, even if the campaign's weak narrative and some multiplayer balance issues hold it back. There's clearly more potential here that future updates could unlock, but what's on offer now is still worthwhile - especially if you catch it on sale. It's not perfect, but it's the closest we've got to classic Battlefield in years, and that alone makes it worth your time
The Good
Excellent gunplay and weapon feel- Squad play is rewarding and impactful
- Smooth technical performance at launch
- Strong return to Battlefield 3/4 style gameplay
- Open weapon system gives players more freedom
The Bad
Campaign narrative is forgettable- Progression system is painfully slow
- Missing dynamic weather and levolution
