# Play “Call of Duty: Warzone” & These 12 Alternative Battle Royale Games

_Call of Duty: Warzone_ art. Photo Courtesy: Activision

 _Call of Duty: Warzone_ continues to be one of the most popular iterations of the long-running _Call of Duty (CoD)_ franchise. The first _Call of Duty_ debuted in 2003, competing with series like _Medal of Honor_. But, over time, _CoD_ moved on from its focus on World War II, with games in the series being set during the Cold War as well as in futuristic worlds. _Call of Duty: Modern Warfare_ , which spawned its own sub-series of games, was particularly influential. 

As of April 2021, the franchise sold 400 million copies, making it the best-selling first-person shooter (FPS) of all time. Moreover, it’s the most successful American-made video game in history, and, looking at the industry as a whole, _Call of Duty_ ’s lifetime sales fall just behind iconic franchises like _Mario_ , _Tetris_ and _Pokémon_. 

Still from _Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II_. Photo Courtesy: Activision

## **What Sets**** _Call of Duty: Warzone_****Apart From Other**** _CoD_****Games?**

Around the same time the _CoD_ franchise hit the 400 million copies sold milestone, _Call of Duty: Warzone_ , which was released in 2020, reached the 100 million players mark. What sets _Warzone_ apart from other entries in the _CoD_ franchise is that it’s a free-to-play battle royale game. While titles like _Modern Warfare_ are beloved for their online multiplayer modes, _Warzone_ was all about Activision getting in on the gameplay craze defined by battle royale-style esports, like _Fortnite_ and _Valorant_. 

With ties to other _CoD_ games — _Modern Warfare_ (2019), _Black Ops: Cold War_ (2020) and _Vanguard_ (2021) — _Call of Duty: Warzone_ is a blast for diehard fans and newcomers alike. The game’s online multiplayer allows 150 players (or more, in some cases) to duke it out. Plus, with cross-platform play, _Warzone_ fans can play with buddies no matter which console they prefer. 

Promotional art for _Call of Duty: Vanguard_. Photo Courtesy: Activision

With new editions of the game coming to PlayStation 5 and XBox S|X later this year, it’s clear that the military battle royale game continues to be as popular as ever. However, if you can pull yourself away from _Call of Duty: Warzone_ for long enough to check out the competition, there are some other incredible battle royale shooters to play, too. 

## **Tactical Shooter-Style**** _Call of Duty: Warzone_****Alternatives**

### **_Counter-Strike: Global Offensive_****(2012)**

Shortened colloquially to _CS:GO_ , this popular multiplayer FPS first dropped in 2012. However, its continued popularity a decade into its lifespan has encouraged its developer, Valve, to continue updating it even now. _Counter-Strike_ continues to be an esports favorite as well — not only does its longevity make it a favorite for players and viewers alike, but Valve is dedicated to crafting balanced, fair gameplay. 

Still from _Counter-Strike: Global Offensive_. Photo Courtesy: Valve

### ** _Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege_****(2015)**

Fans of tactical shooters who are looking to get in on the battle royale trend might want to check out the arguably most popular entry in the _Rainbow Six_ line of Tom Clancy games. With lore based on real-life counter-terrorism units, _Rainbow Six Siege_ puts an emphasis on strategy rather than pulling the trigger. This creates a much more tense environment — and it requires a great deal of skill to master the game’s nuances. 

## **_Call of Duty: Warzone_****Alternatives That Have Some Personality**

### **_Team Fortress 2_****(2007)**

Valve’s _Team Fortress 2_ (_TF2_) might be a bit dated in terms of gameplay, but its comedic charm and fun, cartoonish character designs have kept players hooked. If you’re looking for a less intense romp that doesn’t necessarily attract diehard sycophants — or desperate cheaters looking to employ an aimbot — _TF2_ is a lighter experience you’re sure to enjoy. 

Fans have sent up the proverbial Bat-signal, hoping to get more support for the aging game from publisher Valve — and, so far, the efforts are showing promise. 

