The best PC games of 2017 (so far)

Here are some of the best battle royale games available today.

Battle royale games put numerous players (we're talking more than 100) against one another in an arena, which is usually an island of some sort. Players are tasked with locating weapons and other useful items in buildings and special locations, praying to the Gods of Random Number Generation (RNG) because everything is randomly spawned. After that, they need to keep track of the arena circle, which slowly closes in with each passing round.

As the game plays on, the circle collapses to force players to move closer to one another, increasing the chances of gunfights taking place. This is the main feature that helps create tense moments. Those who kill everyone in their way are crowned champions. It's also possible to team up with a friend or friend to take on other groups.

These are our picks for the best PC battle royale games

H1Z1: King of the Kill

H1Z1 has a slightly more arcade feel to it, but that doesn't mean it's a bad battle royale. In fact, it's incredibly fun when you have a squad and have no other goal than to cause havoc in the early game. Parachute in, grab the nearest weapon and start unloading rounds into enemies. Each game is overall faster paced than that of PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG), but hit registrations can be a real pain in the rear end at times and the map of PUBG is more appealing.

From the game's official description:

H1Z1: King of the Kill is a large-scale, fight-to-the-death shooter where every moment counts. Drop into the high-intensity, arena-style grudge match and activate your inner beast mode. Gear up fast, throw together a game plan, and we'll see if you have what it takes to be the last man standing. Rack up a kill streak or just add to the chaos – this is a spectacle and only one can be King of the Kill.

Should you wish to get right into the action with almost 200 people in each playthrough, look no further than H1Z1: KOTK. Those of you who enjoy base building and surviving against not only players but zombies and other elements may want to check out the sister game to KOTK, H1Z1: Just Survive. King of the Kill costs $18.99.

See at GMG

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

Aside from the strange name, which is sticking around, PUBG is a really good Battle Royale game. It's currently considered by many within the community to be the best game in the genre. Thing is, it's also not that old. Launched in 2017 in Early Access, this game is being developed by Bluehole in South Korea and is having updates regularly released to introduce fixes and new features.

From the game's official description:

PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS is a last-man-standing shooter being developed with community feedback. Starting with nothing, players must fight to locate weapons and supplies in a battle to be the lone survivor. This realistic, high tension game is set on a massive 8x8 km island with a level of detail that showcases Unreal Engine 4's capabilities.

The idea of PUBG actually originated as a mod for Arma but has turned into a game that amasses more than 100,000 players at any one time. Powered by the Unreal 4 game engine, PUBG boasts some strong visuals and gameplay elements. Combat is fast-paced, and the end-game can create some incredibly memorable moments that last with an individual, duo or squad for many months. It costs $29.99.

See at GMG

Rust

Rust is a survival, crafting, and base-destroying title by Facepunch Studios. Rust: Battle Royale is an unofficial gametype you can find on a handful of servers. The rules are similar to other titles we've covered in this list, including the fact you are only handed a single life. Loot is spawned in buildings and other locations, which you must acquire as you only start with a single torch, bandage, and map.

From the game's official description:

You spawn on the edge of the initial playable area with a torch, bandage and map at sunrise. Find loot as you make your way to the center of the map. There is no hunger, thirst or cold. There are no resources to gather and you can't craft. Radiation outside the playable area deals damage. Cluster bombs deal explosive and fire damage.

It's a neat concept that allows one to have a break from the base game. It costs $17.99.

See at GMG

The Culling

The Culling was a truly great Battle Royale title with a higly addictive last man standing experience. It's among the fastest paced options out there, rivaling that of H1Z1: King of the Kill. A total of 16 players are loaded in for each match, played as solo or in two teams of eight. Each match usually lasts for around 20 minutes or so, and there's a Lightning Round mode that only requires eight people with a 10-minute timer.

From the game's official description:

Welcome to The Culling. As a contestant on this deadly game show you must explore, scavenge items, craft weapons, and build traps that will enable you to slay your fellow contestants and emerge victorious before the end of the round. Only with cunning, skill, and a little luck will you be able to prevail and survive the match.

Unfortunately, the game has taken quite the fall, in terms of enjoyment and player numbers, especially in Europe. If you can get a LAN going, or have more than 16 people and want to have a blast against one another, it's well worth picking up on sale or at a sizeable discount. It costs $19.99 right now.

See at Steam

Minecraft

Wait. Seriously, wait! While you may not be a fan of the block building game, Minecraft actually has an unofficial Battle Royale/Hunger Games mode, which is a bag of fun. It's a similar concept, in which a number of players are spawned in to find loot, gear up and take down enemies. Better yet, since this is Minecraft you're bound to find active servers with a large number of people online.

It's a simple, more basic form of battle royale, restricted by Minecraft's mechanics, but what map builders and modders have been able to achieve is impressive. It's also much more accessible to PC owners who may not own powerful enough rigs to take on the larger, more advanced (and more demanding) games. It costs $26.99.

See at Windows Store

Islands of Nyne

Islands of Nyne is an interesting upcoming game that's currently in development with Alpha access to a select few (but we've included it as a worthy mention). Much like PUBG, this entry is also powered by Unreal Engine 4, and offers some of the best visuals available in any Battle Royale game. From what we've seen thus far with this game, it's promising indeed.

From the game's official description:

Combining modern FPS action with the scavenging mechanics of popular survival games, Islands of Nyne: Battle Royale will put your wit and grit to the test in an ultimate challenge of gladiatorial might. Drop into massive arenas and fight it out among ninety-nine other bloodthirsty participants to come out on top. The Nyne will only accept one victor.

What's interesting is how the developer has crafted the lobby, allowing players to try each weapon out by killing others and unlocking more powerful items ahead of loading into a match. There's also VR support planned, which could make things real interesting. Unfortunately, for the time being you'll need to get your hands on an Alpha key if you wish to participate in the current development phase.

Read More