Fortnite: Battle Royale is currently unplayable, as an event has simply ended it. At least for now. For everyone who still needs their battle royale fix, we present here five free alternatives.
Why this list? Fortnite is currently unplayable. The reason is an event that has swallowed the entire map and pretty much the whole game. When Fortnite will be playable again is still uncertain, although there are speculations.
Many players and even Twitch streamers aren’t quite sure what to do while their favorite game is unavailable. That’s why we provide you with some alternatives to Fortnite that you can check out while the servers are down.
How were the games selected? The current list is unordered and has been created based on personal recommendations and experiences from the editorial team, as well as some impressions from reviews.
All alternatives are free and have a unique twist or a unique selling point that makes them unique in their own way.
Apex Legends
What is Apex Legends? Apex Legends (PC, PS4, Xbox One) is a new battle royale from Respawn and EA. It plays in the well-known and popular Titanfall universe and borrows characters and weapons from it.
Apex Legends offers both an unranked team mode and ranked play. It was released on February 4, 2019, and is free to play on PC and Xbox One. On PS4, the game costs a symbolic price of one cent.
This makes Apex Legends unique
- Unique characters, the “Legends” with special abilities
- An extremely sophisticated ping system for communication
- Fixed teams of three players (with special solo modes for certain events)
- A respawn mechanic to bring defeated allies back into the game
This is currently happening in Apex Legends: On October 1, the Season 3 of Apex Legends started. This brought:
- a new map
- a new legend
- improved and new weapons as well as a change to items
- a new season pass
The season has just started, so players can ideally start fresh now.
How good is Apex Legends? On Metacritic, Apex Legends has a rating of 88-89 out of 100 points, depending on the version.
PUBG Lite
What are PUBG and PUBG Lite? PUBG Lite (PC) is the free “beginner” version of the buy-to-play title Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds. PUBG itself is the game that first sparked the huge hype around the battle royale genre.
PUBG can therefore be considered the “classic” battle royale that many successors, including Fortnite, have oriented themselves towards. There are several maps, a solo, duo, and squad mode, ranked play, and the same requirements for everyone.
PUBG Lite is available for free for PC on the official website.
How does PUBG Lite differ from PUBG?
- Reduced graphics to run on weaker computers
- Only Erangel as a map, none of the others are possible
- Only third person perspective is possible
- Special currency, the “Chicken Medals” for loot boxes
Anyone wanting to switch to the paid version can find PUBG for €29.99 on Steam.
This is currently happening in PUBG: In July, Season 4 of PUBG started and brought some changes. The map Erangel was visually overhauled and some weapons received adjustments.
How good is PUBG? The current (recent) ratings on Steam are 47% positive and therefore “Balanced”.
Ring of Elysium
What is Ring of Elysium? Ring of Elysium (PC) comes from the Chinese gaming giant Tencent and is a direct competitor to PUBG. It also relies on realistic graphics, many weapons, and even on destructible environments.
It was officially released on June 26, 2019, on Steam for PC. However, it has been in playable early access since September 2018.
This makes Ring of Elysium unique
- Battle Royale mixed with winter sports
- Victory through a rescue helicopter that can carry up to four players
- Simulated natural disasters that you must survive
- Special items like BMX bikes
This is currently happening in Ring of Elysium: Currently, special challenges are running in Ring of Elysium, where you can earn a free Adventurer Pass for Season 6, E-Points, experience, and a portrait. The challenges last until October 22.
How good is Ring of Elysium? Right after the official launch, the ratings on Steam were still quite good with about 74% positive votes. Meanwhile (as of October 15 at 10:00 AM), the recent reviews have fallen to 68%.
Realm Royale
What is Realm Royale? Realm Royale (PC, PS4, Xbox One) is the battle royale that is probably closest to Fortnite. Like Fortnite, it features comic graphics, a colorful environment, and crazy weapons.
Realm Royale is made by Hi-Rez, the studio behind SMITE and Paladins. It is free for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and the Switch. Downloads are available for all platforms on the official website.
This makes Realm Royale unique
- Mounts that you can summon
- Smithing stations scattered across the map to craft equipment
- Equippable abilities that are scattered like weapons
This is currently happening in Realm Royale: In October, the BokOps event will start with futuristic skins and items that you can secure. In addition, there is a Battle Pass specifically for the event to level up. The update also brings a third ability slot and gyro support for PS4 and Switch.
How good is Realm Royale? After a high flight on Steam when Realm Royale launched, the ratings have flattened a bit. The recent reviews are only “Balanced” with 69% positive votes.
Call of Duty: Mobile
What is Call of Duty: Mobile? Call of Duty: Mobile is the mobile spin-off of the Call of Duty series for iOS and Android. The battle royale mode of the game is inspired by Blackout from Black Ops 4 and plays similarly.
Call of Duty: Mobile is distributed like the other spin-offs by Activision Blizzard. With a little trickery, Call of Duty: Mobile even works on PC.
This makes Call of Duty: Mobile unique
- Mobile title – can be played anywhere
- Story and other multiplayer modes, in case battle royale gets annoying
- Atomic bombs as weapons
This is currently happening in Call of Duty: Mobile: The game celebrated its release on October 1, 2019. Accordingly, it is still plagued by some issues, which the developers are currently working on.
How good is Call of Duty: Mobile? The iOS version of Call of Duty: Mobile has received a rating of 83 on Metacritic. However, its popularity is significantly larger: it breaks all records and is even more successful than Fortnite.
