Guide for Playing the Battlefield series in Order – What to play first? 

Undoubtedly, the Battlefield game series lives up to its name. The first-person shooter is well known for its massive maps, multiplayer mode, and rare ability to ride various aircraft like military jets and other warcraft machines.  

For those starting the Battlefield series anew, the game is about protecting the areas you’ve conquered while simultaneously fighting to conquer the rest of the map. With mind-blowing action sequences, graphics, and storyline, it’s no surprise that the Battlefield franchise has been fundamental amongst gaming circles since its introduction.  

Whether you’re a Battlefield newbie or a veteran, surfing through the series can be pretty nerve-racking, given its plethora of installments. As a result, it’s a wise idea to navigate through the series in a particular order. The most common ways to play the Battlefield series in order are chronologically and release date-wise. 

However, not everyone would like to abide by the norms of playing a game series in standard order. So, here’s more about how you can play the Battlefield series in order. 

1. The Chronological Order to Play the Battlefield Series 

Like playing any game series in chronological order, you should consider playing the Battlefield franchise chronologically if you wish to follow the narrative behind each game and put together the entire storyline. In addition, the below-mentioned chronological order to play the Battlefield series will be delightful if you’re a lover of historical events.  

1. Battlefield 1 – Covers WW1 and the Interwar Period from 1914 to 1920 
2. Battlefield V – Covers WW2, from 1939 to 1945 
3. Battlefield 1942 – Covers mainly WW2 from 1941 to 1945 
4. Battlefield 1943 – Covers mainly WW2 from 1941 to 1945 
5. Battlefield Vietnam – Covers the Vietnam war from 1955 to 1975. 
6. Battlefield 2, Battlefield 2: Modern Combat – Covers a fictional war between allies US and Europe against China allied with a fictional Middle East Coalition from 2007 till 2011 
7. Battlefield 3 – Covers the War of 2014 following up from Battlefield 2 
8. Battlefield 4 – Follows up on Battlefield 3 and covers the War of 2020 
9. Battlefield 2042 – Covers the War of Mankind following a period of global crisis. 
10. Battlefield 2142 – Creates a fictional Cold War between the Pan Asian Coalition and the European Union that lasts from 2139 till 2145. 

2. The Release Order to Play the Battlefield Series 

Playing the Battlefield series in release order favors those who enjoy the noticeable enhancement in graphics, collectibles, modes, weapons, and maps with each installment. Moreover, as players move towards more recent installments in the Battlefield series, they’ll encounter fewer bugs and glitches, making the gaming experience much smoother. 

Below is the release order to play the Battlefield series. 

1. Battlefield 1942 (2002) 
2. Battlefield Vietnam (2004) 
3. Battlefield 2 (2005) 
4. Battlefield 2: Modern Combat (2005) 
5. Battlefield 2142 (2006) 
6. Battlefield: Bad Company (2008) 
7. Battlefield Heroes (2009) 
8. Battlefield 1943 (2009) 
9. Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010) 
10. Battlefield 3 (2011) 
11. Battlefield 4 (2013) 
12. Battlefield Hardline (2015) 
13. Battlefield 1 (2016) 
14. Battlefield V (2018) 
15. Battlefield 2042 (2021) 

3. Which Battlefield game should you play first? 

If possible, you should start the Battlefield series from Battlefield Bad Company 2. It offers a balanced gameplay with the right mix of the storyline, combat, gears, and available servers. Furthermore, several gamers argue that the series only went downhill after Battlefield Bad Company 2, so it seems like the best starting point. 

Nonetheless, it’s noteworthy that even though there are a significant number of active servers available for Bad Company 2, they’re quite limited compared to Battlefield 1, Battlefield 3, and Battlefield 4.  

In addition, the only concern when playing Bad Company 2 is that it only has a few servers for beginners. As a result, you must totally expect to face the most skilled opponents. 

4. Do you need to play the Battlefield series in order? 

Fortunately, you don’t need to play the Battlefield series in order. This is because the Battlefield series doesn’t have a cohesive storyline. In addition, the franchise hasn’t had a story spanning across games since Battlefield Bad Company 1, so pretty much any game you play after that will be like a standalone game. 

Also, the new storyline system in Battlefield, known as War Stories, renders playing the series in order useless. War Stories dictate that the game will consist of multiple stories with different perspectives instead of one long campaign. 

5. Which Battlefield game has the best story? 

Battlefield Bad Company 2 features the best campaign in the entire Battlefield series. It contains hilarious writing, rare mission scenarios, and a bunch of characters who are a hoot to be around. Although this installment consists of numerous clichés, its quick pace and detailed mission design are enough to keep players hooked. 

Be it the chaotic multiplayer mode, nail-biting PvP, or the massively underrated Vietnam expansion, Battlefield Bad Company 2 hits the right spot in every aspect!  

6. Are Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 connected? 

No, Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 aren’t connected to each other. Although both games are immensely similar, the storyline from Battlefield 3 barely extends to Battlefield 4. That being said, a few players also believe that the storyline in Battlefield 3 is scarcely present and follows a very mainstream fps narrative. 

Also, playing Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 back-to-back is recommended. This order allows players to appreciate the entirely different sets of characters and plots in both Battlefield installments.  

7. Which Battlefield campaign is the longest? 

Battlefield 2 probably contains the longest campaign in the Battlefield series. It’s a classic Battlefield campaign that lasts longer than its classic counterparts and the entire modern Battlefield collection. The single-player campaign in Battlefield 2 takes approximately 9.5 hours to beat, while its multiplayer campaign requires 98.5 hours, taking the sum total to 108 hours.  

If you focus only on the Battlefield game with the longest single-player campaign, it’d be Battlefield: Vietnam, with a total gameplay time of 13.5 hours compared to Battlefield 2’s 9.5.  

8. About Battlefield

Battlefield is a series of first-person shooter video games that began with Battlefield 1942, which was initially released in 2002 for Microsoft Windows and OS X. The series is being developed by EA DICE in Sweden and is published by Electronic Arts in the United States. The PC games in the series are mainly focused on the online multiplayer.

Overall, and as of 2012, the Battlefield series has been played by more than 50 million players worldwide across the 11 games and 12 expansion packs released since its inception in 2002.