Five Years Ago, Fall Guys Shook Up the Battle Royale Genre

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Back in August 2020, exactly five years ago, the game “Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout” was launched. This marked the arrival of a unique take on the battle royale genre. When “Fall Guys” arrived, popular battle royale games such as “Fortnite” and “PUBG” had already been around for three years, paving the way for a trend in gaming that is only now starting to wane.

Following the success of games like Fortnite and PUBG with massive player bases, numerous developers – big and small – were eager to join the battle royale craze. Some of these competitors, such as Call of Duty: Warzone, continue to attract a substantial fanbase, but not every project succeeds in finding its niche audience. Remarkably, Fall Guys, with its lighthearted platform-based gameplay, managed to distinguish itself amidst the competition thanks to its unique appeal.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout Shook Up the Battle Royale Genre in a Simple, Yet Effective, Way

A Fresh Free-to-Play Game Arrives at the Height of a Global Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world was under lockdown, various games emerged as a valuable tool for connecting with friends and family. As people worldwide couldn’t physically meet, 2020 saw a surge in popularity for games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons and Among Us. The release of Fall Guys, timed perfectly during the lockdown period, offered both seasoned gamers and newcomers an additional opportunity to bond with their loved ones and even make new acquaintances.

Apart from its social connectivity aspect, what truly set Fall Guys apart was its innovative take on the battle royale genre, making it more welcoming to a wide range of gamers. Typically, battle royale games are first-person or third-person shooters, which might not appeal to all players, particularly newcomers. Instead of the usual intense combat, Fall Guys opted for a whimsical gaming style by having players compete in a sequence of obstacle courses using simple controls.

Absolutely, playing Fall Guys isn’t just a casual pastime. The game’s charming, jelly bean-like characters may seem easy to manage, but they can prove tricky to handle. Each level presents its own challenging obstacle course, which can get quite intense, even though the game appears colorful and playful on the surface. Additionally, being a free-to-play game has made it accessible to a wide audience, making it easier for newcomers to gaming to take the plunge and give it a try.

As a passionate fan, I’m thrilled to share that “Fall Guys” bagged an impressive four nominations at the 2020 Game Awards! And

Following the immense popularity of games like Fortnite and PUBG, numerous game developers – big names as well as independent studios – found themselves eagerly trying to hop onto the battle royale trend.

Five Years Later, Fall Guys is Still Kicking

Although Fall Guys doesn’t garner the same player numbers as it did in 2020, it has persisted beyond the peak battle royale trend. Developer Mediatronic continues to keep the game fresh with regular updates, including the introduction of a new Ranked Knockout mode as recently as April this year.

In the last five years, the game Fall Guys has managed to stand out uniquely within the battle royale genre, preserving many of its traditional elements but adding an unexpected twist. Collaborations with series such as Death Stranding and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have been instrumental in keeping the game popular. It’s exciting to consider how Fall Guys might evolve over the next five years. At present, this entertaining, sociable battle royale game has made a mark by revolutionizing the genre while providing comfort during challenging times.

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2025-08-04 19:05