Battle royale has gone from an obscure genre to a mainstream gaming phenomenon in less than two years. The massive popularity of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) made headlines in the genre throughout 2017, having sold over 50 million copies combined on Xbox and PC as of June 2018.
The free-to-play PUBG Mobile showed even more impressive numbers, with the total number of players reaching more than 400 million on various platforms. Meanwhile, Epic Games' free-to-play Fortnite Battle Royale has gained a larger audience. Fortnite had a record number of concurrent players in February (breaking the record set by PUBG), and it broke the record for concurrent views on Twitch last March.
Even without setting records, there are other games making noise. H1Z1, the battle royale game that preceded both PUBG and Fortnite, recently announced the end of its long stay in Steam's Early Access section. Developer Daybreak Studios has launched a full release with new content and a free-to-play business model, as well as partnerships with Facebook and Las Vegas-based Caesars Entertainment to further develop the game as an esport. It even recently changed its name to Z1 Battle Royale.
Since the PUBG genre became mainstream, the battle royale genre has continued to maintain its momentum. The basic concept is simple: dozens of players are placed on a map and fight until only one player remains. This has led to countless different games that offer their own take on the formula. In the continuation of this article, we will say something more about the best games of this genre, that is, about the best Battle Royale games that, if you haven't done so, you can and should play!
fortnite
One of the most popular games on the planet, Fortnite, has found success by taking an existing game and introducing Battle Royale elements rather than creating something from scratch. Originally just a player versus environment “save the world” mode focused on building, Fortnite has also evolved into a competitive multiplayer game but has retained the building elements that made the first version stand out.
Once the player appears somewhere on the massive map, they must search the environment and nearby buildings for weapons to use, while your enemies create their fortified structures and search for other players. That was just the beginning, as Fortnite became a platform in its own right, with new modes, skins, and events that enhanced the overall experience.
Apex Legends
Respawn Entertainment may have delayed the development of Titanfall 3, but regardless, it still satisfied at least a certain portion of its fans by releasing a free-to-play Apex Legends game in its place. Set in the Titanfall universe, the battle royale game is similar to its competitors on a basic level. You still go down the map and collect weapons and equipment from loot boxes, gradually shrinking the circle to kill those who are inactive in combat.
However, it also introduced a respawn feature to the formula, allowing teams to revive their friends who were killed earlier in the game. However, this simple change wouldn't be enough to spark the massive success that Apex Legends has achieved; This is due to the excellent performance of the game itself or the gameplay. Due to the variety of weapons and how they are used, the weapons in Apex Legends feel completely integrated into the game and thus add to the quality of the game itself. To make things even better, as classes also offer their own unique abilities, you can always try a new strategy.
Call of Duty: Warzone
You wouldn't think there would be room for another battle royale game, but Call of Duty: Warzone has somehow managed to capture the attention of millions of players, even in such a saturated market. The name of Call of Duty alone is enough to earn Activision more and more money, and since it is a free-to-play game, this game is a very tempting proposition.
There's nothing quite like what a Call of Duty game looks like, although many others have tried to recreate this and haven't quite succeeded. Combined with Activision's massive budget and high level of polish, Warzone completely improves the genre. It borrows many beloved mechanics from the 2019 base edition of Modern Warfare, such as perks and weapon progression, and successfully blends them with what you'd expect from a battle royale game.
It features 150 players in small teams of up to four players, all competing to collect cash, loot and experience points (XP) while avoiding the deadly gas that slowly approaches you. Thanks to constant updates thanks to Raven, Warzone has evolved alongside the main games.
PUBG: Battlegrounds
The game that served as the catalyst for this genre or “subgenre” called Battle Royale, PlayerUnknown's, or PUBG Battlegrounds for short, has managed to remain unique in many ways as a game and as a kind of innovator of the genre. A very slow game compared to its competitors, a typical round of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds involves players sneaking into huts and houses, finding a weapon or two, and carefully crawling through the grass to avoid detection.
Chaos can erupt at any moment, which means you always have to be prepared. Although the pace of the game is much slower than, say, Fortnite, PUBG will reward the player as highly for smart play as some other Battle Royale titles. Despite making full use of controllers, computer mouse, and keyboard, the game has been ported to phones and tablets as the excellent PUBG Mobile. Free to play, using the mobile version to target action helps keep your shots accurate. If you want a realistic battle royale game for adults, rather than Fortnite aimed at younger ages, definitely check out PUBG.
