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Battlefield 4

Battlefield 4 is the latest instalment in the Battlefield series created by Dice and is the first in the series to utilise the Frostbite 3 engine. It is the latest in the stream of modern military shooters
Battlefield 4 Game Cover
79%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
84% User Score Based on 33,452 reviews
Critic Score 83%Based on 21 reviews

Platforms

Playstation 3Xbox 360Playstation 5Playstation 4Xbox Cloud GamingXboxEa OriginWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassCloudXbox One
Battlefield 4 Game Cover

About

Battlefield 4 is a single player and multiplayer shooter game with warfare and violence themes. It was developed by DICE and was released on October 21, 2014. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

Battlefield 4: Limited Edition includes: - Standard Game - "Dog Tag" USB drive - "China Rising" Expansion pack - A1 Poster

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84%
Audience ScoreBased on 33,452 reviews
story580 positive mentions
stability692 negative mentions

  • Battlefield 4 features intense, cinematic military missions with a gripping story and varied gameplay including firefights, vehicle chases, and dramatic escapes.
  • The game's graphics and sound design are highly praised for their realism, immersive battlefield atmosphere, and strong emotional impact through music.
  • Multiplayer offers large-scale battles, tactical gameplay, destructible environments, and high replayability supported by a smooth, well-optimized performance on many systems.
  • The single-player campaign is criticized for having a generic, predictable, and underdeveloped story with poor character development and frequent game-breaking bugs.
  • Technical issues such as glitches, crashes, bad AI, and hit detection problems hamper the single-player experience and frustrate players.
  • Progression and unlock systems are grind-heavy and tedious, and the monetization through battlepacks is seen as intrusive and encouraging microtransactions.
  • story
    2,057 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Battlefield 4's campaign offers a cinematic, action-packed military storyline set amid a U.S.-China-Russia conflict, featuring varied missions and memorable characters. However, the story is often criticized as generic, predictable, and underdeveloped, with many players finding it short, disjointed, and lacking emotional depth. Compounding these issues are numerous game-breaking bugs and poor AI, which frustrate progression and diminish the overall narrative experience.

    • “Battlefield 4 has a gripping campaign story that pulls you in with intense military missions and high-stakes moments.”
    • “Battlefield 4’s campaign delivers a gripping and cinematic military story set in a tense near future conflict between the United States, China, and Russia. You play as Sergeant Daniel Recker, a member of the elite Tombstone squad, navigating through war-torn cities, political unrest, and high-stakes missions. The story is paced with variety, throwing you into firefights, vehicle chases, and dramatic escapes while giving your squadmates distinct personalities that make their struggles feel personal. With stunning visuals, tight gunplay, and a cinematic presentation, it’s a war story that’s as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant.”
    • “The single-player campaign in Battlefield 4 is engaging and well-crafted, providing a mix of intense action sequences and emotional storytelling. The campaign's pacing and variety of missions make it a thrilling experience, setting a high bar for future installments.”
    • “The campaign is dreadfull to play, in the first 2 missions i experienced loads of bugs and stopped playing at the part where pac is trying to breach an invisible door to get into the medbay.”
    • “The story has horrible writing, it literally starts with a flash forward of you letting your squad leader drown in a car, while, on the same mission, 2 minutes before it actually happens it makes you cut his leg in a supposed 'tense' moment to get him out of some debris so he doesn't die there... as if that matters or as if I forgot what happened on the start of the mission.... and it doesn't stop there, the game tries to make you feel bad and worried about your squadmates even though they have no personality and even though the story keeps killing characters willy nilly, they even show you an actual interesting character, dima from the previous game, and he just pulls a black op's reznov, gets you out of a prison and dies at the end of the same mission.”
    • “There are a few very annoying game-breaking bugs and glitches in the story. It's almost unplayable sometimes. Eleven years on this and they haven't fixed the stupidest things such as you not being able to swim on the third mission and shots not hitting the enemies because there's some invisible collision box blocking them.”
  • gameplay
    1,342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Battlefield 4 offers intense, fast-paced, and tactical gameplay with smooth shooting, satisfying gun mechanics, and a strong emphasis on teamwork. Its dynamic large-scale battles, destructible environments, and diverse vehicles provide varied and immersive combat experiences that still hold up well years after release. While the single-player campaign is often seen as underwhelming and buggy, the multiplayer remains highly engaging with deep mechanics and strategic depth, making it a standout entry in the series.

