REVIEW: ‘Battlefield 6’ Brings A Beloved Franchise Back To Life

Four years after the release of Battlefield 2042, Battlefield Studios is here with Battlefield 6, hoping to bring the franchise back to the heights it reached with earlier releases like Battlefield Bad Company 2 and Battlefield 3. Plenty of player feedback has been incorporated into the development of Battlefield 6, resulting in a game that showcases the best of what this franchise has to offer.

First-person shooter games often prioritize their online components, which means that single-player campaigns have become secondary. Battlefield 6 features a fully fleshed-out campaign that puts players in the shoes of Dagger13, an elite Marine squad fighting against a private military company known as Pax Armata.

The general overtones are fairly typical for a game like this, setting up a classic “good guys versus bad guys” scenario. NATO is pushing back against the evils of private military corporations, and a strong sense of duty is evident among the soldiers featured in the campaign. There are several twists and turns along the way that keep the story fresh, but players will generally be able to know exactly where the story is going.

The missions in Battlefield 6 are designed to teach players new mechanics or skills.

Thankfully, that familiarity ultimately benefits the game. It allows players to focus more on the gameplay mechanics, which the story mode does a great job of laying out. Campaign missions take place across the various maps of Battlefield 6 that players will encounter in online multiplayer, making it easier to explore the areas without the pressure of playing online.

It also serves as a perfect way to become accustomed to the various classes, vehicles, and weapons available in online play. Each mission in Battlefield 6 is designed to teach players a new mechanic or skill, but it flows so well that it avoids feeling like a basic tutorial. Before you know it, you’ve got a firm grasp on the different options available before hopping online to test yourself against better foes.

It is also worth noting that the campaign features several difficulty modes, with the hardest being a genuine test of skill. Battlefield 6 prioritizes a methodical and intelligent approach to gameplay, and this strategy is also evident in the campaign. It was nice to slow down and take my time instead of running in guns blazing.

Each combat role is essential in Battlefield 6, and players should pay attention to their squad composition.

Battlefield 6 has four main classes: Assault, Recon, Support, and Engineer. Each class has its own special abilities and items that it can use in combat. Assault is for those who want to lead the line into combat, Recon encourages long-range play, Support is there to heal and refuel teammates, and Engineer can heal or destroy vehicles at will. Each combat role is important, and squad composition in online play is something players need to pay attention to. Loading in as four Assault players, for example, probably won’t end well.

The one area where this becomes a slight issue is the Open and Closed Weapons systems. Open Weapon lobbies let players use weapons that their class is not proficient in. This allows for more meta-class builds, something that has typically been nonexistent in the more well-received Battlefield games. Closed Weapon, on the other hand, forces players to use only the weapons their chosen class is good at. This makes class selection much more important, and, crucially, prevents lobbies from becoming overloaded with the same gun being used across different classes.

Allowing the two choices is smart, since less hardcore players might prefer the idea of Open Weapon lobbies. It also expands the player pool and encourages more freedom when it comes to class building. Making a game appeal to a bigger crowd makes sense. Closed Weapon is still the “optimal” way to play, offering a much better experience, but it is easy to understand why Battlefield Studios wanted to have both options available. 

Learning how to master each unique gun in Battlefield 6 is no easy task.

Gunplay in Battlefield 6 is the real highlight. Every gun is unique, and learning how to master them is no easy task. Battlefield 6 features a gameplay mechanic called “Kinesthetic Combat,” which grants players greater control over their fighting style. Controlling recoil is straightforward, making it easier for players to learn how to shoot accurately without losing the authenticity and challenge that make Battlefield 6 gameplay so special. 

The biggest addition in Battlefield 6 is the new drag-to-revive mechanic. It might not seem like much, but there is nothing more exhilarating than dragging your downed teammate away from heavy gunfire in order to rescue them. Now that I’ve played a game with this mechanic, I won’t ever be able to play a game without it again. It is a massive game-changer that truly elevates combat in Battlefield 6.

Battlefield 6 features four distinct online modes under its All-Out Warfare banner. Conquest, Breakthrough, and Rush all return as the classic objective-based modes that fans will recognize from past series entries. Escalation is a new mode that, as the name implies, intensifies as the match progresses. These options offer the most fun and authentic Battlefield experience that Battlefield 6 has to offer. They allow players to enjoy virtually every option available, with massive maps and lots of routes to choose from.

Battlefield 6 introduces popular online shooter modes that are infused with Battlefield DNA.

But that’s not all. Battlefield 6 also introduces popular online shooter modes that are infused with Battlefield DNA. Squad Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Domination, and King of the Hill are there for players who want a faster-paced option that focuses purely on killing as many enemies as you can. These don’t offer the same level of experience as the All-Out Warfare modes, but they strike a balance between hardcore and casual gameplay that allows players to get in a quick game without feeling like they need to take strategic notes.

All of this takes place across eight new maps and a returning one in Operation Firestorm. Some, like Liberation Peak and Mirak Valley, are sprawling maps that give the best all-out combat experience. There is a wealth of options to explore on these expansive maps, allowing for various approaches to combat. Others, like Saints Quarter and Empire State, focus on close-quarter infantry combat.

There truly isn’t a bad map in Battlefield 6, though there is still some balancing to be done with objective locations that can and should be improved over time. Every map has multiple avenues to flow through, and combat is typically funnelled into certain areas in an organic and seamless way. It will be interesting to see what Battlefield 6 does with new maps in the future, but the starting options offer a wide variety for every player to enjoy.

Game optimization is excellent in Battlefield 6; every map drips with detail and density.

It is also worth noting the excellent job Battlefield 6 does in optimizing the game. Every map is dripping with detail and density, so it is amazing that it runs as well as it does. Players don’t need to sacrifice impressive visuals for improved frame rate, since the performance mode looks absolutely incredible. It is easily the best-looking shooter out there, bringing combat to life in a breathtaking way.

The Portal Builder Tool is a sandbox that allows players to create their own experience, and the Portal server browser will make it easy for players to find or share custom games with others. This mode wasn’t available during the review period, but it looks promising as a way to encourage community engagement and create new ways to enjoy the familiar maps.

Battlefield 6 is a giant leap forward for the franchise, returning it to the peak of online first-person shooters. There was a ton of love and detail put into every aspect of the game, and it has the potential to dethrone Call of Duty as the king of online shooters.

Battlefield 6 releases on October 10th on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.