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The success of multiplayer-only games like PUBG, Fortnite and Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 has shown that there are plenty of folks willing to skip a campaign entirely.

The disappearing single-player mode feels like a byproduct of boardroom decision-making: If publishers can make money without one (and not stir up too much controversy), why bother.

Theres little doubt that the focus is on multiplayer ( you can read our review of that here ), but the game does offer a bite-sized solo campaign to scratch that itch.

And while the campaign features some heartfelt storytelling, it remains mired in dated and uninspired design.

A fourth mission is listed as coming soon, with a planned release date of December or January.

This concept was brilliantly executed in Battlefield 1, where each of the six missions felt like a glimpse into an unseen part of World War I, like a Bedouin soldier on horseback or a messenger delivering crucial intel to the front lines.

The Battlefield 1 campaign was notably meatier than Battlefield 5 s is, at more than twice the length.

Where that campaign had novelty in its environments and level design, the Battlefield 5 campaign seems content to coast on familiar landscapes and objectives.

Battlefield 5 is visually stunning, capable of pumping out massive, incredible vistas, but the set-pieces are familiar nonetheless.

In both the North African and French stories, I felt like I was flashing back to missions Id played countless times before, with screaming soldiers demanding I push forward to take out those AA guns.

While the objectives here are once again familiar (infiltrate and rescue a crucial member of the resistance), the mode of entry is more unique.

I was able to use cross-country skis to navigate this landscape, equipping them whenever I wanted to silently close the distance on potential targets.

The skis feel surprisingly excellent, adding a bit more variety to what would have otherwise been a rote trudge through the snow.

Each of the three missions has at least one of these moments, and its fun to be able to approach objectives from whichever angle I wish.

While stealth is encouraged, having the power to go loud when I feel it appropriate is satisfying, giving more life to the world.

If the same level of freedom applied to all of these sections, it would be more palpable.

But too often I would attempt to go off the narrow trail, only to get a warning saying I had 10 seconds to return to the mission area.

I spent less than an hour with each batch of characters, but was moved by the efforts of a Norwegian resistance fighter and her mother, whose familiar bond is as clear as what theyre fighting for.

The same can be said for the Senegalese soldiers who fought for the liberation of France but never saw much recognition for it.

These simple but elegant stories succeed in humanizing the war, even if the gameplay never seems to.

If so, its a shame that the tradition will culminate with a whimper.

Battlefield 5 s solo experience rarely sets itself apart, and probably wont be mourned if this truly is the swan song.

Battlefield 5 Multiplayer Gameplay