Battlefield 6 [REVIEW] – A Triumphant Return to Form

After the misfire that was Battlefield 2042, it’s such a relief to confirm that Battlefield 6 feels like a true return to form for the series. It’s loud, cinematic, and confident in its multiplayer chaos, bringing back the large-scale warfare that has made the series so beloved in stylish fashion. Perhaps what’s most surprising though is that the single-player campaign finally feels like a worthy part of the package.

Check out some screenshots down below:

It’s been a while since a Battlefield campaign has felt like more than a warm-up to multiplayer, but Battlefield 6 really does change that. You play as part of Dagger 13, a Marine Raiders unit tasked with stopping Pax Armata, a powerful private military group that’s risen from NATO’s collapse. Narrative-wise, it’s the familiar premise of global instability and shadowy power plays that you’d have seen in plenty of other military shooters, but it’s executed with cinematic flair and brings plenty of standout moments that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Each mission feels distinct, taking you from the likes of action-packed sequences across the crumbling streets of New York to more stealth-orientated moments across the sun-scorched city of Cairo, with no dull moments to be found across each mission. One moment you might surging through collapsing buildings in a tank, whilst the next might see you parachuting through a thunderstorm into a full-scale assault… the scale and spectacle are pure Battlefield, but for the first time in a while, it feels like the campaign is a substantial piece of the package as opposed to an added extra.

That’s not to say that it doesn’t double as a nice introduction to the systems you’ll use online though, with players figuring out how to command their squad, deploy gadgets, and make use of each character’s abilities… essentially learning Battlefield’s sandbox without even realizing it. It’s a clever bit of design that makes the jump to multiplayer feel natural and less intimidating, though I do think it could’ve offered a few more tutorials for some mechanics – there were a few moments where I’d find myself using abilities but left a little clueless as to what exactly they did. But hey, maybe that’s just a me thing?

What really sells the campaign is the sensory overload of pure destruction. It’s something we see a lot of in the game’s multiplayer, but everything felt so much more dramatic here, with buildings cracking under the blast of tank shells, debris raining from the sky, and the game’s incredible sound design ensuring that every moment of chaos pulsates through the ear drums. It really feels like the destructive ante is upped when it comes to the campaign, and it helps make it a thrilling five-hour ride that proves that Battlefield 6 has more than just multiplayer up its sleeve this year.

“Battlefield 6 brings the series back in spectacular fashion, balancing explosive multiplayer action with a thrilling single player campaign.“

Of course, Battlefield has always lived and died by its multiplayer, so I’m glad to report that Battlefield 6 delivers across the board. It’s a thrilling mix of spectacle and strategy, with the chaos that unfolds across its 64-player battles quintessential Battlefield… you know… tanks bursting through walls, jets roaring overhead, entire skyscrapers collapsing mid-fight… there’s nothing else that nails that chaotic multiplayer atmosphere quite as effectively as Battlefield does.

The classic modes are all here and as satisfying as ever, so returning players will instantly feel at home. Conquest is still the beating heart of the series, offering sprawling battles that feel as epic as ever, whilst Breakthrough and Rush provide tighter, more objective-driven action. There’s that balance of epic chaos that keeps the intensity high throughout, all whilst demanding coordination across each team to get the upper hand.

Then there’s Escalation, a brilliant new addition that re-imagines Conquest as a territorial tug-of-war, with matches offering seven control points that gradually narrow as teams battle to score points, culminating in desperate, explosive finales. Each round feels like its own battle, with tension building as the battlefield shrinks, and when your squad clutches victory in the final seconds, it’s a pure adrenaline rush. It’s incredibly exciting and offers a more drawn-out showdown that manages to build in tension the further you progress through a match… I loved it.

And if you prefer smaller-scale chaos? Don’t worry, modes like Team Deathmatch, Domination, and King of the Hill are here to deliver shorter and more old-school bursts of action. It really does feel like Battlefield 6 caters for all players, whether you’re looking for a quick ten-minute showdown with friends or a more methodical battle that pushes your skills to their limit.

Check out some screenshots down below:

The multiplayer maps are also stunningly detailed, with the likes of the aforementioned war-torn cities such as New York and Cairo breathtakingly immersive, with destructible buildings and debris-filled streets creating endless tactical opportunities. There are also more open maps to play that see players taking up positions in mountainous ridges or blasting through the open skies in helicopters or jet, so there’s enough variety on offer to ensure there’s a consistent and refreshing change of pace. If I was going to complain about anything, it’d be that there could be a few more wider open maps at launch, but with the promise of additional maps coming in the near future, it’s more of a personal quirk as opposed to a real issue.

There’s plenty of reason to stick around too, with progression hitting a satisfying balance of rewards to keep players coming back for more. Weapons, gear, and attachments unlock steadily through play, while daily and weekly challenges give you specific objectives to work toward to keep you invested. The only letdown is that the cosmetics on offer are just a little dull at the moment. I know, I know, Battlefield 6 is looking to capture a more authentic take on war and doesn’t seem like its resorting to some of the crossover content seen in similar multiplayer shooters, but it does mean that a lot of the character models can feel a little samey at the moment. It is early days though, so maybe we’ll see more interesting cosmetics integrated into multiplayer in the coming months.

I feel like I can’t end this review without mentioning Portal, with the mode letting players create and share custom game types, from nostalgic recreations of classic maps to wild experimental rule sets. It’s a playground of creativity that could easily become Battlefield’s long-term priority if properly supported, and whilst I’ll admit I haven’t spent a whole lot of time with it so far, there’s no doubting that it is one of the stand out feature of Battlefield 6’s multiplayer. There’s so much potential here to not only bring a constant surge of content to extend the game’s longevity, but also wild bursts of creativity to keep fully engaged… I’m genuinely excited to see what players come up, because the potential is endless.

Developer: Battlefield Studios
Publisher: Electronic Arts
Platform(s): Xbox Series X|S (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, PC
Website: https://www.ea.com/en/games/battlefield/battlefield-6