This past year, two video game titans have taken the world by storm. Fortnite and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) are two games that have amassed huge player followings. With increased attention coming to the newly-famed battle royale style of games, which of the two is the Alpha and which sits behind as the Beta? In our opinion, PUBG comes out as the top dog.

In the battle royale genre, players take to the battlefield in a 100 player deathmatch where players must fight for themselves to be the last player standing or play with their teammates to be the final squad. Of the two options, PUBG is the preferred game because its realistic gameplay provides an unparalleled experience, and the well-developed weapon system and vehicles add another level to the game.

The visuals are extremely realistic and high quality. The players feel as if they are on an island in the middle of the ocean with all odds against them. Every elimination of an opponent is extremely satisfying as the players can clearly visualize the blood pouring out of their opponents as they take the kill. The reason why playing PUBG is exciting and tense is because the gameplay is so realistic.

“The realistic textures and gameplay is what attracts me to it more than its competitor,” sophomore Matthew Ahn said. “While Fortnite pans out as a more relaxed, arcade like game, PUBG immerses the player with its graphics.”

PUBG provides over 30 weapons and 40 attachments, allowing for ultimate customization. Players have a huge array of weapons to choose from, which means that there is more complexity and strategy within PUBG. Unlike Fortnite, there are also vehicles that allow players to maneuver the large map.

“The competitive skill cap in PUBG is greater due to harder control with weapons and maps that provide strategic positioning and playstyle for gamers,” sophomore Aiden Wu said.

Fortnite players excuse all the downfalls of the game with the fact that you can build. Building is a feature that players can love or hate, but what cannot be argued is that PUBG offers realistic, thrilling gameplay with a level of complexity and strategy unmatched by Fortnite. When comparing shooting/survival games, Fortnite’s cartoon graphics and unrealistic building cannot compare to the true grit of PUBG. Ultimately, players are looking for a battle royale, and PUBG delivers.

PUBG’s appeal comes from its realistic and exciting gameplay and the amount of strategy involved. This game has a distinct tension and thrill that Fortnite cannot replicate or beat with its arcade style of play. PUBG has a larger map with more places to land, more guns and attachments and vehicles, meaning that there is a higher skill cap to the game due to its complexity.