Fortnite: Battle Royale
Games Like PUBG
Fortnite: Battle Royale has been big in the news recently thanks to a controversial release and massive reception. The game came out a few weeks ago now, citing PUBG as it’s main inspiration, and sharing many elements with the game. Bluehole, the developer of PUBG, took issue with Epic over this game, saying that they “don’t feel that it’s right.” This debacle is still ongoing, but Fortnite: Battle Royale is out now as an early access title for consoles and PC. PUBG continues to be a dominating force on Steam, just recently setting another record for concurrent player-count.
Fortnite functions in many of the same ways as PUBG, in that it’s a third-person Battle Royale Shooter set on a huge map which slowly closes in until one player stands out on top. Some of the bigger differences in the game include the art-style, which is way more cartoon-ey in Fortnite, the lack of vehicles (the map isn’t as big, so there’s less need for transport), and the inclusion of building. Building is a major part of how Fortnite makes itself stand out – you can create your own defenses, towering high above the land which could give you a major tactical advantage in a clutch scenario. The game is definitely worth a shot, as a free alternative or even if it’s just to tide you over until PUBG hits the Xbox One.
H1Z1: King of the Kill
Games Like PUBG
H1Z1 began life as a zombie survival shooter, similar to that of DayZ which was taking off in a big way a few years ago. However, when the tide began to shift and Battle Royale games grew in popularity, H1Z1 split itself in two, one game being called ‘Just Survive,’ and the other ‘King of the Kill.’ The more popular of the two right now is easily King of the Kill, which brings its own spin to the Battle Royale style of game. The main difference between the two is the pace – H1Z1 is much quicker in general, and the developers are wanting to bring match-time down to around 20 minutes. What’s more, the player-count is double that of PUBG, at 200, meaning that chaos ensues much more quickly.
King of the Kill has become a runner-up to PUBG in many ways, but if you’re after a more fast-paced, less realistic, and more chaotic experience, then King of the Kill is the game for you.
The Culling
Games Like PUBG
The Culling makes a much more light-hearted attempt at arena-based murder, by thrusting you into a television-style game-show where you must fight for your life in an enclosing arena. The difference between The Culling and the rest is the match size. The Culling is based on a 16-player duel as opposed to PUBG’s 100, meaning matches are extremely quick and everything is much more close-quarters. The game has crafting, too, allowing you to create and place traps around for any unsuspecting enemies to die to. The main issue with The Culling is the player-base, which has dwindled thanks to H1Z1 and PUBG’s (and now, Fortnite’s) immense popularity.
If you’re after a game that puts a focus much more onto quick but chaotic matches, where you have a much higher chance of coming out on top, then give The Culling a try.
Arma 3: Battle Royale Mod
Games Like PUBG
Arma 3’s Battle Royale Mod is arguably where it all started. Developed by PlayerUnknown himself, the mastermind behind PUBG (and, in part, H1Z1 too), the Battle Royale mod for Arma 3 is probably the most realistic and downright terrifying iteration of the Battle Royale genre out there to date. Because it’s a mod for Arma 3, the game puts an intense focus on realism; so if you want to win, you’ve got to factor in bullet drop, wind, distance, noise, and just about everything else. PUBG has a high level of realism, but the Arma 3 mod takes it up a notch.
The biggest issue with the mod right now is, of course, playerbase. That said, you’re still likely to find a well-populated match or two – but you might end up playing against the same players over and over. Another point that’s worth mentioning is that because it’s a mod, the game might not run at 100% all the time since the original Arma 3 was never intended to be played in this way.
Unturned: Arena
Games Like PUBG
Unturned, the blocky free-to-play zombie survival game, got an Arena mode last year, which is their own take on the Battle Royale genre. The visuals of this game are a turn-off for many, but if you can get past that, you’ll find yourself having a really enjoyable time with this mode. That said, despite the graphics, Unturned does a really good job of creating a suspenseful atmosphere, and you’ll soon forget that the world you’re playing is reminiscent of Minecraft. Unturned: Arena also has four maps, as opposed to PUBG’s just one. Each map has its own different topography, which will give players different advantages as time goes on.
If you’re not up for PUBG, then it’s definitely worth giving Unturned a try – it’s a very similar game, but the graphics, crafting system, and less realistic gameplay might be your cup of tea.
About the author
