Parents' Guide to

H1Z1: Battle Royale

By Chad Sapieha, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Online shooter with blood occasionally promotes teamwork.

Game PlayStation 4 2018
H1Z1: Battle Royale Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

age 14+

Based on 6 parent reviews

age 11+

Fine For 11+

I am a parent that in general hates guns and violence. But I believe that this game is great for 11+ because when playing with friends you can have fun altogether. The game does have in app purchases but you can talk to your kid to make sure he/she doesn’t buy anything without permission.

This title has:

Easy to play/use
age 11+

Thats a good game evan for kids

It is a good game that you need to do team work to win

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (6):
Kids say (5):

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.

Game Details

  • Platform: PlayStation 4
  • Pricing structure: Free (This game is free to download and play, though players are encouraged to purchase cosmetic upgrades for their avatars. A Battle Pass for the first season costs $5.49 and provides awards with progression.)
  • Available online?: Available online
  • Publisher: Daybreak Games
  • Release date: August 7, 2018
  • Genre: Third-Person Shooter
  • Topics: Cars and Trucks
  • ESRB rating: T for Violence, Blood
  • Last updated: August 9, 2018

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