For the article, we hand-selected for you the 7 most realistic battle royale games that are currently available to play.
If you like the thrill of duking it out in an epic multiplayer frenzy in hopes of being the last one standing but prefer grit and realism over the genre’s more cartoonish entries, then this list is for you.
Some of these games are free-to-play battle royale titles, while others are battle royale modes of paid games, but all give you the full battle royale experience.
From the swamps of Louisiana with monsters lumbering moaning in the distance to the mysterious peninsula of Halvøy trying to keep a low profile while being track down a helicopter, to the chaotic frenzy of a medieval melee with mace or longsword in hand, we have something for battle royale fans of all stripes; As well as any gamers who are looking for a new game to try!
7. Hunt: Showdown
Hunt: Showdown is a multiplayer PvPvE first-person shooter game by developer Crytek. The game was released in 2019 and has an 81 out of 100 on Metacritic.
This game takes you back to an alternate version of the late 1800s, where you trudge through Louisiana swaps in search of a supernatural creature. You’ll face off against monsters and other players in an attempt to be the first to find and then extract the bounty.
The main game mode is an extraction shooter, but the quickplay mode is Hunt: Showdown’s take on a battle royale where players face off in fast-paced matches competing to be the last standing.
The game’s use of sound design draws you into its gritty world, where the sound of footsteps, the rustle of leaves, or the echo of distant gunfire can alert you to danger and the presence of other hunters.
On top of that, the game world is dark and grimy with graphics to match and stands out from the often bright and exaggerated artistic direction of many of the battle royale titles.
Hunt: Showdown is a refreshing take on the FPS and battle royale genre that balances PvP and PvE gameplay with slowly building moments of tension followed by quick heart-pounding action in a realistic and immersive environment.
Play On: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
6. Mordhau
Mordhau is a large-scale medieval battle game developed by Triternion. It was released in 2019 and has a score of 81 out of 100 on Metacritic.
This game transports you to a medieval battlefield where you find yourself locked in melee combat with other players. Whether wielding a sword, axe, mace, or bow, this is a game that strives for realistic and satisfying combat. The nuanced and complex fighting mechanics and animation set it apart in the battle royale genre.
What’s more, the game provides you with a variety of options for weapons, armor, and fighting styles that reflect the diversity of the medieval era.
Whether you prefer to shoot arrows from a distance, ride into combat on horseback, or face off with your opponent wielding a powerful two-handed weapon, the game provides you with a large variety of options to suit your playstyle.
The battles in Mordhau are a huge and chaotic blend of group tactics and individual player ability. The complex system of parrying, blocking, feints, and timing of your attacks make combat visceral and rewarding.
On top of this, the maps the game has on offer present you with a variety of strategic approaches that adds depth to the gameplay and keeps it fresh. If you’re looking for the most realistic battle royale game that’s set in medieval, look no further.
Play On: PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5
5. Ring of Elysium
Ring of Elysium is a battle royale shooter by developer Tencent Games. It was released in 2019 and has a mostly positive review rating on Steam.
Unlike many other battle royales that have you parachuting in from above, in this game, you choose your starting spawn location with the starting location of other players highlighted in blue on the map.
Plus, the game has several maps taking you from snowy mountaintops to barren desert planes to begin your fight for survival in a 60-player showdown.
This game combines dynamic weather systems such as thunderstorms, fog, and heavy rain, along with the global illumination lighting system, to create a sense of realism and immersion.
In addition to that, you can make your way around the maps in a variety of ways, such as snowboarding down slopes and hang gliding. You are able to fire while gliding as well as out of most moving vehicles, and the creative modes of transportation make getting around in Ring of Elysium an enjoyable part of the action.
It’s important to note that while this game is free to play and made our list of most realistic battle royale games, its initially large player base has dwindled considerably, and at the time of this article, finding a match can sometimes be a slow process.
Still, Ring of Elysium’s polished and realistic graphics and dynamic weather and lighting systems make it one of the most realistic battle royale games you can currently play.
