Battle Royale (BR)

When it comes to esports there are four main genres of games that cover most top titles. One of those is the ‘Battle Royale’ genre that centres on a last-man-standing competition, where a large number of players, either as individuals or in small teams, fight to be the sole survivor.[1] Typically, players start with minimal equipment and must scavenge for weapons, armour, and other resources while the play area gradually shrinks, forcing encounters and increasing tension as the match progresses.

Battle Royal is unique in that one can pinpoint the start of the genre.  The genre’s name and concept originate from the Japanese novel Battle Royale (1999) by Koushun Takami, which was later adapted into a manga and a film.[2] The story involves a dystopian scenario where a class of high school students is forced to fight to the death on a remote island, with only one survivor permitted. This novel laid the conceptual foundation for the genre by exploring themes of survival, scarcity, and the psychological effects of being pitted against peers in a life-and-death struggle. 

The Battle Royale genre is evolved from various influences, including survival games, open-world exploration, and multiplayer deathmatch modes.[3] The genre gained significant traction in the early 2010s, with modders introducing Battle Royale-style gameplay in existing games. For example, Brendan “PlayerUnknown” Greene, a key figure in the genre’s development, created a Battle Royale mod for ARMA 2 and ARMA 3, which later evolved into the standalone game PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) in 2017.

PUBG was pivotal in popularising the genre. It featured a large-scale map, 100 players parachuting onto an island, and a shrinking safe zone, forcing players into closer confrontations. The game’s success demonstrated the potential of the Battle Royale formula, leading to a surge of similar games.

Another major example is Fortnite Battle Royale, released by Epic Games in 2017.[4] Initially, Fortnite was developed as a cooperative building game, but the addition of a Battle Royale mode propelled it to immense popularity. Fortnite distinguished itself with its vibrant, cartoony art style, unique building mechanics, and frequent updates that kept the gameplay fresh.

Since then, the genre has expanded further with games such as Apex Legends (2019), which introduced hero-based mechanics and refined team play, and Call of Duty: Warzone (2020), which integrated traditional first-person shooter elements with Battle Royale gameplay.

The Battle Royale genre continues to evolve, incorporating elements from other genres and pushing the boundaries of competitive multiplayer gaming. Its appeal lies in the high-stakes tension, strategic depth, and unpredictable nature of each match, making it a mainstay in modern gaming.