    • “Released in 2013, it is known for its large-scale multiplayer battles, destructible environments, and tactical gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is amazing, with the squad system I find it fun to strategize and make plans to capture the enemies' conquest or whatever the game wants you to call it.”
    • “It perfectly blends large-scale warfare, teamwork, destruction, and freedom of gameplay.”
    • “Two or three days after playing, you forget the entire story. It feels like they just got some random ideas and stuck them together with random characters. I didn't know who the main character was until a few missions in, which were repetitive with the same mission structure but different maps. Sometimes the mechanics feel off, like clearly hitting enemies but shots not registering.”
    • “Terrible game mechanics, most of the time I literally shoot enemies and bullets get blocked by invisible walls.”
    • “The campaign is buggy; in the water mission you literally can't complete it without pausing every few meters. The swimming physics are broken, enemies are bullet sponges not one-shot even with powerful sniper rifles, and the overall gameplay is janky.”
  • graphics
    1,094 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Battlefield 4’s graphics, powered by the Frostbite 3 engine, were acclaimed at launch and continue to hold up impressively well even years later, offering stunning visuals, realistic lighting, and detailed environments. While some minor graphical glitches and dated effects like exaggerated bloom or lens flare are noted, the game runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware, including lower-end PCs, and still surpasses many newer titles in visual fidelity. Overall, its graphics are widely regarded as a strong point, often praised for aging like fine wine and contributing significantly to the game's immersive battlefield atmosphere.

    • “It has stellar graphics that are better than some recent fps titles, and is optimized so that you can run it on a potato.”
    • “The graphics and sound design in Battlefield 4 are impressive, with stunning visuals and realistic sound effects that make the game feel immersive and authentic.”
    • “Even years after release, Battlefield 4 still holds up surprisingly well, both in visuals and gameplay.”
    • “The game's visuals burned my retinas with its overuse of exaggerated bloom and lens flare that you cannot turn off, severely obscuring the enemies that I am shooting at.”
    • “You could grab it during a sale to witness the campaign but honestly it is extremely badly designed, and even the graphics are in many ways worse than in Battlefield 3.”
    • “The graphics, the details, most of the textures - great. But most of all, it has a consistent art style with no battle pass ruining the aesthetic of its military theme, and my personal favorite: it has no abuse-able movement system because this is before slide-fetish was a thing.”
  • stability
    716 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Battlefield 4 is notorious for its stability issues, especially in the single-player campaign which is riddled with numerous game-breaking bugs, glitches, crashes, and freezes that often render missions unplayable and frustrate progress. Despite improvements over time and generally solid multiplayer performance, persistent technical problems, clunky AI, and frequent connection issues continue to mar the experience even years after release. The game runs well on many systems but is frequently plagued by bugs impacting immersion and gameplay consistency.

    • “Runs great on Arch Linux and with working anti-cheat for Linux.”
    • “Battlefield 4 runs great on PC and still has plenty of servers running full of players, mostly vets and day one players. DICE, please take notes from BF4 and BF3 and use them towards the next Battlefield after 2042.”
    • “The game runs great, and servers are populated and aren't hard to find.”
    • “Terrible experience for a new PC player: full of many bugs and glitches, with many servers lagging for no apparent reason even when my ping is in the 20's.”
    • “The campaign is a buggy disaster with no less than 4 gamebreaking solo campaign bugs that can become unplayable (swimming bugs, spinning in place, falling through objects, black screen on look-up).”
    • “If you want a shooter with a side of unexpected hilarity, welcome to Battlefield 4, where glitches are the stars of the show.”
  • grinding
    168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in this game is widely regarded as lengthy and often tedious, especially when unlocking weapons, gadgets, and attachments, which can require many hours of repetitive gameplay. While some players find the progression rewarding and enjoy the classic Battlefield experience, others feel that the grind detracts from the fun and may push casual players toward purchasing unlocks. Overall, it demands significant time investment, and the multiplayer grind can feel frustrating due to overpowered vehicles and unbalanced encounters.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Unlocks feel grindy rather than rewarding, and many of the weapons and gadgets are locked behind long hours of repetitive gameplay.”
    • “Then to top it all off, grinding to get new weapons and attachments for those weapons takes obnoxiously long while simultaneously being the opposite of fun the entire time.”
    • “The unlock system to get the weapons in the game and everything is ridiculously long and tedious, more than it has any need to be.”
  • humor
    154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game largely stems from its numerous glitches, bugs, and quirky AI behavior, which players find both hilarious and frustrating. While the campaign's attempts at humor often fall flat or feel contrived, multiplayer moments, absurd physics, and unpredictable in-game events generate many funny, chaotic experiences. Overall, the game is enjoyed as a comedic and entertaining battlefield mishmash rather than a polished, serious shooter.

