Today, battle royale games seem omnipresent–from mega-franchises born from the free-for-all format to the limited-time modes that pop up in established non-BR titles. Believe it or not, however, the battle royale game genre is less than a decade old; in the early months of 2016, this new type of multiplayer experience first burst onto the gaming scene. 100 players, all dropped onto an island with nothing but the clothes on their backs, must explore the island and find weapons, armor, and whatever else they can scrounge up in order to become the last one standing.

Below is the fruit of battle royale’s labors: 14 games that have taken this new and exciting format and run with it. There are names you have certainly heard of on this list, like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone, while others may have fallen under your radar and deserve a look. Despite being so new, battle royale games have offered plenty of incredible gaming experiences, and these 14 are the best of the best to play in 2025. If you just want something to play with friends, check out our picks for the best co-op games and best cross-platform games.