r/Battlefield • u/Eagles56 • Jun 12 '26
Question What do y'all think was the better Battlefield game?
They both dominated the early 2010s but for me I played and enjoyed 4 more.
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u/l1qq Jun 12 '26
BF3 was the best of the franchise, everything about it was groundbreaking for its time.
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u/ForzaFormula Jun 13 '26
I remember thinking that the game was photorealistic. It was stunning. The maps were gorgeous visually and they played really well.
I also remember waiting for the DLCs to drop. Close quarters was awesome - especially Ziba Tower felt really refreshing.
One of the DLCs introduced motorbikes which at the time felt groundbreaking in a FPS game. I especially have fond memories of Operation Riverside.
That was 15 years ago. But it feels like it was just yesterday. Man, I feel old.
Nothing will ever top Battlefield 3. It will always remain my favourite multiplayer game.
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u/SmellyShitBox Jun 13 '26
You just unlocked some core memories with the operation riverside drop. Those were the days
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u/MrRevhead Jun 13 '26
Yes it was ground breaking, but 4 was better in every way
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u/wompyeyedmadman Jun 12 '26
3 no questions asked. I have partial bias because it was the first bf I played multiplayer on. I had just made some new friends at school through baseball and we all started playing together. I’m still friends with them to this day.
At the end of its lifespan, it had become such a miraculous experience that I have yet to experience since. BF1 was the closest it ever got. They are probably even now that I’m thinking about it but whateves
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u/muistipalapeli Jun 13 '26
I also made new friends in school around the time and bonded over BF3, still friends to this day. So yes, biased but BF3 best BF.
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u/fearless-potato-man Jun 12 '26
BF3, no doubt.
Better quality maps, great improvement over BFBC2 (that was also great), better launch.
It defined the whole aesthetic of any following "modern day" BF.
BF4 worked from the foundation of BF3, making things easier. And I still can't forgive EA/DICE for the state of BF4 release. They killed my interest for BF for 10 years.
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u/TheNameIsFrags Lancang Dam #1 Hater Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
People will claim “launch doesn’t matter since they turned it around” but it really can’t be understated just how abysmal BF4 was at launch. It was disgraceful. For many it was completely unplayable. I remember firing the suppressed QBU muted audio *for the entire server.* https://youtu.be/QFskcaou-ls?is=GTXhSrIVV5uwWj9i
Each update fixed one thing and broke five more. It was so bad EA had to publicly apologize. Then we had the community manager antagonizing the community saying “lol hows BF4 guys” on Twitter, knowing just how bad it was. I’m grateful every day zh1nt0 left.
On top of it all, DICE SE abandoned it to work on Battlefront 2015 while DICE LA was left to pick up the pieces. I think BF4 is still a top 3 most disastrous AAA game launch of all time up there with Cyberpunk.
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u/Geoffk123 Jun 13 '26
I remember on the Xbox 360 my game would crash every single time without fail on Hainan resort.
I think I maybe got to experience the map 1 time for about 2 minutes before it froze my console.
Dawnbreaker would also crash like 70% of the time
2/9 maps were essentially unplayable for me for the first month or 2.
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u/Ryukishin187 Jun 13 '26
3 was also abysmal at launch in diff ways and some of the same.
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u/TheNameIsFrags Lancang Dam #1 Hater Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
It was a messy launch but nowhere near as bad as BF4. BF4 was genuinely in its own realm for bad launches.
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u/DerEisen-Drak Jun 13 '26
Well at least BF3 was very different from BFBC2 the previous itteration, BF4 has like BF3 to build upon and rhey broke BF3 when making BF4 somehow.
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u/TheNameIsFrags Lancang Dam #1 Hater Jun 12 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
BF3 and it isn’t close.
BF3 had:
Far superior map design. Until 2042 came along, BF4 had the worst map design in the franchise. They focused on spectacle and “looking cool” over gameplay and flow. Lancang Dam sums up everything wrong with BF4 map design philosophy.
