Battlefield RedSec review: Focused, fast, and fun

A Battlefield Battle Royale wasn’t high in my predictions as talk of Battlefield 6 started, but here we are. And as a player who has largely avoided the genre, Battlefield RedSec’s continued leaks and eventual announcement left me in two minds. My thought? “Probably not for me, but I’m sure some will like it.”

I was confident, but not certain. And who knew what Ripple Effect had in mind for a BF6 BR mode. Would the franchise’s longstanding ‘play the objective’ focus work in new, untested waters? And would the newly slick and destructive gameplay of BF6 multiplayer easily transfer across to a free-to-play offering?

My topline response to having blitzed hours of Battlefield 6 RedSec in Gauntlet, Squad, and Duos is “yes”. And it’s fun. One player in one of my lobby chats called RedSec “Warzone with destruction”. That’s a description I’m not so sure about. I’ve played Fortnite and PUBG enough to know BRs aren’t usually for me, so I’ve effectively shut Warzone out.

I just don’t generally care about (somehow) surviving long enough to win a mass PvP mode. I’m not even a good PvPer, so the pull of Battlefield has always been playing however I can to help the team. But BF6 RedSec incorporates BF6’s core elements, so squad play is essential. So much so, the first option on the mode menu is Gauntlet.

Gauntlet is a lot of fun and can be fairly dramatic, too. Eight squads compete and have to complete objectives to qualify for the next round. Six squads can make the second round, then four in the third round, and then just two in the final round, fighting for victory. This squad-focused elimination game-style is high-stakes and feels like BF6 distilled.

How much fun is Gauntlet? I’d play it again right now if I weren’t typing. There are even tanks. But imagine my further delight when switching to an enjoyable BF6 Battle Royale proper. I’ve said before that BF6 is what I wanted, even if I’m not the key audience. But Battlefield’s RedSec experience feels like it is for me: a BF fan normally apathetic to BRs. 

Finally, I understand the joy of Battle Royale. Because BF RedSec is essentially a Battlefield playground of boosted action. It has all the key BR ingredients, and yet it still feels essentially Battlefield-like. Deploying is cool; finding gear is as you’d expect. There are redeployment points, and there are missions for added rewards, such as vehicle keycards.

Oh, and teamwork matters. It’s great. I’ve stared wide-eyed as airstrikes land on squadmates. I’ve felt adrenaline as I’ve driven a vehicle towards the circle of death, a huge firestorm closing in. Why? To rescue a squadmate, U-turn and hit the gas; we barely made it. It’s intense, and firefights feel just as varied as BF6’s multiplayer, but with better pacing.

It’s hard for me, as a gamer who usually isn’t a huge fan of BRs, to compare RedSec. But maybe that’s exactly the point. With the BF6 Season 1 Roadmap kicking off, BF6 devs will want all eyes on the title. That includes attracting gamers like me as much as those who love the Battle Royale play style. 

How does it compare to others? Against PUBG, BF RedSec feels more urgently engaging and focused. And against Fortnite, it feels more gripping with its realism. Future development and the avoidance of repetition will be key to keeping people playing. But I think it’s started strong. It’s well thought out, with elements familiar to both BF and BR fans.

Of course, as a free-to-play option, it will be interesting to see how player counts flow. The Battlefield 6 Battle Royale map feels varied enough at the moment. However, I am also playing other BF6 modes. Because of that, I do have reservations that if you’re purely playing BF RedSec, then the shine may dim quickly, even with Gauntlet thrown in.

Overall, though, I’m impressed. I never thought I’d feel so quickly at home with a Battle Royale. It’s fun and delivers what BF6 and Battle Royales both do best. As a free-to-play experience, I think it offers good value. Further, launching with Battlefield 6 season 1 makes sense for BF RedSec’s lifespan. Now it feels integral to the ongoing development of the title. 

I hope that’s the case, too. My main concern is likely shared with Ripple Effect, the studio responsible for Battlefield RedSec: keeping the enjoyment high is critical. Being that BF6’s BR was hidden from the Season 1 roadmap, appearing with Phase 1, maybe we’ll get an addition to RedSec in November’s Phase 2, ‘California Resistance’.

Whatever the plans are, it feels like it’s off to a solid start. It delivers the base BR experience that I felt Battlefield 6 was capable of. There’s squad play, missions, destruction, PvP, and weapon and vehicle pickups. Yet all good BF experiences require teamwork, and players will only keep playing if developers build a playground worth revisiting.