There was a time when the battle royale genre of video games seemed to begin and end with PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds. Better known as PUBG, this really was the game that started a parade of other games in the genre. Some are good, though, while some fall a little bit short. These days, there are a ton of them to choose from, no matter what platform is used. The sheer number of games out there can make it a bit hard to decide on what to play and what stands out from the pack.
PUBG is still up there. PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds is hugely popular on PC, but it also offers quite a bit to like on the Xbox. For one thing, Xbox Game Pass users can play the game for no additional charge. One reason this title is different from most of today’s most popular battle royale titles is that it is not free to play. Outside of Game Pass, it costs around $20. The fact that it can be played for free with the subscription is a nice addition to a game that set the standard in this genre.
Updated May 27, 2022, by Oliver VanDervoort: As the years have gone on, it should come as no surprise that there are still some new battle royale games coming out every so often. There are still the kings of the hill when talking about Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends, but there are other contenders in the genre that are starting to carve out their own little niche in the genre. it’s certainly not easy to stand out from the crowd. That’s likely why some of the new additions to the list are doing something quite a bit different than what people might expect from a battle royale game on Xbox.
7 Fortnite
It should come as no surprise to see Fornite on any best BR list. It’s often ranked as the most popular game in the entire world. While it arrived shortly after PUBG, it has surpassed its predecessor in player count. This one is indeed free to play, though anyone who wants to spend a pretty penny inside the game can buy all kinds of different skins and dance moves.
Fortnite stands out in part because of the many updates it receives. Developer Epic Games appears to always be looking to add new content and gameplay tweaks. It’s also one of the few that’s gotten an Xbox Series X/S upgrade.
6 Apex Legends
Apex Legends has been going strong for a couple of years now. Combining hero abilities with the battle royale formula proved to be a winning formula. The game which is set in the world of Titanfall, but has not included any kind of mech play has made itself one heck of a competitor to some of the biggest battle royales on the market. One of the reasons that game has found so much success over the last few years is that it’s found a formula that introduces a couple of different legends every so often to keep the characters and the gameplay fresh.
Apex Legends has also spent some serious time introducing lore and adventures that are allowing users to feel a bit more invested in the game. Each one of the legends has a different power that also makes it that much more fun to give the game a try over and over again. Because there isn’t a ton of stories in these games, finding a way to take advantage of replayability is key and Apex Legends has certainly cracked that code.
5 Super Animal Royale
Among the weirdest battle royale games out there is Super Animal Royale. It seems as if it is at least a bit based on Fortnite, considering that there is crafting and supply hunting that used to be a big part of the most popular battle royale out there. Of course, the big difference in this game is that players take on the role of one kind of animal or another as they battle with as many as 63 other players. There’s also the fact that this game is top-down, and definitely has a much less realistic look than some of the more popular games in the genre. However, there’s still something to be said about the way this game is put together that allows it to really leave an impression and stand out from the ever-growing crowd.
There’s something quite memorable about having the kind of cutesy animals this game offers when a player is trying to absolutely take out any and all comers. The title is also coming up with new and inventive game modes that it can offer during season runs such as the “Bwoking Dead” mode that it first offered up during the Halloween season a few years back.
4 Call Of Duty: Warzone
Call of Duty: Warzone is one of the newer Battle Royales on this list, officially releasing in March of 2020. A standalone game that now also comes as a kind of standard add-in to the more traditional Call of Duty games, this game is hugely popular. At least one of the reasons for its popularity is that Call of Duty: Warzone has a realistic map and combat feel, rather than PUBG’s kind of quirky presentation or Fortnite’s cartoony appearance.
Things haven’t always been rosy since the game launched, and it seems as if there have been more complaints than praise about the things that have been added to Warzone, especially over the last few months. However, while there have been some rather vocal complaints about Warzone it’s still easily one of the most popular battle royales available on the Xbox. Of course, it will be interesting to see just what happens when the sequel to this game eventually hits.
3 CRSED: F.O.A.D
CRSED: F.O.A.D is one of those battle royales that runs under the radar but is one that should definitely be tried out on the Xbox. Officially dubbed Cuisine Royale Second Edition: Fulfillment of All Desires, it’s not a surprise that it goes by a condensed name.
On its face, this free-to-play title looks a bit like PUBG in its player models, but it offers a bit more than its predecessor. Not only can players use guns, knives, and swords to take enemies down, but they can also amass superpowers and magic. This game too has gotten an official upgrade to Xbox Series X/S.
2 Realm Royale
Realm Royale is an interesting addition to this list because it also has something in common with Fortnite. There was a time when the battle royale aspect of both games was in fact, just additional modes in a much bigger project. For Fortnite, fans of the game know that there was a time when its “Save the World” mode was actually supposed to be its focus and the mode that has since gotten so popular was really more of an add-in.
That isn’t quite the whole story when it comes to Realm Royale, but the now standalone battle royale used to just be a mode in Paladins: Battlegrounds. When it comes to establishing itself in the battle royale field, it’s quite similar to other games in the area as it drops 90 players into an area where they do battle while the boundaries of the map slowly shrink. One of the weird ways the game manages to stand out is by making “downed” players into chickens who can then be
1 Spellbreak
Speaking of magic, Spellbreak has its entire focus on magic. When it comes to Spellbreak - which just saw Season 2 land - all the usual battle royale aspects are included. However, rather than landing on a map and looking for the best guns, players are on the hunt for ways to soup up their magical powers. The game also has a unique look that is somewhat reminiscent of Fortnite but with its own spin.