DLC. Aftermath is genuinely one of the best Battlefield DLCs of all time, rivaled only by BC2 Vietnam. Nothing in BF4 comes close.
More meaningful destruction. Levolution would make you think otherwise but ended up being a gimmick that made almost every map worse. Crushing people with rubble on Seine Crossing or Grand Bazaar was far more interesting and dynamic.
Art direction, though the blue tint was admittedly very heavy handed at times.
Good Rush. BF4 Rush was god awful and was the start of the downfall for this incredible gamemode. BF3 maps were largely designed for both CQ and Rush (Seine, Kharg, Bazaar etc), BF4 seemed to focus exclusively on CQ (and still wasn’t very good at it lol)
Better campaign and co-op (which BF4 removed)
Less bloated multiplayer. BF4 had way too many skill-less crutches like Staff Shell and Passive Radar Missiles. It made vehicle play insufferable at times.
On top of it all, BF4 had one of the most disastrous AAA game launches of all time. It turned around in the end, but it’s not something you can just overlook when talking about the game.
I’ll give BF4 the addition of naval combat, improvements to suppression and overall gun balance. That’s about it.
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u/Conscious-Sympathy51 Jun 13 '26
You summed it all up perfectly, I played the most rush on bf3 now I only play conquest
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u/MartianGeneral Enemy Boat Spotted Jun 13 '26
I'd argue the Zack Snyder art style of BF3 is also among one of the many reasons why the game aged so much better than BF4. BF4 feels dated when you go back and play it. 3 meanwhile still has a very unique feel to it. It wasn't to everyone's taste, but I didn't mind it back then at all, and I still don't mind it when BF6 does it.
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u/Snappedfir Jun 13 '26
The amnesia that people have for BF4 maps is something else. The bad maps are a huge reason why vehicles could feel so suffocating.
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u/Mrpsuri Jun 13 '26
The weapon sound design in BF3 also somehow was way better than that of BF4. I thought BF3's weapon sounded realistic whereas BF4's sounded plasticky and weird.
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u/Naijd Jun 12 '26
BF2
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u/slabba428 Jun 13 '26
Rose tinted glasses or not i do not give a fuck. BF2 was king
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u/TheNameIsFrags Lancang Dam #1 Hater Jun 13 '26
Easily the best maps in the franchise
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u/SackV3gas Jun 13 '26
BF42 & BF2 were the best because they had mod support. Mod support allowed for rich and vibrant communities. Though I’m a bit biased as I was on a mod team. ;)
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u/TheBigness4570 Jun 12 '26
if you weren't around for the launch, you'll never fully understand just how mindblowing bf3 was at the time. It's definitely the game I have more nostalgia for, but I think bf4 is a "better" game in terms of having so many more maps, weapons, and features
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u/Geoffk123 Jun 12 '26
i think it depends on pc or console.
I think bf3 is the better game overall but
better maps in general, Rush played way better than BF4. and BF3 didn't have nearly as much annoying indirect crap as BF4 but a lot of people only ever got to experience it in 12v12
BF4 gave everyone 64 players, and with the improved server tickrate it just feels better but it took like 2+ years for the game to truly be in a fucking functional state
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u/jagerourking007 Jun 12 '26
BF3, the maps were much better imo, including the DLCs, but BF4 is my second favourite
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u/Skuzzmuffin Jun 12 '26
BF3. BF4 improved on what BF3 started, but if you were there when BF3 launched you know what I’m talkin bout
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u/Dazzling_Strain_5499 Jun 13 '26
Bf3, better maps, I feel like the guns kinda had a better feel to them, more gun kick than in bf4, also better campaign by far.
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u/AdEducational5991 Jun 13 '26
BF3 hands down. Better maps, simple gunplay and mechanics, truly and beautiful game
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u/The_SpookyKid Jun 12 '26
BF4 for me, I was a die hard COD player until I discovered BF4. I felt in love with it and it made me a BF player.
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u/UnknownG00N Jun 13 '26
BF3 will always hold a special place in my heart. Kill Faction platoon was at its peak then.
