Starting partly as an offshoot of the FPS, battle royale games began humbly with a few select pioneers - specifically Fortnite, PUGB, and Apex Legends - and have mushroomed into its own popular gaming genre. Unlike the action-laced chaos of traditional FPS games, though, BR-style shootouts tend to lean on tension for its thrills, emphasizing isolation, survival, and tactility above all else.
While this intense, frustrating style isn't for everyone, many have grown fond of this sort of virtual version of The Hunger Games, with its high-stakes gameplay and random insanity, where only one comes out on top. This subgenre is still a relatively young one, though a number of developers have quickly made a name for themselves with some excellent BR efforts. Let's take a look at the best of the lot, according to Metacritic.com.
Updated April 12, 2022, by Ritwik Mitra: Battle royale games have become all the range in modern times. The idea of playing a lengthy and engrossing round with a multitude of players is quite engaging and makes for a great time indeed. Fans who want to check out a variety of amazing battle royale titles should check out the following games and figure out which ones suit their fancy.
15 Totally Accurate Battlegrounds (65)
Ironically, one of the more intriguing and amusing battle royale games stands as essentially a parody of the genre, as made clear by developer Landfall Games themselves. And this comedic aspect becomes more clear upon taking a look at some of the wardrobe flair, which includes a banana and a pickle suit.
While this game is super wonky in terms of its mechanics and almost comically basic with its gameplay and graphics, that is part of its charm. In pretty typical BR style, the game kicks off by literally dropping players into an outdoor environment that steadily closes in on them. Players scramble in a chaotic fight to the death, picking from an array of random guns and blunt objects; each of which has its own distinct feel and weight. While it's pretty surface-level, TABG proves more enjoyable and enduring than it lets on.
14 H1Z1 (70)
Aside from some pretty satisfying vehicular combat and goofy costumes, there's really not a ton to say about this battle royale romp. It comes across as something of a tamer PUBG-meets-Apex Legends hybrid and does little to stand out, especially with its basic system of upgrades and mostly standard weapons.
Still, in fairness, the chaotic car chases and shootouts are usually a blast, and even the more typical ground-based warfare is sufficient enough to make for some exciting face-offs. It's also free-to-play, which makes it hard to critique too harshly. For those keen on Twisted Metal-style vehicular warfare - or at least a simplified version of it - this is a fun little battle royale in short stints.
13 Naraka: Bladepoint (71)
Given how battle royale games tend to follow a certain formula, it can be refreshing to see games that change up the aesthetics a bit. This is something that Naraka: Bladepoint accomplishes to a T.
The idea of incorporating martial arts combat into a battle royale game is pretty engaging indeed. Naraka: Bladepoint might have its issues, but the game itself is a blast to play when everything clicks.
12 Super Animal Royale (73)
Controlling animals in a battle royale sounds pretty odd... But it's surprisingly effective when pulled off properly. It helps that Super Animal Royale has a great art style to complement its wealth of unique characters.
It might not be the most revolutionary battle royale game around, but it gets the job done and then some. Fans of this genre who want something different to sink their teeth into should check out Super Animal Royale.
11 Spellbreak (79)
Ranged combat is pretty much the norm in most battle royale games. As a result, any game that adds a unique spin on this concept aside from the usual guns that populate these games tends to do well.
Spellbreak is pretty engaging in this regard, using magical gauntlets to launch ranged projectiles toward enemies. This, combined with the class-based system, makes for a fun battle royale experience.
10 Modern Combat 5: Blackout (79)
Considering this FPS is designed for mobile devices first and foremost, Modern Combat 5 manages to be a pretty competent, if not downright solid battle royale-style shooter. This is assuming that players can hang with the somewhat awkward touch buttons, that is. With its more stripped-down and crude style, it feels a bit like the early Call of Duty games, and it comes with a wealth of unique modes to keep things interesting.
Still, between some rough visuals and a lack of balanced weapons, this game can be a bit shaky; particularly its battle royale mode, which still sits in the beta phase. At least in terms of mobile software, though, this is one of the stronger FPS games on the market.
9 Battlerite Royale (80)
This rich multiplayer game is an offshoot based on the free-to-play MOBA, simply called Battlerite. The isometric strategy style actually compliments the winner-take-all BR thing quite well, which makes it surprising that more like this haven't been made yet.
This game combines accessibility with skill, as players can access a wealth of easily-accessible powers and attacks with a convenient hotkey, which must be aimed at various player-controlled targets coming at them on screen. As this is mainly a more-modern iteration of an older game, Battlerite Royale is already pretty well refined and fleshed out. It certainly helps to be into both MOBAs and BR-type games; though fans of either style should give this action-packed romp a look.
8 Call Of Duty: Warzone (80)
Call of Duty's foray into the battle royale genre has been a massive success. The tight run-and-gun gameplay is a perfect fit for a genre where fast reflexes are mandatory when it comes to securing victory.
Warzone excels in this regard and is easily one of the best battle royale games that most players absolutely love. It's an addictive experience, with each content update making the game even better.
7 Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout (81)
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Fall Guys is one of the most unique battle royale games out there. Most people associate the act of playing battle royales with shooting and gunning down enemies, so any change to this norm will be appreciated.
There was a time when this game was all the rage and although the player base has dwindled since then, the game is still played by a large number of loyal and devoted fans. Each round of this playable game show is a blast, with only a few minigames really getting on players' nerves.
6 Fortnite (81)
If PUBG helped pioneer the entire genre, then Fortnite added a welcome twist with its more accessible gameplay and fun building mechanic. For a free-to-play game, this virtual sandbox epic is impressively robust and entertaining. With its blend of action-shooter gameplay and Minecraft-style building/crafting, there's a unique and rich dynamic to Fortnite that makes it tough to step away from, even if players frustratingly get picked off mere minutes after starting up.
This game is extremely versatile, offering open-ended environments and a ton of items/weaponry during one's survival escapade. There's even a "Creative" mode that allows players to set up things like race tracks and platforming challenges. With up to 100 players facing off against one another, there's really a feeling of grandiosity here, even with the game's more basic, cartoony appearance.