There was a time when the Battle Royale genre of video games seemed to begin and end with PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. Better known as PUBG, this really was the game that started a parade of other games in the genre. Some are good, though, while some fall a little bit short. These days, there are a ton of them to choose from, no matter what platform is used. The sheer number of games out there can make it a bit hard to decide on what to play and what stands out from the pack.
PUBG is still up there. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds is hugely popular on PC, but it also offers quite a bit to like on the Xbox. For one thing, Xbox Game Pass users can play the game for no additional charge. One reason this title is different from most of today's most popular Battle Royale titles is that it is not free to play. Outside of Game Pass, it costs around $20. The fact that it can be played free with the subscription is a nice addition to a game that set the standard in this genre.
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It should come as no surprise to see Fornite on any best BR list. It's often ranked as the most popular game in the entire world. While it arrived shortly after PUBG, it has surpassed its predecessor in player count. This one is indeed free to play, though anyone who wants to spend a pretty penny inside the game can buy all kinds of different skins and dance moves. Fortnite stands out in part because of the many updates it receives. Developer Epic Games appears to always be looking to add new content and gameplay tweaks. It's also one of the few that's gotten an Xbox Series X/S upgrade.
Apex Legends has been going strong for a couple of years now. Combining hero abilities with the battle royale formua proved to be a wining formula. The launch for Apex Legends season 9 has been a bit rough, but overall, it's hard to ignore how much of an impact this game has had in the genre.
Call of Duty: Warzone is one of the newer Battle Royales on this list, officially releasing in March of 2020. A standalone game that now also comes as a kind of standard add-in to the more traditional Call of Duty games, this game is hugely popular. At least one of the reasons for its popularity is that Call of Duty: Warzone has a realistic map and combat feel, rather than PUBG's kind of quirky presentation or Fortnite's cartoony appearance.
CRSED: F.O.A.D is one of those Battle Royales that runs under the radar but is one that should definitely be tried out on the Xbox. Officially dubbed Cuisine Royale Second Edition: Fulfillment of All Desires, it's not a surprise that it goes by a condensed name. On its face, this free-to-play title looks a bit like PUBG in its player models, but it offers a bit more than its predecessor. Not only can players use guns, knives, and swords to take enemies down, but they can also amass superpowers and magic. This game too has gotten an official upgrade to Xbox Series X/S.
Speaking of magic, Spellbreak has its entire focus in magic. When it comes to Spellbreak - which just saw Season 2 land - all the usual Battle Royale aspects are included. However, rather than landing on a map and looking for the best guns, players are on the hunt for ways to soup up their magical powers. The game also has a unique look that is somewhat reminiscent of Fortnite but with its own spin.