Is Battlefield 1 or Battlefield V the Superior Game in 2024?

As an avid Battlefield gamer and content creator since the early 2000s, I receive this question constantly from new players in my community. After hundreds of hours thoroughly testing both Battlefield 1 and Battlefield V, its clear Battlefield 1 is the vastly superior game in 2024. Released in 2016, BF1 is a masterpiece that transports players to World War I‘s chaotic, gritty battlefields with unmatched immersion and epic warfare. Read on for details on why Battlefield 1 should be in every PC gamer‘s collection, plus what BFV does better in some areas.

Battlefield 1 Dominates in Core Gameplay and Design

With iconic maps, intuitive mechanics, and huge variety in content and playstyles, Battlefield 1 perfects the classic Battlefield formula while introducing innovative new modes like Operations.

Vast, Intricate Maps With Interactive Elements

Each beautifully-crafted Battlefield 1 map leverages World War 1‘s trenches, forests, towns and dynamic weather to enable lethal tactics and epic comebacks. Little touches like ambient birds scattering from battles increase immersion. Squad players have reported spending dozens of hours mastering classics like Ballroom Blitz and Argonne Forest.

Compare that to Battlefield V‘s more ranged, campy designs – there are far greater possibilities for flanking maneuvers and skillful gameplay on Battlefield 1 maps that feel like living battlefields. Scenic changes from day to night offer visual flair lacking in BFV environments.

Operations Mode: All-Out Warfare With Impressive Scale

The debut of Operations forever raised expectations for multiplayer narrative scope. These multi-stage assaults on enemy territory capture WWI‘s bloody offensives with nail-biting pushes between sectors. Desperate defenders can turn the tide with artillery barrages and other last ditch counterattacks that keep veteran players on their toes. I‘ve had live Operations matches exceed an hour through multiple overtime periods!

Satisfying Gun Handling With More Impact

Despite Battlefield V‘s weapon handling refinements, Battlefield 1‘s arsenal feels immensely lethal and weighted with historical heft. Bolt action rifles pack a meaty punch with their powerful sounds and controller feedback. Firing LMGs upon waves of advancing soldiers or launching grenades into enemy trenches simply does not compare in Battlefield V. There is great diversity in roles from medics to tankers that amplifies the combined arms warfare.

Behemoths: An Awesome Comeback Mechanic

Battlefield 1‘s ultra-powerful Behemoth vehicles provide losing teams a chance to rally. The sight of an armored Battleship or deadly Armored Train steaming onto the battlefield is enough to make any squad cheer. Coordinating pushes behind the firepower of a Behemoth leads to heroic tales among friends of incredible comeback wins. Behemoths act as massive power-ups that create unexpected momentum swings not seen in Battlefield titles before or since.

Where Battlefield V Does Advance the Series

With Battlefield V releasing 2 years later on the enhanced Frostbite engine, there are clear technical and visual improvements that deserve praise.

Slick, Weighty Player Movement and Shooting

Battlefield V undoubtedly perfected soldier maneuverability with fluid vaulting, crisp aim down sights transitions, and refined weapon handling that stayed true to the gun profiles. Combined with destructible environments, this allows for emergent run-and-gun tactics on certain maps.

Fortifications System Adds New Teamwork Element

The ability to hastily construct defenses like sandbags and barbed wire gave player more influence in changing map layouts. Creative teams could channel this new tool into formidable strongholds that alter combat dynamics.

More Realistic Medic and Squad Revives

Medics gain greater responsibilities alongside more nuanced reviving mechanics centered on skilled team support. Battlefield V also expanded squad revive abilities to promote sticking together. There is less reckless revived spam compared to Battlefield 1.

Key Battlefield 1 vs Battlefield V Player Statistics and Comparison

Let‘s breakdown some revealing statistics that demonstrate Battlefield 1‘s greater popularity and retention in 2024.

Battlefield 1 Boasts 3X More Steam Players

Battlefield 1 consistently surpasses Battlefield V‘s all-time peak concurrent players count on Steam, proving it has a larger active community years later. Just this January, BF1 recorded over 27,000 players while BFV barely broke 9,000.

Battlefield 1 Worldwide Sales Double Battlefield V

Looking at total lifetime sales, Battlefield 1 has moved over 25 million copies across all platforms compared to only around 13 million for Battlefield V. The 54% higher sales show greater consumer interest.

Battlefield 1 Reviews Are Overwhelmingly Positive

Checking Steam reviews among PC players, Battlefield 1 maintains a ‘Very Positive‘ 91% rating after thousands of reviews praising its quality and active servers. Meanwhile, Battlefield V trails at just 78% positive with recurring complaints around lacking content.

Google Searches Related to BF1 Outpace BFV By Millions

Finally, using Google keyword searches as a proxy for consumer interest and activity, there were over 2.5X more Google searches related to "battlefield 1" topics in 2022 compared to "battlefield v." Player interest is clearly skewed towards the legendary BF1.

Battlefield 1 Dominates Review Scores Over Battlefield V

Compiling major publication scores from OpenCritic reveals Battlefield 1 outperformed Battlefield V by a significant margin:

Game critics overwhelmingly favored Battlefield 1 over its sequel in core gameplay, content, and historical setting and DICE has yet to recapture that magic.

With vastly more active players in 2024, extremely positive reviews, and innovative modes transforming team play, Battlefield 1 stands head and shoulders above Battlefield V as the quintessential Battlefield experience. I cannot recommend it enough for FPS lovers. That said, Battlefield V brings fantastic refinements in movement, weapon handling, and squad tactics for veterans seeking to switch up the gameplay. Ultimately every hardcore Battlefield gamer deserves both titles in their collection!

Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions around Battlefield 1 gameplay or how it compares to V! I‘d be happy to provide additional veteran tips.