Realm Royale has unexpectedly taken off on Steam. In less than three weeks, the fantasy battle royale has gained three million players on Steam. What sets Realm Royale apart from the competition?
What is Realm Royale? The battle royale shooter takes place in a fantasy world where you develop your character into a champion. As is common in the genre, you are dropped onto an island and fight for survival. Along the way, you will find legendary gear in the form of armor, potions, weapons, and skills.
Realm Royale is surprisingly well-received: So far, it seems that Realm Royale could stand alongside genre giants PUBG and Fortnite. HiRez Studios has put its own spin on the game, allowing it to stand out.
1. Classes bring strong RPG elements to battle royale
Five classes make Realm Royale unique: The battle royale genre thrives on everyone starting with the same resources. Everyone has a generic hero and possesses neither weapons nor other equipment. However, in Realm Royale, you choose one of five classes at the beginning of a match, each with a starter skill.
The equality of chances remains despite the classes: The classes all provide a certain advantage and can learn additional skills throughout the match. The first skill is unlocked for everyone. For example, the Warrior can perform a heroic leap forward, or the Mage can fly in any direction for a short time. Since each player has access to one of these advantageous skills at the start, the balance is still maintained.
How does Realm Royale stand out with the classes? The classes bring a new strategic element to battle royale that other representatives of the genre do not offer. The respective classes play differently in solo or team play. For example, the Engineer has some traits that can be supportive. There is a rock-paper-scissors principle between the classes that must be played skillfully.
2. Crafting is static, but offers excitement
Realm Royale has, like Fortnite, a building element: Scattered across the map in every area are forges. Here, you can create legendary armor or potions that significantly strengthen your fighter. You use equipment that you have dismantled into shards as material. This means that crafting is location-based and the forges serve as important objectives.
Using the forges is a dangerous and tactical decision: Other players can see if a forge is burning. Crafting an item takes almost a minute. So if you decide to use a forge, there are already plenty of enemies around the corner who would love to take your valuable loot. This creates an exciting thrill.
How does Realm Royale stand out with the forge? Building is nothing new in battle royale thanks to Fortnite, but it works here much more dynamically and quickly. In Realm Royale, you do not need fast reflexes to build. Instead, you need to be able to make the right decision at the right time. Am I safe when I use the forge or is it too risky with my current equipment? Is it worth it for me to attack this active forge?
3. Chickens provide new mechanics and have high recognition value
Whoever dies first becomes a chick: If your health points drop to zero, you still have a chance to stay in the game. You turn into a chicken and gain slower movement speed. If you manage to survive as a chicken for a certain period, you will return to the game with your character. This also applies if you are playing solo.
Chickens are ideal as a cute and funny mascot: The chickens are already one of the most popular features of Realm Royale. They stand out and offer plenty of opportunities for fan merchandise, memes, and foster a bond with the game.
How does Realm Royale stand out through the chickens? There is probably no battle royale game that has such a delightfully silly form of resurrection. The chickens have cult potential.
4. HiRez Studios knows how to add a twist to their games
HiRez has already proven they can stand out: The developers behind Realm Royale have added their own twist to other genres and have been successful with it.
- SMITE: This MOBA has primarily distinguished itself through the third-person perspective, which is absolutely atypical for the genre. Additionally, players fight with existing gods and mythological figures, which also gives the game something special.
- Paladins: The hero shooter is the only serious contender to Blizzard’s Overwatch. Part of this is certainly due to the game being free. Nevertheless, Paladins with customizable heroes have also distinguished themselves by bringing a new strategic layer to the genre.
Realm Royale appeals to a new audience: By adding classes and strong RPG elements, HiRez can certainly capture a new group of players here. As a result, Realm Royale really does not play like a classic battle royale.
The signs are good: Realm Royale has the potential to establish itself as a niche battle royale between Fortnite and PUBG. The class system and the fantasy world are certainly not appealing to every shooter fan. It doesn’t have to be, either. Because Realm Royale appeals again to friends of RPG systems. HiRez should further develop and refine these pillars to offer this target audience a battle royale experience to their liking.
