H1Z1: Battle Royale

Players looking for a substantially different take on the popular battle royale-style game won't find it in this large, action-packed shooter, which doesn't really stand out from the competition. But while H1Z1: Battle Royale on the console is a fairly traditional last-man-standing experience, here it's been tuned and modified to make it simpler and more approachable. The controls are familiar, and goals are straightforward. No crafting or weapon modifications means that players simply need to find and grab the gear they want from random parachute drops on the map. It's not too hard to find good stuff, though actually laying hands on some items can be a bit tricky, since other players nearby are drawn to gear drops, too. Most importantly, the action feels fast and contained, with the encroaching gas forcing players into a very tight area quite quickly, ensuring that matches don't linger much beyond 15 minutes.

The game does suffer from issues common to the genre. It runs relatively smoothly, but it's certainly no graphical showcase. Textures and visual details are decidedly low-grade and don't load as quickly as you might like -- especially early on in crowded games. And while individual matches can be exhilarating, the experience lacks the sort of overarching connective tissue needed to satisfy anyoone craving longer-term goals. It's a game that absolutely lives in the moment -- which could be a point for it or against it, depending on the individual player. H1Z1: Battle Royale is a capable, serviceable alternative to games like Fortnite and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, and it's probably the simplest battle royale game to date, but beyond its (admittedly appealing) accessibility, it doesn't have much to set it apart.