Fall Men: Ultimate Knockout
Fall Guys was another hit whose popularity skyrocketed throughout 2020 and quickly became one of the most popular Battle Royale games in the world, and it's easy to see why. The game eschews the weapons of other popular titles in the genre and instead uses a series of racing tracks. Each race starts with 60 players, and with each match the number of players decreases until the winners are declared.
There are several different types of races that include different chasing situations and multiple tactics to help your friends or defeat your enemies. It's a weird mix of battle royale and the exhilarating fun of Mario Kart, and the ability to customize your Fall Guy in a variety of ways; Primarily through cosmetic trading and the currency gained solely from victories is just the icing on the cake. While winning is nice, the real fun is in the journey. And thanks to constant updates adding new races, that journey will continue for some time to come.
Tetris 99
Yes, it's a battle royale game, and yes, it's one of the best games in the genre. Released unannounced as a free-to-play game on Nintendo Switch, Tetris 99 takes the classic puzzle game and turns it into all-out mayhem, pitting 99 players against each other.
You still play Tetris as normal, but you have the option of sending your cleared lines, such as a random player or a player attacking someone else. Play too aggressively and you will find more players attacking your board, which can lead to an early defeat. However, playing too defensively runs the risk of leaving too many other players alive when events start to escalate, which you don't want.
F-Zero 99
Just like with Tetris, Nintendo made the game play, but it's also a genre we never thought could fit the Battle Royale mold that works quite like one of these games.
This time it's F-Zero 99. With graphics reminiscent of the classic SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) title, you'll race, gain power and compete for position against hordes of other players. The main goal is to maintain your lead, which is much more difficult than you might expect with so many other players on the field. Although the game may seem very simple, it is very fun and most importantly, addictive.
Hell: point of the blade
Most of the games on this list focus on weapons and shooting, but what about a Battle Royale game that focuses on hand-to-hand combat? Naraka: Bladepoint is one such game, with a unique hero, but one who specializes in blunt, edged weapons or unarmed melee combat. It flows seamlessly between light and fluid exploration and almost combat-style encounters, and as such, this game is a true test of skill.
Each character has their own moves, equipment, counterattacks, saves, and much more that you need to learn and master as a player. It's a welcome and refreshing take on the genre and one worth checking out if you're tired of standard shooters.
Why are Battle Royale games so fun and so beloved?
The explosive growth of Battle Royale games in recent years has caused a seismic revolution in the online gaming industry. With millions of players around the world, these multiplayer games have revolutionized the gaming industry and captured the attention of the gaming community.
This type of online multiplayer game pits players against each other in fierce, long matches until only one person or team is left standing. The basic idea is survival. Players take to the ever-smaller battlefield, scavenge for supplies, and quickly fight to outlast rivals and win.
Japanese author Koshun Takami's 1999 book “Battle Royale”, which depicted the scenario of a futuristic survival game, is where the concept of Battle Royale originated. A Japanese film adaptation from 2000 helped popularize the idea further, and video game makers were later motivated to produce their own films about the genre.
Battle Royale games have become increasingly popular over the past ten years, attracting players of all ages and backgrounds. A number of elements, including creative game mechanics, viral marketing, and the rise of live streaming platforms, have contributed to its rapid rise. The latter in particular has been an interesting trend as it has also led to the influx of the battle royale genre into the world of eSports for competitive gaming and betting – with Fortnite (along with events like the Fortnite Champion Series and Fortnite betting sites) adding to the mix a myriad of titles with tournaments. High value eSports and sought after niche betting sites consisting of, for example, Dota 2 (The International and Dota 2 online betting) and LoL (Realms and LoL betting sites) –
Features that set Battle Royale games apart and keep players interested:
- Massively multiplayer games
- High-stakes action and suspense
- Random progression and looting mechanics
- Team dynamics and social interaction
- Adrenaline surge
- Competitive environment and skills development
The rise of battle royale games has transformed the online gaming landscape and captivated players all over the world. It's truly a gaming sensation. Battle Royale games have come a long way, leaving a lasting impression on gaming culture and society, from their humble origins as a subgenre inspired by a Japanese novel to their current status as a dominant force in the gaming industry.