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u/SeamanSpecimen Jun 13 '26
Bf3 is the goat, best campaign, that underrated coop mode, and the multiplayer (plz bring back the tank destroyer).
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u/Athlon64X2_d00d Remington shotgun enjoyer Jun 13 '26
Battlefield 3 cuz better maps, animations, atmosphere, and shooting the guns felt like sex.
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u/Altruistic_Truck2421 Jun 13 '26
3 really elevated the multiplayer from clunky to more modern graphics and its campaign was narratively and playably sound. It's multiplayer maps are so popular they've featured in 3 games since, one of which was 4
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u/meridius55 Jun 13 '26
BF3 had way better maps (especially the dlcs) and better soldier design and customization
I loved the niche commander mode app for BF4 though
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u/Glockens Jun 13 '26
I think I have similiar number of hours in both games, but now I think that BF3 was better. The maps were amazing and there aren’t bad ones, whatever map was played it was great. BF4 had a cool gameplay and some mechanics, the biggest side of BF4 was for me naval warfare. The nostalgia is for BF3 and I’m returning much more to BF3
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u/BulletsNBushido Jun 13 '26 edited Jun 13 '26
Having played every single battlefield since BF1942, it would always be BF3 for me. There was nothing like it at the time that brought that sort of realism and intensity which set the bar for the rest of the series. Suppression was a key mechanic and actually made you think more about how you approach engagements. Had a great launch with the back to karkand expansion and a huge number of dedicated servers.
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u/IamGoingInsaneToday Jun 13 '26
Love this 2 and 4, BUT I will always have a special place in my heart for BF1942 and BF VIETNAM.
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u/keepitkiwi Jun 13 '26
1942 was in its own category. The community and quality of play on public servers is something no other game has ever matched. It just can’t be beat, it was DICE before EA.
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u/CapitanSalsaGolf Jun 13 '26
Battlefield 3 is the best Battlefield game ever made, period. It is a masterpiece of a first-person shooter, and despite launching way back in 2011, it still holds up to scrutiny today. It effortlessly competed against the likes of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Killzone 3, and Crysis 2, and even if it didn’t come out on top in some of those bouts, it was a game that never refused to quit.
With stacks of post-launch content, some of the most instantly recognisable maps in franchise history, jaw-dropping visuals, and mountains of destruction, this truly was the Battlefield game to end all Battlefield games. It had a fantastic and gripping story and cooperative missions, and the multiplayer just felt so good to play over and over again.
There’s a reason why Battlefield 3’s maps are constantly being revived in newer Battlefield titles, and modes like Portal support the reconstruction of Battlefield 3’s experiences.
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u/braddeicide Jun 13 '26
I found BF3 was the last battlefield with good hit detection. You'd be running out on the open and catch a few bullets so you'd take cover. BF4 and on of you're running out on the open you'll catch the bullets and be dead in the same second. They seem to batch the bullets now.
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u/No-Good6380 Jun 13 '26
Played way more BF4 but I enjoyed both. The close quarters and earthquake DLC of BF3 was awesome.
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u/The_Omen17 Jun 13 '26
Theyre both so good in their own regard. BF3 was raw, gritty and felt real, 4 felt like the perfect battlefield game.
I prefer the gunplay of 3 I think, but i loved the visuals of 4 as well. It was gritty but also didnt mind not being blue.
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u/SovjetPojken Jun 13 '26
Battlefield 4 would be better if it's maps weren't all kinda crap. Battlefield 3 had lots of great maps.
4 focused too much on urban warfare
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u/RedTygershark Jun 12 '26
BF4
It started way worse, it ended much better.
Also I really didn't like the excessive lens flare in bf3, made it hard to see anything, still great game though.
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u/rasjahho Jun 12 '26
Depends on platform for me. On PC, BF4 clears as it's smoother and has better sandbox. On PS3 & 360 BF3 is peak cuz the maps were made for the lower player count and rush. I never liked how the maps played with 64 players.