    • “This game is so hilariously bad I have to pause playing to tell you about it.”
    • “In conclusion, Battlefield 4 is not just a game; it's a hilarious war comedy, a lesson in the fragility of virtual friendships, and a reminder that in the chaos of battle, the only strategy that matters is to respawn faster than your opponents.”
    • “Prepare for unpredictable moments, hilarious glitches (sometimes!), and those heart-stopping clutch plays that leave you screaming like a football fan on steroids.”
    • “This game is very boring after 5 minutes due to the servers being full of hackers, making the game lose its fun quickly.”
    • “The game tries to be funny but ends up having unfunny vehicle spammers that ruin the humor.”
    • “Some aspects are humorous, but overall the humor is lacking.”
  • optimization
    145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Optimization for Battlefield titles and similar games varies widely, with many praising smooth performance, high frame rates, and good graphics scaling even on older hardware. However, some games suffer from bugs, stuttering, and crashes, especially at launch or on lower-end systems, with certain titles criticized heavily for poor optimization and technical issues. Overall, while many entries run well on modern PCs, persistent performance problems and lack of polish remain concerns for some users.

    • “It has stellar graphics that are better than some recent FPS titles, and is optimized so that you can run it on a potato.”
    • “The game is very well optimized, it is easy to run on most computers, and it also looks beautiful while providing very high frame rates.”
    • “Crazy fun all-out war title, it's very well optimized and runs smooth as butter even on ultra settings.”
    • “Unoptimized for older and weaker GPUs (Windows 11 could be the issue) & full of bugs like everything white or glitches that prevent you from progressing further.”
    • “Best Battlefield of all time but man it is horribly optimized for Steam; this is the worst optimization for a game.”
    • “Game has severe stuttering issues with no update since its release.”
  • music
    133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its impactful, intense, and atmospheric soundtrack, often considered a standout feature alongside its visuals. Many highlight iconic theme songs, emotional orchestral scores, and energetic electronic tracks that enhance the mood and action. However, some note repetitiveness, occasional overdramatic tones, and lack of music customization as minor drawbacks.

    • “The original music soundtracks from the game are absolutely brilliant and incredibly powerful.”
    • “The soundtrack, while minimal, uses orchestral music to heighten the emotional stakes during key moments.”
    • “The story might have been predictable, but the atmosphere, the music, and the sense of scale made it memorable for me.”
    • “Sound design & music [it's ruined now] 6/10”
    • “I can't turn off the obnoxiously loud music in the campaign and it's very annoying”
    • “Soundtracks are like something you would get from combining creative talent of Skrillex and Tommy Wiseau... in other words, very, very bad.”
  • emotional
    66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The campaign evokes a mix of emotional responses, with many praising its intense, cinematic, and heartfelt moments that foster strong connections, especially during key scenes and endings. However, others find the story unmemorable, with weak character development and glitches undermining emotional engagement. Overall, while the emotional impact resonates deeply for some players, others remain detached due to narrative and technical shortcomings.

    • “The campaign is full of dramatic moments, unexpected twists, and emotional scenes that keep players engaged from beginning to end.”
    • “The narrative is filled with emotional moments, explosive action, and a strong sense of camaraderie that gives real weight to the journey.”
    • “With stunning visuals, tight gunplay, and a cinematic presentation, it’s a war story that’s as thrilling as it is emotionally resonant.”
    • “It suffers from poor mission design, the dumbest AI, and a boring storyline that is not memorable at all.”
    • “Terribly glitchy campaign, buggy NPCs, boring story.”
    • “Boring story, with disturbing bugs everywhere.”
  • replayability
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability for this game is widely praised, particularly for its expansive and balanced multiplayer modes, diverse weapons, and dynamic maps that offer varied playstyles and strategic depth. While the single-player campaign receives mixed feedback, the overall wealth of content, including competitive modes and evolving gameplay elements like levolution, ensures countless hours of engaging and near-infinite replay value.

