We’re really excited about Battlefield 6 here. But without a review code to get ahead of the curve, we’ve scouring the reviews online now the embargo is up.
I think we’re all comfortable after the open multiplayer betas, that the online action is going to be great. And it’s the main reason people will be buying the game. But, DICE have implemented a single-player campaign, too. Which is something we’ve missed, as fans of the series.
So, what’s the consensus on Battlefield 6?
Battlefield 6 Multiplayer
The multiplayer is unequivocally the star of the show. Critics have praised its refined back-to-basics approach, which brings back a more traditional and meaningful class system.
IGN, which scored the game a 9/10, celebrated the map design: “The ‘Shattered Coast’ map is a masterpiece of Battlefield design. Fighting from the open, tank-filled beaches into the dense, destructible urban centre of the city feels like a classic ‘Battlefield moment’ that has been sorely missed. Every match tells a story.”
GameSpot gave it an 8/10, highlighting the satisfying gunplay and teamwork: “DICE has nailed the feeling of squad-based tactics again. Pushing an objective with your squad, with a Medic reviving teammates and a Support player laying down suppressing fire while an Engineer desperately tries to take out an enemy tank… it’s chaotic, emergent, and utterly brilliant. The gunplay feels weighty and impactful in a way 2042 never managed.”
PC Gamer focused on the enhanced destruction, awarding it an 88/100: “They’re calling it ‘Dynamic Fortification,’ and it’s a game-changer. It’s not just about blowing walls out anymore; it’s about seeing entire buildings collapse into rubble that then becomes part of the playable map. In the ‘Avalanche’ map, we triggered a landslide that wiped out an entire enemy objective, permanently altering the flow of the rest of the match. It’s simply breathtaking.”
Single-Player Campaign
In stark contrast, the campaign has been met with significant criticism.
Primary complaints are a clichéd story and mission design that feels restrictive and fails to utilize Battlefield’s signature sandbox freedom.
This isn’t really a surprise, truth be told. The mode is fan-service and whilst I can’t speculate on the priority of the mode to the studio. It’s likely something they could have done without.
Eurogamer was particularly critical in their review: “The campaign is a disappointing, paint-by-numbers affair. It’s another tale of a rogue Russian general and a superweapon, a plot we’ve seen a dozen times before. The characters are one-dimensional, and the missions funnel you down sterile corridors from one checkpoint to the next. It feels entirely disconnected from the glorious freedom of the multiplayer.”
GameSpot echoed this sentiment in their 8/10 review, noting the campaign’s wasted potential: “There are fleeting moments where you pilot a tank or a jet, but these are brief, on-rails segments. You’re left wondering why the developers didn’t just create large, open levels and let the player tackle objectives as they see fit, just like in multiplayer. It’s a frustratingly linear experience in a franchise famed for its sandbox.”
IGN’s 9/10 review was almost entirely based on the multiplayer, but they caveated it by saying: “While the multiplayer is phenomenal, the campaign is best forgotten. Consider it an optional tutorial at best and a tedious slog at worst. You’re not buying Battlefield 6 for its story.”
Here we go
The message from critics is clear: Battlefield 6 is an essential purchase for fans of large-scale multiplayer warfare and a spectacular return to the series’ roots.
If you are primarily a single-player gamer looking for a gripping narrative Battlefield 6 probably isn’t for you.
As lovers of Battlefield 2042 (arguably an unpopular opinion), we’ve been steadfast fans of the series. Even at it’s perceived lows.
Battlefield 6 was fun in testing online, and that’s the experience people are (mostly) expecting. So if that grows over time with free updates. It’ll be hard to be unhappy about the game and the future of the series.