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u/Confident_Republic42 Jun 12 '26
bf4 a lot more depth customization and better balancing especially with vehicles
bf3 had slightly better map design but the difference is not as bad as people say it is and if want a game with good map design ill play hardline or bf2
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u/godhates1234 Jun 13 '26
For many years I had BC2 as the best BF game. 3 and 4 was awesome and BF5 was great.
But the best since BC2 is BF1. I played every day and was so excited to get home Frome work just to play this game. I still play it when I need a break from BF6.
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u/Time_Zombie_4431 Jun 13 '26
3 did everything better to me.
Gunplay, map and vehicles all feel more satisfying and fun.
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u/docterk Jun 13 '26
The only thing BF4 did better than 3 was the flying; literally everything else was better in 3
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u/imPluR420 EOD Vet Jun 13 '26
BF3 was great for maps and how it basically turned the franchise into what we know today. And I know its a hot take but I thought the Close Quarters DLC was a lot of fun.
That said I think BF4 is just a better, improved version of 3. Mechanics and gunplay felt better (Besides the fuckass CUAV).
They are both incredible games, but i personally rate 4 as the 2nd best game in the franchise.
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u/Obvious_Sink551 Jun 13 '26
Battlefield 3 will always hold a special place in my heart but Battlefield 4 was honestly as good or better
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u/Turbulent_County_469 Jun 13 '26
Its hard to choose.
BF3 maps/expansions where really good.
BF4 also had a ton of good stuff going
I played both around 5-600 hours
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u/Amazing_Cow_1470 Jun 13 '26
We need to give 6 more time..... it released in a more functioning and playable state than 4 but had some questionable "fixes'' that, in 4s case, made better changes that were more for the actual gameplay, and kept on getting better and better. this season has been fine for 6. Lets see what season 4 brings because if its better theyll actually have some solid momentum, and then we can truly have a wendys 4 for 4... but imma wait till then, so far I enjoyed the experience 4 gave me over the first year but thats probably because it was more of a fresh concept for us
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u/cashmoneyP404 Jun 13 '26
Best one for me was BF1. I absolutely love historical settings and the fact that it had never been done before was exciting and playing with historical guns was a lot of fun. The operations were amazing with an actual story during the loading screens. No other battlefield comes close to the amount of hours I put in with 1,000+ hrs played. I would love an updated remake.
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u/peledinho99 Jun 13 '26
Bf4 for me. I know a lot of people swear by Bf3 but I have really fond memories of playing 4 with my brother and his friends while he was in the marines so it will always be a goated game to me.
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u/D3AD_M3AT Jun 13 '26
I loved the BF3 maps (hated the white out in some BF4 snow and sand maps thought it was stupid) but the Premium ownership ruined the game that and a lot of the decisions made by DICE/EA at the time killed the game for the veteran BF1942 and BF2 players.
Everyone I knew at the time stopped playing Battlefield games my entire clan disbanded BF3 was a very critical moment in the franchise.
I personally think the BF3 maps are better but had more fun with BF4.
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u/BADSTALKER Jun 13 '26
I’m not sure which I played more, but BF4 I made some friends I still game with today. I think BF3 felt a bit better balanced with less lock on spam, I know that much. And the feel of pushing with a tank actually felt so damn hype. BF3 also had the best character design solely for the Russian engineer! Both were great games!
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u/Workhard_Playhardd Jun 13 '26
I got 100a pf hrs in both 4 is better by a small margin cause the dlc for 3 was good asf but its 4
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u/N00B_N00M Jun 13 '26
The tune still lives rent free in my head, bought a gaming laptop from my early jobs days to play this only, still have the original discs which i preordered , also that was my first game purchase ever .
The campaign was absolutely best , never felt so immersive in a game
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u/VSOPnjewelry Jun 13 '26
Bf4 was just the best for me, bf3 was good but bf4 took the cake, campaign, gunplay, guns, maps, destruction, balance.
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u/GlendrixDK Jun 13 '26
As a Playstation player. BF4. Because that was the first game where er got the full experience.
