3) Battlefield 1
Everyone’s been thinking it, but DICE was the only one’s with balls to realize the vision. Battlefield 1 hits the reset button on a genre that has, despite its ongoing popularity, been in much need of a change of pace. So waving goodbye to modern warfare and sci-fi combat, Battlefield 1 goes back to a more simplistic but no less exhilarating time period, WWI.
And what a job DICE have done with Battlefield 1. Where CoD and Titanfall 2 do a good job with either single or multiplayer but not both, Battlefield 1 nails the whole package and cruises its way to the top of the pack when it comes to war simulation. This is the game to play if you’re after an FPS title with a poignant and meaningful narrative, as well as some of the best team-based online multiplayer experiences you’ll ever enjoy.
Much was made of DICE’s ability to do justice to a WWI thematic setting, and boy did they deliver. The vignette mini-stories that comprise Battlefield 1’s five single player campaigns serve up a stunning blend of well-written narrative adventures, with each given its own distinct flavor thanks to the global scale of Battlefield 1’s conflict.
DICE’s multiplayer offering is equally brilliant. Battlefield 1’s large-scale battles have never felt better, complete with weaponry that is distinct and varied. The vintage aesthetic of both the guns and vehicles adds a uniqueness and weight to the weapons that complement the frenetic pace of online battle. We also get the customization here that Battlefield games have always done so well, but this time the design better encourages experimentation, and that ultimately feels even more rewarding.