A still from _Team Fortress 2_. Photo Courtesy: Valve

### ** _Splatoon 2_****(2017)**

Even Nintendo couldn’t stay away from the multiplayer madness that is the battle royale genre. _Splatoon 2_ , one of the Nintendo Switch’s best-selling tiles, is a fun-for-all-ages battle that sees your Inkling characters lobbing blobs of colored paint at each other — and the surrounding environment. Much like _Team Fortress 2_ , _Splatoon_ is great for newbies. Plus, the third entry in the series is set to debut this fall, so now’s a good time to level up your skills. 

### **_Apex Legends_****(2019)**

With perhaps the most engaging cast of characters of any game here, _Apex Legends_ is a customizer’s dream. If you like tweaking your character design to look cool while you blast your opponents, this game will offer you more options than any other comparable title.

## **Battle Royale Games That Double as Popular Esports**

### **_Fortnite_****(2017)**

Looking to kill your friends and online acquaintances in a family friendly kind of way? Well, _Fortnite_ is the game for you. One of the most popular multiplayer games and esports out there today, _Fortnite_ is pretty synonymous with the battle royale genre. Compared to some of the more nuanced titles on this list, the gameplay here might feel a bit generic, but there’s a reason _Fortnite_ has won over gamers of all ages. 

### **_Valorant_****(2020)**

Currently one of the most popular first-person shooters in pro esports, _Valorant_ was first released in full in 2020. A six-year development cycle contributed to its successful release, but its continued popularity is likely due to its range of gameplay options, wide variety of weapons and realistic gameplay mechanics. It’s kind of like next-level _Fortnite_.

Still from _Overwatch_. Photo Courtesy: Blizzard Entertainment

### ** _Overwatch_****(2016)**

_Overwatch_ has been one of Blizzard’s most successful games to date — and that’s saying something, since Blizzard is also the developer behind _World of Warcraft_ , perhaps the most popular massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) of all time. 

Some of the most competitive gamers from all over the world play _Overwatch_ , and, despite its cartoonish art style, take it _very_ seriously. The _Overwatch_ League, for example, is one of the most popular pro esports leagues out there today — and incredibly fun to watch.

Scene from _PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds_. Photo Courtesy: PUBG Corp.

### **_PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds_****(2017)**

Known colloquially as _PUBG_ , this hugely popular indie achieved the status of a major release because of its popularity with online streamers. Many people credit _PUBG_ for ushering in many of the concepts present in most major AAA battle royale games, including shrinking circles and the ever-increasing importance of looting.

Photo Courtesy: 343 Industries/XBox Game Studios

### ** _Halo Infinite_****(2021)**

The _Halo_ series is a mainstay in the realm of first-person shooters. While many gamers have loved the game’s story-driven, single-player campaigns, there’s no doubt that _Halo_ has been synonymous with online multiplayer madness (and fun) since at least _Halo 2_. When it comes to battle royale games, _Halo Infinite_ is a well-rounded experience. Plus, it offers up a great storyline, too. And that’s not something all multiplayer-focused games can say. 

## **Honorable Mentions:****_Call of Duty: Warzone_****Alternatives That Kind of Kicked the Can**

### **_Hyper Scape_****(2020)**

This game was originally noted for its ability to integrate with video game live streams. For the first time ever, viewers had the opportunity to directly affect the _outcome_ of the matches. Ubisoft officially ended its support of _Hyper Scape_ in April — and, while it was being actively supported, it suffered from being unbalanced. 

However, you can still find some truly hilarious and engaging streams of this game on social media, and they’re worth checking out for any battle royale fan. 

Key art from _Battlefield 5_. Photo Courtesy: EA

### ** _Battlefield V_ (2018)**

While it may say “five” on the cover, _Battlefield V_ is actually the 11th game in the long-running series. Electronic Arts (EA), the game’s publisher, isn’t currently supporting the title — it was deemed a commercial failure due to low sales. Nonetheless, there are still plenty of gamers who believe _Battlefield V_ is worth playing. In fact, the number of active players continues to be pretty high for a game that’s being ignored by its maker.