Battlefield 6 Review: Truly Battlefield at Its Best

While the Battlefield series has greatly improved in recent years, Battlefield 2042's launch was a disaster and the game is remembered as the worst main series Battlefield game, reflected by its negative review scores and failure to meet EA's commercial expectations. Instead of rushing out a replacement, EA and Battlefield Studios (a combination of DICE, Motive Studios, Ripple Effect Studios, and Criterion Games) took extra time crafting Battlefield 6, with the hope that it would put the franchise back on the map and restore confidence in the brand. After spending a week with Battlefield 6's multiplayer and campaign, this latest entry proves that Battlefield is back and better than ever.

Battlefield 6 Multiplayer is Non-Stop Fun

Battlefield 6 multiplayer is a machine that generates water-cooler moments. No matter the map or the mode, every Battlefield 6 match is absolute chaos in the best way. As matches progress, vehicles are obliterated and buildings are reduced to rubble. Players who try to lone wolf everything likely won't have a great time, but those who stick close with their squad and go after each objective strategically will be rewarded for their efforts.

In Battlefield 6, players choose between four classes with distinct roles. Assault is the typical offensive class with a kit to match, while Recon is for snipers. Engineers can repair vehicles, and finally, Supports can revive downed teammates almost instantly, which can be an absolute game-changer in certain scenarios. There is an ongoing debate in the community about closed weapons vs. Open weapons, with the former forcing classes to use specific guns and the latter giving players more freedom in customizing their classes. Personally, I am not bothered by either approach - though those who prefer closed weapons will seemingly have fewer options when it comes to the available playlists.

Players can create and search for their own Portal matches, but the vast majority of Battlefield 6 players will likely be selecting from the standard multiplayer tiles in the main menu. Persumably, these tiles will change based on community feedback and whenever EA deems it necessary, but at the end of my pre-release time with the game, only one of the available playlists was for closed weapons, and it was limited to Conquest and Escalation. Battlefield purists may take issue with that, and that's understandable, but it did not have any negative impact on my enjoyment of the game.

In fact, Battlefield 6 is the most fun I've had with a military shooter's multiplayer in years. All four classes bring something to the table and are fun to play in their own right, whether it's pulling off a clutch revive that gives the squad a fighting chance at the objective or nailing a crunchy headshot from afar with the sniper. The game has options for those who prefer larger maps with vehicles and the mayhem they bring, as well as smaller maps for those who prefer boots-on-the-ground action and close-quarters combat. There may be balance issues that come to light once the public gets its hands on the game and more people have a chance to play, but I came away with zero complaints about the maps, modes, or performance. As someone who grew up with old-school Call of Duty and Battlefield games, Battlefield 6 is basically what the ideal 2025 version of that kind of experience would be.

Anyone worried that Battlefield 6 would be as buggy as Battlefield 2042 can breathe a sigh of relief. I occasionally ran into an oddity, like a tree without a bottom or a bot running aimlessly into a wall, but generally speaking, the game is incredibly polished with minimal technical issues. I can't say that the servers will work perfectly at launch, but I had a very smooth experience.

Battlefield 6 maps are stunning, photo-realistic battlefields with an astonishing level of destructibility that never feels gimmicky. Explosions are jaw-dropping and devastating, while the gunplay is punchy, with real weight behind it. Battlefield Studios struck the perfect balance with movement, which isn't too fast or too slow. Progression is tied to XP as well as challenges, so the carrot of constantly earning something new makes matches feel rewarding even in the face of defeat. But even if it didn't have solid progression, Battlefield 6 multiplayer would still be exciting. The unlocks offer extra incentives, but they aren't the main driving force behind playing the game. Fun is.

The thing is, I had this much fun with the game, and I wasn't even able to play with my friends, which is a serious testament to how much Battlefield Studios has nailed Battlefield 6's core gameplay. I experienced so many hilarious and memorable moments during my time with the multiplayer, whether it was the time I was blown up by a gas stove or revived by a teammate only for both of us to run into the street and immediately get pancaked by an enemy tank. I'm excited to play more Battlefield 6 multiplayer, and it will definitely be a daily part of my gaming routine for the foreseeable future. Unfortunately, I wasn't nearly as impressed with the campaign.

The Battlefield 6 Campaign is a Mixed Bag

The best way to describe the Battlefield 6 single-player campaign is Battlefield-flavored Call of Duty. It is a series of nine missions that offer a very guided, very linear experience that walks players through impressive cinematic set-pieces while mowing down enemy combatants and completing various objectives with a forgettable story populated by generic characters that spout cheesy dialogue. There are a few Battlefield touches that help the campaign stand out from Call of Duty, like how players can issue commands to their teammates and how destruction is used. Battlefield 6's campaign leverages the game's destructibility for some of the more impressive set-pieces and for practical things, like blowing up walls to create new flanking opportunities.

Most of the Battlefield 6 campaign missions are action-packed, and while there's nothing really new here, the minute-to-minute gameplay is fun enough. It's also fairly brief with nine missions that take an average of 30 minutes or so to complete, and doesn't overstay its welcome or become too repetitive. But while the Battlefield 6 campaign may be highly derivative of the competition, it's still a gorgeous FPS that serves as a solid showcase for the gameplay mechanics that truly shine in the multiplayer. It's worth a once-through, but make no mistake, the real reason to buy the game is the multiplayer.

Battlefield 6 also features the return of Portal mode, which gives users the tools to create their own experiences to share with others. I was unable to test Portal during my time with the game, but it won't hit its full potential until the community has its hands on it anyway. I look forward to seeing what they dream up.

At launch, Battlefield 6 is a fully-featured FPS that should give genre fans countless hours of entertainment. The single-player campaign may be underwhelming in some respects, but it gets the job done, and the multiplayer is a blast. Battlefield 6 would already be an easy recommendation based on what's there out of the gate, but it's getting even more content in the near future. EA has an aggressive plan for Battlefield 6's post-launch support, with new maps and modes, including a battle royale, right around the corner. Battlefield 6 is the most fun I've had with a Battlefield game in nearly a decade, and I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

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FPS

War & Military

Action

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OpenCritic Reviews: Top Critic Avg: 83 /100 Critics Rec: 90%

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Released: October 10, 2025
ESRB: Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, In-App Purchases, Users Interact
Developer(s): Battlefield Studios
Publisher(s): EA