    • “Ambitious and endlessly replayable, it stands as a true highlight of modern shooters.”
    • “Explosive, chaotic, and endlessly replayable—Battlefield 4 is a true classic in the FPS genre.”
    • “Level design introducing Levolution made these maps extremely fun, addicting, and enjoyable to play on, giving the player new ways to traverse the maps which change up gameplay quite a lot and provide room for player freedom and customization, creating even more replay value than anything before it.”
    • “It's more cinematic than deep, offering set pieces and high production values but limited replayability.”
    • “While the multiplayer is praised for its depth and replayability, the single-player campaign tends to fall flat for many players, and you're not alone in disliking it.”
    • “The unlocking system does not add replayability unless you're a collector.”
  • atmosphere
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Battlefield 4 is widely praised for its detailed, realistic visuals and immersive sound design, effectively creating a tense and authentic modern battlefield atmosphere. Despite its age, the game's large-scale maps, destruction, and vehicle mechanics contribute to a dynamic and engaging experience that many players find unmatched in the genre. While some note Battlefield 1 as having deeper atmospheric and artistic depth, Battlefield 4's signature sound, graphics, and sense of scale maintain its status as a highly atmospheric and enduring shooter.

    • “The visuals are detailed and realistic, creating a strong battlefield atmosphere.”
    • “From the 4 hours I have played I can honestly say the atmosphere is insane; the constant explosions and realistic sounds give you the experience of really being in a war-zone.”
    • “It's 2021 and it's the first time I play a Battlefield game and it's BF4. The story in the campaign is amazing and the multiplayer is just *chef's kiss*. The atmosphere is just phenomenal; it feels like you are literally in a war, and the way that the community still plays a game this old 'til this day proves that this game is a masterpiece, worth every penny!”
    • “Atmosphere [full-time bot-match] 2/10”
    • “Battlefield 4 is still one of the best modern military shooters with its large-scale battles and destruction, but it never reaches the atmosphere and artistic depth of Battlefield 1.”
    • “Unfortunately, your squad are simply props, atmosphere and plot devices and nothing more.”
  • monetization
    41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users widely criticize the monetization approach, highlighting intrusive microtransactions like battlepacks that often provide attachments for unseen weapons and are viewed as cash grabs by EA. While some older Battlefield titles have minimal monetization and remain enjoyable, newer releases incorporate ads, paywalls, and aggressive marketing that detract from gameplay and frustrate players. Overall, the monetization is seen as excessive, misleading, and detrimental to the gaming experience.

    • “Great variety of playstyles, good unlocks system, not completely riddled with microtransactions etc.”
    • “No microtransactions.”
    • “Very active player base, almost no monetization.”
    • “Then you have the battlepacks... the precursor of lootboxes and microtransactions. You can get them through play, but they inflated the camos for the guns, the camos for the characters, the different slots for different gun attachments. You could grind levels to get battlepacks, but half of the battlepack is going to give you attachments for a gun that you don't even have yet.”
    • “Hit detection can be questionable at times, and the battlepack system encourages microtransactions by giving attachments for weapons not unlocked yet.”
    • “The main issue I have with this game is the slimy monetization, this time in the form of battlepacks.”
  • character development
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is generally seen as minimal or surface-level, with some efforts made to make main characters more likable than typical military shooters. While a few reviewers appreciate moments of good character development that evoke emotional connections, many find the story formulaic and lacking depth, especially compared to other franchises like Call of Duty. Overall, character development is present but not a strong or standout aspect of the campaign.

    • “Character development is well done, and makes you feel in the soldier situation, while losing companions all along the campaign.”
    • “And I mean, the campaign is there, not the best storyline in the world but unlike BO3 or BO4 there's actual character development.”
    • “There is some character development going on but it's very surface level, at least they tried to make the main characters more likeable than in your average military shooter.”
    • “Fun campaign - good gameplay and nice guns although lacking in depth and little character development.”
    • “Npcs might as well not exist as there wasn't much character development.”
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44h Median play time
300h Average play time
6h Main story
18h Completionist
6-613h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 95 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Battlefield 4 is a shooter game with warfare and violence themes.

Battlefield 4 is available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox Series X|S and others.

The main story can be completed in around 6 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 18 hours to finish. On average players spend around 300 hours playing Battlefield 4.

Battlefield 4 was released on October 21, 2014.

Battlefield 4 was developed by DICE.

Battlefield 4 has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked Battlefield 4 for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Battlefield 4 is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Battlefield 1, Battlefield V, Battlefield 3, Battlefield Bad Company 2, Battlefield 2042 and others.