10 games like PUBG to play if you need a new battle royale to conquer
PUBG may have helped popularize the battle royale, but it isn't the only game in the genre worth your time
The best games like PUBG can offer up experiences with a similar kind of competitive action. From hero shooters to battle royale numbers, there's plenty of great alternatives out there if you're ready to step away from the battlegrounds in PUBG and parachute your way into something different. With some of the best battle royale games counted among this selection, you'll find picks across all platforms so you're sure to find something here to suit you.
From trying to survive solo in ever-shrinking circle against other players, to squading up in teams with pals to earn your victory, there's no shortage of great games out there that will test your skills. Read on below to discover the best games like PUBG that you can try out right now.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt
Developer: Sharkmob
Platform(s): PC, PS4
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodhunt is one of the newest battle royale games to enter the fray, and it's a welcomed alternative to the PUBGs and Fortnites of the world. Bloodhunt is a free-to-play battle royale set in Prague, boasting one of the most detailed multiplayer maps ever designed. It's a truly awesome experience, particularly in the way supernatural powers mix with traditional weaponry in its third-person combat. Bloodhunt is proof that there's still room for the battle royale to grow yet.
Apex Legends
Developer: Respawn Entertainment
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch
Apex Legends comes courtesy of Respawn, the makers of Titanfall 2. Set in the same universe, but without the wall-running and Titans, you get to pick from twenty different characters to play as (although many are locked behind a progression wall). It's basically like PUBG crossed with Overwatch, with fast-paced gameplay and characters with their own unique skill sets, whether that's Wraith's ability to link two locations via a rift that her allies can use, or Bloodhound's ability to see enemy tracks. Plus it's free, which means it's worth a try just for the hell of it.
Call of Duty Warzone
Developer: Raven Software
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
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Few video game experiences are as exhilarating as Call of Duty: Warzone. It's a game that is highly skill-dependent and isn't the easiest to get into, especially if your goal is to come out on top. But if you can learn the ins and outs of complex weapons, their attachments, perks, and mechanics, you'll have a great time with Warzone. This is a game that feels wildly satisfying, most notably when things go according to plan.
Ring of Elysium
Developer: Aurora Studio
Platform(s): PC
Welcome to Ring of Elysium, a battle royale made by Chinese developer Tencent. This PUBG adjacent game actually started life as a mobile game, but was reborn as a fully-fledged PC experience, with a Fortnite-style battle pass, a vast map, great assortment of weapons, and even a BMX to play around with. It has the realism of PUBG, a touch of silliness, and glorious graphics that all combine to make it one to watch. Having launched back in 2018, Ring of Elysium has proven itself to be a viable PUBG alternative in the years since – making it well worth your time if you're after a free-to-play battle royale that isn't Fortnite or PUBG: Battlegrounds.
Fortnite
Developer: Epic Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
What can you say about this game that hasn't been said a thousand times over? Fortnite is one of the biggest games in the world, and the battle royale which knocked Player Unknown's Battlegrounds off of its throne back in 2018. The thing is, if you're looking for games like PUBG, you can't really go wrong with Fortnite. It's only getting bigger too – more ambitious and experimental. There's the classic mode, which incorporates building, looting, and shooting; there's a variant, which removes building to turn Fortnite into a more traditional third-person shooter; and there are social spaces, designed to let you hang with your friends without fear of a closing circle. Fortnite really is a great time.
Z1 Battle Royale
Developer: Daybreak Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4
You may know Z1 Battle Royale by another name – H1Z1. Developer Daybreak Games has been hard at work tweaking this free-to-play battle royale for years now, attempting to build a fast-paced alternative to PUBG. Daybreak has form in this respect, given that H1Z1 was one of the original battle royale games following the success of PlayerUnknown's original Arma 3 mod which helped popularize the genre. Z1 Battle Royale stays true to its King of the Kill roots, albeit it with key tweaks to make it more approachable and competitive. Z1 is worth playing if you're a little burned out on PUBG but still want to play something similar.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout
Developer: Mediatonic
Platform(s): PC, PS4, PS5 Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch
Fall Guys isn't your average battle royale, and not just because it features aliens who look like jelly beans. Fall Guys is an incredibly approachable battle royale, in that it's 60 players duking it out in minigames not unlike Mario Party. Each round your goal is to do well enough to qualify for the next one, and if you don't you get dropped out of the game. There's so many fun minigames here that are a delight for players of all ages, and while it's technically nothing like PUBG in terms of content, it's a battle royale that can keep you entertained for hours.
Super Animal Royale
Developer: Pixile
Platform(s): PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
If you're looking for something similar to PUBG, Super Animal Royale might just be for you. The free-to-play 2D battle royale from developer Pixile sees up to 64 players battle it out online against each other as a variety of different animals - from a gun-toting panda to a fox, cat, and many, many more. With a top-down, you'll begin by parachuting down and searching for useful weapons dotted around the map to help you survive - not unlike other battle royale experiences. The big difference is you can also find some rather quirky items for your animals to use, such as a hamster ball. With seasonal updates and new cosmetics to customize your character with, you have the option to play in solo matches or team up with your pals in squads of four.
Realm Royale Reforged
Developer: Heroic Leap Games
Platform(s): PC, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Imagine if, in PUBG, when you get downed you don't just scrabble about in the dirt, but you instead turn into a chicken. Well, that's exactly what happens with Realm Royale. If you survive long enough in your feathered form - and we suggest running right out of that battle you were just in – you'll actually get put straight back into the game. Winner Winner Chicken Dinner indeed. Of course, it's not all about chickens. This is actually one of the more unique titles on our list of games like PUBG, as it's one of the only battle royale titles that utilises character classes, which each come with their own set of special abilities. It's like World of Warcraft meets PUBG and it's much better than it has any right to be.
Totally Accurate Battlegrounds
Developer: Landfall
Platform(s): PC
You're about to get hosed in the face with a blasting of silliness, because that's exactly the kind of vibe Totally Accurate Battlegrounds is channeling. It's an absolutely hilarious parody of the battle royale genre as a whole, with characters that flop and worm around the map, even in the ridiculous skins you put them in, or the cars you make them ride around in. It's all very tongue in cheek, but excellently so. Totally Accurate Battlegrounds is the perfect balance for the seriousness of PUBG, and a truly excellent physics-based take on battle royale.
Looking for something to play with pals? Why not check out our pick of the best co-op games. And if you're looking for more great recommendations, be sure to head on over to our selection of the best free-to-play games and best FPS games.
Josh West is the Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar+. He has over 15 years experience in online and print journalism, and holds a BA (Hons) in Journalism and Feature Writing. Prior to starting his current position, Josh has served as GR+'s Features Editor and Deputy Editor of games™ magazine, and has freelanced for numerous publications including 3D Artist, Edge magazine, iCreate, Metal Hammer, Play, Retro Gamer, and SFX. Additionally, he has appeared on the BBC and ITV to provide expert comment, written for Scholastic books, edited a book for Hachette, and worked as the Assistant Producer of the Future Games Show. In his spare time, Josh likes to play bass guitar and video games. Years ago, he was in a few movies and TV shows that you've definitely seen but will never be able to spot him in.
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