Z1 Battle Royale Review

At first, the name Z1 Battle Royale may not ring any bells. Just what is this game, anyway?

Technically, it’s a new name and a few updates for a game that you may already know: H1Z1. And as the new name implies, this is a “battle royale” style game that is currently all the rage.

However, that leads to a natural question: is it worth playing this game instead of something like Fortnite? And does this re-branding effort hide a game that’s secretly a stinker?

All of these questions and more are answered in this review!

What Has Changed?

As noted above, this game has had many names. First, it was H1Z1. Later, it was H1Z1: King of the Hill, so named for one of its most beloved modes. The naming then went back to the simpler H1Z1 before being rebranded as Z1 Battle Royale.

The obvious question here is “what has actually changed?” And some of the answers may surprise you!

For example, some of the additions are just ways that the developer is trying to keep up with the Battle Royale gaming competition. This includes a healthy heaping of skins and, of course, loot boxes. And there have also been some new modes added that range from missions you get in match to daily and weekly challenges for hardcore players to chase down.

Some of the other changes, though, represent the game deliberately returning to form. For example, the graphics and lighting of this “new” game look more like it did when it first came out.

Many changes to weapons have been reversed, and you no longer get those handy “points of interest” on a map (outside of being told where the safe zone is to survive the encroaching gas).