In the last two years, the world of video games has witnessed the rise of a rather special type of game: battle royale . This extremely addictive genre, in addition to offering quick matches, guarantees a great deal of fun for all types of players.
What is a battle royale?
Battle royale games are a type of match in which a large number of players participate individually or in groups and compete against each other until only one remains. In most action and shooter games , players start with very little equipment and must scavenge the map for resources to improve their abilities and survive against the enemies they encounter.
The birth of this type of games goes beyond a simple idea, and that is that it required certain hardware to be able to make them come true. Thanks to the current consoles, it was possible to create gigantic maps that allowed a large number of players to be distributed, thus allowing random games to be achieved at all times, something that makes it even more fun, since no game is thus repeated.
The origin of the battle royale
Playing a multiplayer game where the last one standing wins isn't a particularly new concept. We can go back to the legendary Bomberman to find a mode where players (or teams) could find items that allowed them to place increasingly powerful bombs to eliminate their rivals. The concept was there, but it was nothing compared to what we would experience years later.
The seed of the genre was planted by the Japanese film Battle Royale , an adaptation of the novel of the same name, which features a life-or-death tournament where players are forced to kill each other until only one remains, all while the arena shrinks. The idea was so popular that it inspired several Japanese manga and anime series, until The Hunger Games hit the big screen, arguably the genre's greatest cinematic representation and the one that most definitively influenced the video game market.
Inspired by The Hunger Games
Such was the success of the film (or rather, saga) that some developers were inspired to create special Minecraft servers based on the rules of the movie's tournament . This led to the creation of the Hunger Games server (later renamed Survival Games ), where players were placed in the center of the map with two options: either collect resources from nearby chests or flee to distant areas and search for other chests scattered across the map. The battle royale genre was born… although it still had a long way to go.
The idea worked, but it wasn't perfect. Capitalizing on that potential , mods for ARMA 2 began to appear , such as the famous DayZ , a survival mode where players had to cooperate to stay alive against zombies and other dangers, but which largely avoided PvP combat. That's why Brendan Greene, known online as PlayerUnknown, developed a completely new mod for ARMA 2 and DayZ in 2013 , and this one laid the foundation for what we know today as battle royale, with randomized positions and weapons scattered across the map. In fact, the mod was called exactly that. But... did you notice the name of its creator?
PUBG is born
The mod was a huge success, but the DayZ team preferred to continue releasing a game independently, so Greene advised on the creation of H1Z1: King of the Kill . But his ambition went further, so he went on to become a creative developer at Bluehole, a role that, once it matured, eventually became what we know today as PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds.
This game began by being announced in beta, but such was the demand that it managed to raise a spectacular amount of money in pre-orders and early access, just to be able to play with the alpha version.
And Fortnite arrived
And of course, the battle royale genre was garnering so much attention that many developers saw a tremendous opportunity to launch themselves into stardom, and Epic Games was very ready there as they revolutionized the industry with a game that mixed shooter and platforming in an extremely addictive battle royale modality. .
A mass phenomenon was born and it was unbeatable even though it all came from a huge failure in the launch of what was going to be the real Fortnite (night fort) : a game of building defensive structures (hence that part was inherited in the battle royale) that, when night came, were attacked by hordes of zombies and monsters that we had to survive (video that you have right above).
There was no trace of a battle royale, until Epic Games realized the move and developed that mode on the run to try to stay with the market. And what if they succeeded.
The best battle royales
You can imagine the rest. The battle royale format has crossed borders; today it can be played on both consoles and mobile devices, resulting in a massive user community. Major franchises like Call of Duty jumped on the bandwagon, and today they boast one of the most popular battle royale games on the market: Warzone.
In addition, the companies have been able to give the genre another twist, and with the introduction of the seasons and a narrative that evolves over the months, the community remains completely hooked on the game, no matter how many months it has been. playing.
Today we can find a large number of battle royale type games, so we are going to leave you with the best known and most popular:
Player Unknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG)
As you've seen, PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is the pioneer of the battle royale genre as we know it today, and its name is a tribute to its creator. It's a first-person shooter with a military theme , featuring realistic-caliber weapons and various types of vehicles. While it may not have the most players, it boasts a dedicated and devoted fanbase.
Fortnite
The revolutionary. It completely changed the rules of the genre and, in the process, many industry standards with an extremely original format, where building platforms became a handicap when it came to winning the game. Its seasons, live events, and gigantic community make it one of the most played and profitable titles in the world.
Call of duty warzone
This is the battle royale version of Call of Duty . It features tons of action, well-balanced weapons, and first-person controls in the purest style of Activision's classic multiplayer. You'll also have access to vehicles and helicopters to pilot, and several game modes that make it especially addictive, both on consoles and PC.
Apex Legends
It arrived as a surprise from the creators of Titanfall , and quickly captivated audiences with its innovative gameplay mechanics. Highly addictive 3 vs 3 matches where characters take center stage thanks to special abilities that can give you an edge over the enemy. As exciting as it is fun.
Spellbreak
What would happen if we mixed Zelda: Breath of the Wild with a battle royale? The result would be Spellbreak , a spectacular game where you attack with magic tricks you acquire by finding potions and special items to enhance your abilities. And as always, the goal is to be the last one standing.
Fall Guys
It was the revolution of 2020. Released for PS4 and PC, and now compatible with the new generation, this battle royale arrived as a peaceful proposition where players simply had to overcome all sorts of challenges until only one remained. But don't be fooled, in Fall Guys you'll find worse intentions than in many other seemingly more violent games.
Realm Royale
It's a spin-off of the hit shooter Paladins , and it features a very similar aesthetic to Fortnite , where the protagonists have unique abilities to distinguish themselves in the game. It's not one of the most popular games, but it has a loyal community that receives updates and new content from time to time, which keeps things lively.
Tetris 99
Possibly the most original battle royale to date, the idea of ​​playing Tetris with 99 other players is one of the most brilliant concepts ever seen in the world of video games. Needless to say, the challenge lies in the trap pieces that will be thrown at you by other players. Highly original and addictive, and only available for Nintendo Switch.
Vampire The Masquerade Bloodhunt
Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodhunt is free and available for Xbox, PS5, and PC. It's based on the classic tabletop game from which it takes part of its name. Essentially, you have to enter a map and escape unscathed by eliminating all the enemies (other players) who will try to make you fall and, in the process, drain you of your life force. It's one of the most played games in the genre so far in 2022, since its official release.
CRSED: FOAD
A third-person battle royale , built on the engine of the upcoming World War II-inspired MMO, Enlisted, that's as simple as it is wacky. Don't think for a second that this is a game that takes itself seriously, as it will almost always have you laughing out loud with its crazy premise and gameplay mechanics, which are at times as original as they are ingenious. Give it a try. It's available on PC.