A state-of-the-art World War II shooter that brings a sense of narrative to its multiplayer – and it’s now close to being the finished article

Battlefield V

Developer: EA DICE

Publisher: Electronic Arts

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

BATTLEFIELD, Electronic Arts’ flagship first-person shooter franchise, has never quite managed to capture the mainstream imagination as comprehensively (and lucratively) as Call of Duty, published by EA’s deadly rival Activision. But its devotees have always seen themselves as discerning rather than fashionable and, over the years, Battlefield games have acquired a solid reputation for pushing technological boundaries, providing a great impression of being a crucial participant in a large-scale war and for encouraging players to take on roles which don’t entirely depend on fast-twitch shooting skills.

The good news is that Battlefield V delivers on all those counts, very impressively. It looks fabulous, and makes spectacular use of developer DICE’s legendary destruction engine, so that pristine environments are reduced to piles of rubble by the end of a round. It has an unprecedented sense of an overarching narrative to its multiplayer, and is much more approachable for those with less than cat-like reflexes than Call of Duty.