Play On: PC
4. Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) multiplayer tactical FPS by developer Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment. It was released in 2012 and has a score of 82 out of 100 on OpenCritic, with 82% of critics recommending it. The game has maintained a consistently high player count despite its age.
In CS: GO, two teams face off against each other in quick rounds of objective-based combat. You choose from a wide array of realistic weapons and gear, which is part of a strategic environment in which communication and teamwork are top priorities.
Besides that, the game’s diverse map roster offers a variety of settings, meaning players must adapt their tactics to each unique scenario.
The game has maintained popularity not just for its fast-paced and satisfying gameplay but because of how challenging it is. Mastering the aiming and recoil on various weapons, as well as map awareness, takes practice and dedication.
This high-skill ceiling has been a factor in keeping a community that appreciates the game’s balance and strives to improve their abilities and climb ranks in the game’s competitive modes.
The game has a lesser-known battle royale mode called “danger zone”, and with the game’s high player count, you should be able to find a match quickly.
CS: GO brings intense, authentic combat gameplay and rich, realistic environments that land it the number 4 spot on our list.
Play On: PC, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PS3
3. Battlefield V: Firestorm
Battlefield V is a first-person shooter game by developer DICE. It was released in 2017 and currently has a 79 out of 100 score on OpenCritic. Firestorm is the game’s battle royale mode and was released in 2019.
The game starts you off parachuting into Halvøy, a mysterious peninsula and Battlefield V’s biggest map to date. From there, it’s the usual scramble to get loot, with each item coming in three different quality tiers, which allow for a lot of upgrades and can have you searching for something to better your current setup, but doesn’t hang you out to dry with no items when you inevitably come up against another player.
This game does a good job of creating high-risk, high-reward scenarios while you scramble to claim an objective or take a vehicle from a predetermined spawn point.
Speaking of vehicles, vehicle combat is one of the areas in which Battlefield V: Firestorm shines, with seventeen to choose from, such as helicopters, tanks, or even a tractor.
The beautifully rendered environments and destructible buildings of Battlefield V: Firestorm add a lot of immersion and realism to the game. Although the Halvøy could have more recognizable locations, the detail of the scenery and the joy of leveling a building that an enemy player is hiding in largely makes up for it.
Play On: PC, Xbox One, PS4
2. Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds
Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) is a battle royale game developed by PUBG Studios. It was released in 2017 and currently holds a 77 out of 100 score on OpenCritic and recently became free-to-play.
This game will have a familiar start for battle royale fans as you parachute out of an airplane packed with other players onto one of the large maps packed with weapons and other items that you scavenge in hopes of being the last player standing.
There are lots of different gear and attachments in the game, and you’ll need to decide which weapons best fit your personal playstyle and what attachments you need to optimize it. This will help you be prepared for the game’s increasingly tense moments as the safe circle shrinks and the action ramps up.
One of the places that PUBG departs from some of the other notable entries into the genre, however, is in its shooting mechanics, including recoil and bullet drop physics, in which your rounds are affected by gravity and time traveled.
Although the graphics are already beginning to look a bit dated, the game still offers a variety of richly imagined environments in which the game’s battles play out. All of this gives PUBG a sense of immersion and realism that lands it at the number two spot on our list.
Play On: PC
1. Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 is a free-to-play battle royale FPS game by developers Raven Software and Infinity Ward. It was released in 2022 and currently holds an 80 out of 100 score on OpenCritic, with 91% of critics recommending it.
This game starts with you parachuting into one of its detailed and sprawling maps. There’s a lot that’s new here, as well as some returning locations that will be familiar to returning Call of Duty fans. This is a good-looking game with polished modern graphics and life-like environments to match.
The familiar shrinking safe circle sometimes splits into three different circles before collapsing back into one final zone as the round nears completion. This keeps the action more consistent throughout a round and makes traversal of the maps through roads and waterways even more varied and important than in previous Call of Duty titles.
There are new game modes on offer if you ever feel like you need a break in between rounds of battle royale, and proximity voice chat makes for some fun intersections and a more engrossing experience overall.
Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0 is a modern take on the battle royale formula with realistic graphics and detailed maps and sits on top of our list of the most realistic battle royale games.
Play on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
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