Battlefield Games in Order: Release and Story Guide

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

The simplest way to play the Battlefield games is in release order, starting with Battlefield 1942 (2002); most entries are standalone, so you do not need to finish one before beginning another. If you mean chronological story order, play the World War I and World War II-set games before the modern-era campaigns—but the franchise has no single continuous storyline.

Release order: the main Battlefield games

Here is the core series in original release order. The dates refer to the initial release year, not later ports, expansions, or remasters.

Battlefield 1942 (2002)
Battlefield Vietnam (2004)
Battlefield 2 (2005)
Battlefield 2142 (2006)
Battlefield: Bad Company (2008)
Battlefield Heroes (2009) — a free-to-play, cartoon-styled spin-off
Battlefield 1943 (2009) — a downloadable World War II game
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 (2010)
Battlefield Play4Free (2011) — a free-to-play spin-off
Battlefield 3 (2011)
Battlefield 4 (2013)
Battlefield Hardline (2015)
Battlefield 1 (2016)
Battlefield V (2018)
Battlefield 2042 (2021)
Battlefield 6 (2025)

This list covers major standalone releases, including notable spin-offs, rather than every expansion, regional release, or mobile game. Some older online-only titles, including Heroes and Play4Free, are no longer playable through their original services. Release order is useful as a historical checklist, but it does not mean every game is available to buy or play today.

What order should you play them in?

For most players, the best answer is to choose an era or a particular game that appeals to you—not to treat the series as a long campaign. The main Battlefield identity is large-scale multiplayer, and each numbered entry largely stands on its own. You can jump into Battlefield 2042 or Battlefield 6 without knowing the plot of the 2000s games.

Want to follow the series’ evolution? Use release order. It shows how the games moved from World War II battles to modern combat and futuristic settings, and how their multiplayer design changed.
Want a single-player campaign? Pick a game with a campaign that interests you. The Bad Company games are linked to each other; many other campaigns are separate stories.
Want the quickest entry point? Start with a recent game that is available on your platform and has an active player base there. Check current platform and online-service information before buying an older title.
Only interested in historical settings? Try Battlefield 1 for a World War I setting, or Battlefield V and the earlier games for World War II settings.

There is no required “starter game.” A modern release may be easier to access, while an older game may be the better choice if its setting, campaign, or style is what you want.

Story chronology and connected campaigns

Battlefield is not one saga with a single timeline. Its games use different wars, fictional conflicts, and casts of characters; even games set in roughly the same period need not share a plot. Also, a historical setting does not automatically make a game’s campaign a documentary account.

If you want a broad chronology based on setting, a rough sequence is:

Battlefield 1 — World War I, though its short campaign episodes tell different stories rather than one continuous character arc.
Battlefield 1942, Battlefield 1943, and Battlefield V — World War II settings. They are separate games, not chapters of one shared campaign.
Battlefield Vietnam — the Vietnam War setting.
Battlefield 2, Battlefield 3, Battlefield 4, and Hardline — modern or near-modern settings, with distinct plots and degrees of connection.
Battlefield 2142 — a future conflict; Battlefield 2042 is set earlier by its date, but should not be treated as a direct continuation of every older game.

This is a setting-based guide, not a precise in-universe timeline. Bad Company and Bad Company 2 are the clearest pair to play in order if you want character continuity. Battlefield 3 and Battlefield 4 have a closer relationship than most entries, but each has its own campaign. The chronology of a game’s setting is not the same as a recommended play order.

Campaigns, multiplayer, and spin-offs

“Battlefield games” can mean the main releases, their multiplayer modes, or the broader family of spin-offs. The distinction matters because some entries are chiefly remembered for multiplayer, while others also offer a substantial single-player campaign. For example, Battlefield 1943 was built around online multiplayer rather than a traditional story campaign; the original Battlefield 1942 also centers on battles and multiplayer rather than a connected cinematic narrative.

Battlefield Heroes and Battlefield Play4Free took the series in free-to-play directions, while Hardline focused on police and criminal conflict rather than a conventional military setting. These are legitimate parts of the franchise’s history, but they are not necessary to understand the numbered games. If you are making a practical play list today, prioritize games you can access and modes you actually enjoy.

Availability and choosing a version

Availability differs by platform, region, and storefront. Older games may require older hardware or may not be sold digitally on every current system. Online multiplayer can also depend on whether a title’s servers and platform services remain active; owning a disc or a digital license does not guarantee that every online feature will still work.

Before purchasing, check the store listing for your exact platform, whether the edition includes the campaign or multiplayer content you want, and whether online play is still supported. For a game you already own, consult the platform’s current service notices if multiplayer fails. Do not assume that a game’s original release date tells you whether its servers are available now.

Expansions and editions can complicate lists: a title may have downloadable maps, extra modes, or bundled content. These are not separate main-series games, so they generally do not change the order above. If your goal is simply to play the story, confirm that the edition includes the campaign before purchasing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to play Battlefield games in order?
No. Most games have independent campaigns and multiplayer settings. The main exception for a connected story is Bad Company followed by Bad Company 2.

Which Battlefield game should I start with?
Choose based on what you want: a recent release for a current entry point, Battlefield 1 for a World War I setting, or Bad Company if you want to follow its two-game campaign. Check platform availability first.

Is Battlefield 1 the first game in the series?
No. It was released in 2016, long after Battlefield 1942. Its “1” refers to its World War I setting, not its place as the franchise’s first release.

Is Battlefield 2042 a sequel to Battlefield 4?
It is a later release and uses a future setting, but it is not a direct continuation of Battlefield 4’s campaign. You can play it without completing earlier games.

Are Battlefield Heroes and Play4Free still playable?
Their original online services have ended, so they are not playable through their former official service. They can still appear in historical release lists as franchise spin-offs.

What is the newest Battlefield game?
Battlefield 6, released in 2025, is the newest main-series entry in this guide. Availability and supported platforms can vary, so check the current listing for your system.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.