Download.it search icon

One of the most popular fighting games taken to the next level with a battle royale

One of the most popular fighting games taken to the next level with a battle royale

Vote: (4,746 votes)

Program license: Free

Developer: Epic Games, Inc.

Version: 1.0

Works under: Android

Also available for Windows Mac

Vote:

Program license

(4,746 votes)

Free

Developer

Version

Epic Games, Inc.

1.0

Works under:

Also available for

Android

Windows Mac

Pros

  • Extremely fun, faced-paced, and tension-filled gameplay.
  • The controls work well on the Android, proving themselves to be surprisingly adept at movement, despite the small screen.
  • The lack of blood or violence - despite the "shooting" nature of the game - has helped some parents be more comfortable with their kids playing the game. It can also teach important social concepts, like teamwork, planning, and cooperation.
  • The online nature of the game adds a social aspect to it, allowing players to play together, make new friends, or just hang with already existing ones.

Cons

  • It's cosmetic only, but the differences between free and paid players are noticeable.
  • There are numerous parental and security concerns associated with the game that has led many to argue that it is not suitable for minors, despite the lack of any blood or gore associated with it.
  • The game can be difficult for some players to master, particularly if they play games against others who are more experienced or skilled. This can quickly lead to a wide degree of frustration.

Fortnite is the worldwide phenomenon, Battle Royale game that has spawned the population of a variety of imitators and helped to make its genre exceptionally popular. It has become a massively populated game and regularly charts as one of the most downloaded games available on a variety of operating systems. The game has hundreds of millions of players, including tens of millions that play on mobile devices.

Fortnite is available on a whole array of platforms, including all major gaming consoles, the computer, and mobile devices. This includes Android phones.

The Core Concept

At its core, Fortnite is a Battle Royale. That is essentially another way of saying last man standing. In this version of the game, players play on a map, either as a solo player or in teams. The objective of every player is to survive by collecting weapons, items, and killing their opponents in melee or weapon-based combat. As time passes, the map will shrink, forcing players into closer and closer spaces and removing the ability of a player to "camp" out and avoid others. In the end, the last person or team standing is the winner.

The game is largely populated by younger children, and it is geared largely to that demographic. However, anyone who thinks that the game is a simplistic shooter will find themselves very dead, very quickly. Team modes require near-constant communication and surveillance of other teams, as well as ensuring that you are reviving your killed teammates. Furthermore, Fortnite Battle Royale incorporates aspects of other building, mining, and survival games, allowing players to mine materials and then rebuild them into a variety of building fortifications that can be used tactically. Players who eschew these concepts quickly find themselves on the losing end of a game.

The game is free to play. However, a plethora of microtransactions is available that will allow players to purchase new skins and other cosmetic improvements. A Battle Pass can be purchased with real-world money. This Battle Pass allows for a larger allotment of the in-game currency, "V-bucks," as well as access to more rewards.

Customization

One of the facets of Fortnite that has become most popular is a player's ability to personalize their own character. Players can change the skin of their characters, and these skins impact how the player looks. Players can also gain an array of expressions, including taunts, emotes, and dances. These let players express their personalities. Of course, players can purchase skins and other items, giving them increased customization over their character.

Regular Updates

One of the reasons Fortnite is so popular is its constant use of Seasons and Chapters in order to update and refresh its content. Fortnite will periodically roll out these updates, which often include new characters, skins, weapons, locations, objectives, and more. Fortnite will also work with outside, popular parties in order to unveil new content. For example, Chapter 2, Season 5 will include updates that unveil quest givers and weapons from The Mandalorian, the hit show now airing on Disney+.

Since its inception in 2017, Fortnite has had two chapters, with ten seasons in the first chapter and five, thus far, in the second. Each chapter has seen different themes, rules changes, game modes, and more. Recent chapters have had commercial tie-ins like the one noted above, including other television shows, celebrity players, concerts, and more.

The game has also made limited use of experimental modes. These modes allow players early access to different methods of play, weapons, fortifications, and more.

These regular updates all help keep content fresh and relevant, particularly when the content is tied to popular culture. However, it also adds to accusations that the game is too commercial and interested in money.

Criticisms

For all of its success, the game has been subjected to many criticisms. The game is clearly geared towards young children, and many parents and advocates have noted that the addictive nature of the game has led to concerns that students are ignoring their studies and other aspects of their social life in order to play the game. However, these problems are not just limited to younger kids. Many college students - and even adults - have said that their professional, romantic, and work lives have suffered so they could play Fortnite.

Fortnite has also been sued on numerous occasions for a variety of reasons, including alleged copyright infringement for various reasons, including theft of dance moves and images. It was also sued by Google and Apple for attempting to change the price of its V-bucks differently across different platforms.

Pros

  • Extremely fun, faced-paced, and tension-filled gameplay.
  • The controls work well on the Android, proving themselves to be surprisingly adept at movement, despite the small screen.
  • The lack of blood or violence - despite the "shooting" nature of the game - has helped some parents be more comfortable with their kids playing the game. It can also teach important social concepts, like teamwork, planning, and cooperation.
  • The online nature of the game adds a social aspect to it, allowing players to play together, make new friends, or just hang with already existing ones.

Cons

  • It's cosmetic only, but the differences between free and paid players are noticeable.
  • There are numerous parental and security concerns associated with the game that has led many to argue that it is not suitable for minors, despite the lack of any blood or gore associated with it.
  • The game can be difficult for some players to master, particularly if they play games against others who are more experienced or skilled. This can quickly lead to a wide degree of frustration.