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What is a Battle Royale Game?
A battle royale game is an online multiplayer genre typically associated with shooters. In them, a large number of players compete against one another until only one player (or team) remains.
The gameplay typically combines the gunplay mechanics of first or third person shooters with the exploration and scavenging found in the best survival games. It is a genre with a few absolute rules but can be quite flexible in its application as games introduce additional mechanics such as weapon tiers, character abilities, upgrades, and more.
Top battle royale games are incredibly popular but aren’t the most beginner-friendly due to the high competitiveness, shifting meta from live service updates, and internet requirements. The games can be frustrating to play at times, but there’s rarely ever a feeling that matches the thrill of being the last player standing.
Key Takeaways
- Battle royale games are an online multiplayer genre where players compete to be the last person standing.
- Players Unknown Battlegrounds (PUBG) is considered the first true battle royale.
- Battle royale mechanics include dropping down to a location, scavenging gear, and surviving an enclosing zone.
- Fortnite, Apex Legends, and Call of Duty: Warzone are examples of battle royale games.
- Battle royales are regularly updated but require an internet connection and have a steep learning curve.
History of Battle Royale Games
The battle royale meaning originally got its name from a 2000s Japanese film called ‘Battle Royale’, which also had a premise surrounding a survival competition in a shrinking space.
There have been many popular titles that have innovated the genre, and remnants of its mechanics can be seen before the genre truly took off in 2017/2018.
How Battle Royale Games Work
Players who wonder what battle royale is should be aware of core play mechanics within the genre to better gauge how it works. Several key factors make up a battle royale.
The Drop
Player counts in battle royale games vary, but they usually range from 50 to 100 in a single match. You’re dropped into a large open map, traditionally with nothing.
The Survival
Once a player successfully drops into a zone, the survival mechanics come into play. Weapons, armor, and resources are scattered throughout the map – allowing you to build up your loadout as you explore and outlive other opponents.
The Royale
The end goal is to be the last person or squad standing, either by outliving or eliminating other players. Choosing where to drop and playing effectively is only part of the experience; random weapon locations sometimes mean it’s a luck of the draw.
Types of Battle Royale Games
Despite the common themes outlined previously, many battle royale genres add to or completely subvert the genre mechanics.
There are several types of battle royale games to play in 2025 whether that’s by platform or by sub-genre. This can either mean a shooter or third-person action game utilizing a shrinking map or an elimination style as seen in more casual experiences.
Popular Battle Royale Games
Fortnite
Fortnite is a cartoonish-style third-person shooter game featuring the building mechanic that allows you to create platforms and covers on the fly. It is also the game to introduce battle passes as a means of monetization.
Fortnite is by far the most popular and widely regarded as the best battle royale game to date. It was the title that saw the genre truly take off as an industry-wide trend and has evolved to become a global and cultural success.
There are millions of players, and the game is entirely free to play. It’s built up by its extensive storefront featuring licensed characters, including Marvel heroes, famous content creators, horror movie icons, and more.
Apex Legends
Apex Legends is a fast-paced first-person shooter and one of the more popular free-to-play battle royale games. Its slide mechanic allowed for faster traversal introduced the first revival system in the genre, and was widely praised for its ping communication system.
Apex Legends features a class-based hero system similar to Overwatch 2, where characters possess a unique set of abilities to gain an edge in gun fights. There are currently 25 Apex Legends characters in total to play.
PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG)
PUBG is widely recognized as the first battle royale game. Its genre-defining systems influence future battle royale games and shooters. PUBG included highly customizable weapons and vehicles and strived to create realistic gameplay.
When it first launched, over 30 million players hopped onto the game, making it one of the biggest releases of all time. PUBG also recently shifted from its original $29.99 USD price tag to become a free battle royale game, which puts it in line with the current genre frontrunners.
Call of Duty: Warzone
Call of Duty is an iconic shooter franchise, so it was natural that the game would implement the trending battle royale mode. The mode has quickly become one of the top battle royale games to play. It is now in its Season 6 update and receives content in line with every new main Call of Duty entry.
Warzone managed to captivate a new audience thanks to its new features, including the money system to buy killstreaks and revivals and its 1v1 battle royale mechanic, which allows eliminated players to return to the fight after winning a showdown in the Gulag. For more, we recommend reading up on the best Warzone loadouts in 2025.
Fall Guys
Party royales were inspired by the core mechanics of battle royale games. Players still competed to be the last one standing but through rounds instead of a shrinking combat zone.
Fall Guys became popular due to its series of party rounds, cartoon art style, and chaotic gameplay. Players can earn new outfits, profile accessories, and winning emotes.
4 Ways to Improve Battle Royale Performance
There are four ways to improve how your battle royale game performs:
We’ve also devised some helpful tips to get better at battle royale games:
- Learn what characters pair well together for team compositions in hero shooters.
- Learn maps for better positioning and knowing the best drop locations.
- Use an aim trainer for shooter battle royales.
- Learn the best loadouts and weapons to give yourself an edge.
Battle Royale Pros & Cons
Jumping into a new battle royale game can be a fun and exciting experience, from the fast-paced action at the beginning to the tense final ring moments near the end. However, players should be aware of the genre’s strengths and weaknesses.
- A large number of players
- Highly competitive gameplay
- Available across multiple platforms
- Play online with friends
- Frequent updates
- Requires internet connection
- Updates can quickly create a backlog if not downloaded regularly
- Steep learning curve
- Toxic online behavior
The Bottom Line
Battle royale games feature ‘survival of the fittest’ gameplay, where a large number of players compete to be the last one standing in a shrinking zone. Popular games, like Fortnite or PUBG, combine the combat of shooters with mechanics from survival games to create a unique experience.
It is an incredibly popular genre that is seeing constant updates to keep players engaged, though its prerequisite of an online connection and high competitiveness means it’s not the most accessible of games.
