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A soldier stands on a battlefield of red flowers with more soldiers in the background and planes flying overhead
Image via Electronic Arts
Category:
Battlefield

Every Battlefield game in release order

Where it all began and how it's currently going.
Image of Anish Nair
Anish Nair
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Published: Sep 18, 2024 08:17 pm

The Battlefield series set a benchmark for FPS war games since its inception. If you’re a veteran of the series or looking for an entry point into Battlefield, here’s every game from the famed FPS series, listed in their release order.

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Battlefield games in release order

Battlefield 1942

Player character aiming a gun at a house in a desert in Battlefield 1942
Where it all began. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Sept. 10, 2002
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 1942 popularized the World War II FPS genre in 2002 with its hot new take on varied battle mechanics that let players fight on foot as well as operate vehicles and base defenses. Battles take place throughout different maps based on actual battlefields from WWII. Players can play as part of the Axis Powers or the Allies, depending on the map they choose.

Battlefield Vietnam

Player character aiming a gun at a tank next to a tower in Battlefield Vietnam
The sequel had a lot to live up to. Image via Activision
  • Release date: March 15, 2004
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield Vietnam built upon its predecessor with a new coat of paint. From revamped graphics to updated maps now based in Vietnam, the second iteration of the Battlefield series lets players play as either the U.S. or North Vietnam. The playstyles of each faction vary with the U.S. focusing on heavy weapons and vehicles while North Vietnam specialized in infantry.

Battlefield 2

Player character aiming at a building with an approaching tank in a mountainous land in Battlefield 2
An expansive game. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: June 21, 2005
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 2 strayed away from real historical combat to a fictional war between five different factions that takes place in the 21st century. The game’s abundance of content was further increased through two additional expansion packs while the visual elements of Battlefield 2 were updated with revamped graphics and physics.

Battlefield 2 also spawned a console spinoff, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat, in October 2005, which featured the first single-player campaign in the series.

Battlefield 2142

A soldier wielding his gun with an armed robot walker unit following him in Battlefield 2142
A trip to the future. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Oct. 17, 2006
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 2142 propelled the series’ fictional war background a step beyond by taking the story into the mid-22nd century. Set in the year 2142, the game placed players amid what was dubbed the “Cold War of the 22nd Century” between the European Union and the Pan Asian Coalition. In this bold entry, you could choose your side and take down the enemy with futuristic tech new to the series.

Battlefield: Bad Company

Soldier standing up looking at an open briefcase in a room in Battlefield Bad Company
Preston Marlowe makes his appearance. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: June 23, 2008
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield: Bad Company was the first game in the series to focus on consoles instead of PCs. Bad Company also had a fully fleshed-out single-player campaign that followed the exploits of Private Preston Marlowe in his quest to steal gold and fight a brewing war between the U.S. and Russia. Bad Company also saw the debut of Digital Illusions CE’s new Frostbite Engine, adding more destructible environments to every map.

Battlefield Heroes

Armored soldier pointing a gun at the player character in a field with houses in the background
A unique entry. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: June 25, 2009
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield: Heroes was a free-to-play spin-off of the original Battlefield games and was the first third-person shooter in the series. Heroes was developed to be less demanding on PC specifications and, therefore, more accessible. The game also featured a revamped Conquest mode and skill-based matchmaking for multiplayer enthusiasts.

Battlefield 1943

A US soldier pointing his gun at the player character with an explosion in the background in Battlefield 1943
A battle royale for the ages. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: July 8, 2009
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 1943 was the first entry in the series to be developed entirely for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game went back to World War II, placing players as part of either the U.S. Marine Corps or the Imperial Japanese Navy. Battlefield 1943 allowed up to 24 players to play together on three different maps, all part of the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of World War II.

Battlefield: Bad Company 2

Player character aiming a gun at enemies whilst a car explodes in the background in Battlefield Bad Company 2
An explosive return. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: March 2, 2010
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield: Bad Company 2 served as a sequel to the original Bad Company and, as such, followed the exploits of Preston Marlowe in its campaign. On the multiplayer front, Bad Company 2 focused on squad play with an extensive arsenal of weapons and vehicles, played through five modes. Bad Company 2 initially launched on PC and consoles and was later ported to iOS.

Battlefield 3

Soldier holding a gun patrolling the streets of a crowded city with other soldiers in Battlefield 3
Fan favorites return. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Oct. 25, 2011
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 3 was a return to form and a direct sequel to Battlefield 2. The game brought back fan-favorite features like flying fighter jets and massive 64-player battles. For the first time, the single-player campaign lets players play through four different military roles taking place in various locations around the world like Paris, Tehran, and New York City.

Battlefield 4

Soldiers on a boat firing their machine guns with ships and helicopters in the background in Battlefield 4
Custom weapons aplenty. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Oct. 29, 2013
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 4 is a sequel to Battlefield 3 set six years after its predecessor. The fictional “War of 2020” is in full swing and grants players an expansive arsenal of customizable weapons to take down their enemies with. The single-player campaign followed Recker through various sandbox levels, requiring specific actions and weapons to complete campaign assignments.

Battlefield Hardline

Policeman arresting and handcuffing a criminal pinned to the ground in Battlefield Hardline
A bold spinoff. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: March 17, 2015
  • Developer: Visceral Games

Battlefield Hardline shifted the series’ perspective from military action to policing elements. Players played as two factions: The Special Response Units and criminals. The maps were redesigned to feature more city-based locations instead of military warzones. While the game’s story was not well-received, the game’s mechanics breathed new life into the series.

Battlefield 1

A tank charging through the battlefield with an allied soldier beside it and an enemy soldier in front of it in Battlefield 1
Back to where it all began. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Oct. 21, 2016
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield 1 brought the series back to where it all began: World War I. The game was equally praised for its single-player and multiplayer modes, with the former showcasing six characters playing through their own stories. The multiplayer modes emphasized teamwork more than ever before, making the game more competitive compared to its predecessors.

Battlefield V

Soldier firing a flamethrower with fellow soldiers and tanks in the background
A compelling sequel. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Nov. 20, 2018
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

Battlefield V is a direct sequel to Battlefield 1, continuing where its predecessor left off. The game takes place during World War II and continues the “War Stories” single-player campaign format derived from Battlefield 1, focusing on three different characters and their stories. The multiplayer modes featured more teamwork than ever, simulating actual war campaigns through a variety of stages with specific objectives.

Battlefield 2042

Two players fighting off several enemies in the midst of a battle zone in Battlefield 2042
A polarizing entry. Image via Electronic Arts
  • Release date: Nov. 19, 2021
  • Developer: Digital Illusions CE

The final iteration of the series, as of 2024, Battlefield 2042 goes back to its multiplayer roots, excluding a single-player campaign altogether. The game has three different multiplayer modes in All-Out Warfare, Battlefield Portal, and Hazard Zone, each with its own set of maps and objectives inspired by game modes introduced in prior Battlefield games.

Battlefield 2042 is also the first game in the series to support complete cross-platform play, letting PC players play with console players.

Defunct entries like Battlefield Online and Battlefield Play4Free were excluded from the list.

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Author
Image of Anish Nair
Anish Nair
Freelance gaming writer for Dot Esports. An avid gamer of 25 years with a soft spot for RPGs and strategy games. Esports writer for 2 years and a watcher for 12 years. Aspiring author. Dad to a host of animals. Usually found trying to climb ranks in Dota 2, plundering the seas in Sea of Thieves, hunting large monsters in Monster Hunter World, or mining rare minerals in Deep Rock Galactic.