There are plenty of reasons why Battlefield 1 is considered one of the greatest Battlefield games to date. It's a stunning and truly immersive recreation of the chillingly eerie World War I era (a rarity among the many FPS titles that dip into World War II) with its iconic heavy tanks and classic weaponry.
It also features a host of memorable characters, from an arrogant-yet-clever conman to a real-life war hero, and their stories truly capture the ironic beauty of the war. Battlefield 1's multiplayer is often the go-to for gamers, but to forgo its campaign is to do oneself an incredible disservice. Meeting these characters really drives that point home.
10 The Narrator
Although his real name is unknown and he didn't have much screentime in the game, the 'Narrator,' who appears during 'Storm of Steel' absolutely belongs on this list. His narration throughout the campaigns truly brings Battlefield 1 to life, especially during the final 'Remember Us' cutscene.
Speaking of his character, however, the Narrator was a member of the US Army's 369th Infantry Regiment, also known as Harlem Hellfighters. The only fault here is the incredibly limited amount of time we get to spend exploring this character, as there was a massive amount of potential behind the idea of spending an entire campaign with the Harlem Hellfighters.
9 Matteo Cocchiola
Matteo Cocchiola is the twin brother of Luca. Both served as soldiers for Arditi, the Royal Italian Army. Matteo and his men were tasked with capturing a fortress located deep in the mountains on the Austro-Hungarian Empire border. His brother, Luca, was an elite stormtrooper, assigned to cover Matteo's battalion.
Unfortunately, there isn't much to be dug out from this character. If only the developer gave us a more generous glimpse into Matteo's heroics before his final disappearance, we could rank him a lot higher than this.
8 Lawrence of Arabia
Thomas Edward Lawrence, perhaps better known as Lawrence of Arabia, is a well-known British officer, diplomat, and archeologist. In real life, Lawrence fought during the Battle of Aqaba, the Arab Revolt, the Capture of Damascus, and many others before dying of a motorcycle accident injury in his hometown.
Yes, Lawrence was the first real-life hero featured in any Battlefield game, and his contribution to his country during the war is undeniable, but as seems to be a common thread here, he didn't have much screen time. It's a shame that EA and DICE didn't capitalize on his character much.
7 Jack Foster
Jack Foster was a part of ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps), desperately looking for ways to serve his country right. In this game, he appears in 'The Runner' mission, wherein he finally meets his hero, Frederick Bishop, working alongside him during the Battle of Gallipoli.
Although Frederick ultimately rejected and berated Jack, saying that he's too green for the job, he still let him stay. In the end, the hero ended up saving Jack's life from the Ottomans and sacrificed his own.
6 Townsend
Townsend was a pure, selfless, and fair-mannered leader. He was the commander of the 'Black Bess' tank for the British Army's Royal Tank Corps, appearing during the 'Through Mud and Blood' chapter. He and his crew took the Black Bess on a deadly suicide mission to punch through the German wall with a broken tank.
What makes this character so great is that, given how little his crew trusted him, Townsend always displayed excellent leadership skills. Even after MacManus betrayed the team, he sacrificed himself by destroying the Black Bess to kill all the remaining German soldiers, allowing the surviving members of his crew to escape an otherwise impossible situation.
5 Daniel Edwards
Also from 'Through Mud and Blood' chapter, the next best character is one of the Black Bess crewmembers, Daniel Edwards. He's the only member of the group that trusted Townsend and showcased his loyalty by being the last remaining member who stayed even after the Germans ambushed them.
His youth and slim-to-none experience with the heavy artillery vehicle didn't prevent him from proving his worth and competency to Townsend, and no matter the odds, he rose to the occasion time and time again.
4 Clyde Blackburn
Clyde Blackburn was one of the great grandfathers of Henry Blackburn from Battlefield 3. In Battlefield 1, he was a self-proclaimed experienced gambler and a nasty con-artist that tricked Wilson, a gunner/photographer, into believing that he was the legendary British pilot George Rackham.
This character was controversial and polarizing. Clyde's so sketchy that after a couple of minutes playing with him, you still have no idea if he's a protagonist or a bad guy, and he fits nicely as an unreliable narrator. There's an air of mystery in his campaign segment, as, in his own words, he's "just not a very honest person."
3 Zara Ghufran
In the vein of strong female portrayals in video games, Battlefield 1 did justice with Zara Ghufran. She was a daring and quick-witted Bedouin rebel from the Kingdom of Hejaz featuring prominently during 'Nothing Is Written.'
During this chapter, Zara and T. E. Lawrence of Arabia led a group of rebels to fight against the Ottomans and Tikici, the in-command officer of their armored train, namely 'Canavar.' Her motive is payback and revenge for what they did to her village, and the two later continued their mission to the Suarez Canal. She's the lead for what is easily some of Battlefield 1's most gripping campaign gameplay.
2 Luca Cocchiola
As mentioned above, Luca Vincenzo Cocchiola was the twin brother of Matteo, both members of the Arditi. He always cared for his brother, although the two may see things differently. Later in the game, during the 'Avanti Savoia!' chapter, he braved the dirt and the flames to find his missing brother.
Years after his twin's death, Luca still had a hard time dealing with the grief. He settled to the United States after the war where he had a daughter named Becca, to whom he told the heroic tale of his twin.
1 Frederick Bishop
The last, and arguably the best character featured in Battlefield 1 is Frederick Bishop from 'The Runner.' Hailed as 'the Pride of Australia,' Frederick's character growth went from berating Jack Foster into dedicating the last moment of his life to saving the boy, clearing an entire fort of Ottoman forces.
Even though he later died, either from friendly fire or succumbing to his wounds, Frederick Bishop easily qualifies as one of the Battlefield franchise's most selfless, wholehearted characters.