Are you new to the game, or a returning player? Read this!
I'm MentalEdge, a.k.a. EdgeMentality.
In addition to now modding this community, I have long hosted the MENTAL northstar servers.
The state of Titanfall
Both vanilla games are playable at the moment. Though getting a copy of the first title is no longer possible if you don't have one already.
Titanfall 2 has received recent updates that have fixed long-running issues with matchmaking, and even finally designated private matches as being out of beta.
Now is a great time to jump in and play, especially for console players, who've not been able to benefit from the Northstar Client to play on community-run servers.
Northstar Client
If you are on PC, and wish to play titanfall 2, there is the option of using the Northstar client. I highly recommend this, as it fixes security vulnerabilites that may still be around in vanilla, though they may have been patched up by the recent updates hitting TF2.
Northstar adds an old-school style server browser, which will let you connect to community run servers (some by yours truly), running various game-modes and mods, improving the game in some aspects beyond what vanilla could do. There are even entirely new game-modes!
If you are new to Titanfall, I host the only beginner servers currently on northstar, they will let you get the hang of the game without constant bullying from veteran players speeding around the map at mach 3. The servers are kept free of stompers by an automated kicking system that detects high skill players.