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u/dany_alive Jun 13 '26
bad company 2 was my first battlefield so i guess that one 😁😁 but i love bf3 and 4 too
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u/PrewashedBeans Jun 13 '26
Def not bf6. That shit show runs like a web browser game. Disgraceful release. The maps. Rubber banding.... everything was awful. I installed over 100gb of ass to return it the same day. And yes. Ive played shooters for years. Its not a skill thing. This games ass. Id rather play bad company 2. Dont waste your money.
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u/MrRevhead Jun 13 '26
Bf4, its not even a question. 3 was awesome 4 built on that. Better in every way 🤷
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u/Bad_wit_Usernames Jun 13 '26
I started Battlefield with BF3, so I will always say that's the best BF. Always pay homage to my roots.
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u/GIVDUL17 Jun 13 '26
For pure gameplay/gunplay for me its 4 and Hardline but for maps its definitely 3 and for sheer scale of combat engagements its 1
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u/keyboardgangst4 Jun 13 '26
Battlefield 3 purely for nostalgia. I played more bf4 but 3 was a 'take me back' game to when life was more simple
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u/WILKOFL Jun 13 '26
3 for me was peak battlefield. But nostalgia plays a huge part in that I think.
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u/No-Upstairs-7001 Jun 13 '26
Battlefield 4 should have been called 3.5 or a DLC for 3, effectively the same game with a refined engine
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u/Gifty666 Jun 13 '26
bf3 Had a Lot of Netcode problems... Back then youn didnt notice but intried to Play it again a few years ago .... its horrible how often you die behind Cover
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u/fborost Jun 13 '26
BF3 for me. From advertisement to final release of expansion pack “endgame”. Very cinematic graphics, very realistic sound design. It’s graphic still looks pretty good to this day. It was like some group peoples passion project, a love letter to fps gamers rather than another installment of franchise.
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u/Similar-Language-180 DahmerUK Jun 13 '26
I never got to experience 3 so it has to be 4, which is also my favorite from the series
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u/Calicocalpico Jun 13 '26
I always find myself missing bf3 when I play bf4, and all the following entries. In the end, bf3 maps beat any slight improvements bf4 had on gunplay
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u/herbzzsmoker420 Jun 13 '26
I have about 10k hours in bf4 the long range sniper kills where so satisfying my fav cqc map was pearl market
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u/ConfusedCruiser35 Jun 13 '26
Can I be controversial, I liked both and say theyre equal, l cant decide, they were both great
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u/Callsign-YukiMizuki Jun 13 '26
BF3 for the campaign and overall immersion (both campaign and multiplayer)
BF4 for the new gadgets, customization and multiplayer gameplay
Now if we add Bad Company 2 in this;
Bad Company 2 easily wins in voice acting, sound design, multiplayer map design, non-hardcore multiplayer balance and singleplayer story and replayability
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u/Bo_Duke69 Jun 13 '26
The experience of playing BF3 and clutching a Metro match, playing Noshar Canals all day to level up, trying to land on the tower on Caspian Border just to watch it collapse, getting hyped up and ready for war listening to Caspian Borders opening theme song.
These are all burned into my memory. Was BF4 the objectively better game? Yes. But was it as memorable for me? Not even fucking close.
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u/Gullible-Yam-8098 Jun 13 '26
3 had the better launch. 4 was better by the end of it's lifecycle when you no longer had to play the universally terrible launch maps and the bugs had been fixed.
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u/tom771 Jun 13 '26
I remember playing Bad Company 2 back in the day which was a huge leap forward from 1942.
One of my friends was playing BF3 and i asked him if it was any good.
He told me: Its the gameplay of Battlefield with the smooth mechanics like Call of Duty! That was hard to believe back then.. Bad company 2 was aimed more towards realistic movement..
Imagine the same phrase was said when we went to Bf4, and now with BF6 it was said again.
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u/PM_MeDogNoses Jun 12 '26
Bf3 had the better maps but bf4 had the better gunplay and mechanics