Critics were broadly positive about Fortnite: Battle Royale, especially its combination of shooting and player-built structures. But there is no single definitive critic score: Metacritic’s figures vary by page and platform, while the Epic Games Store displays a separate OpenCritic-derived summary. These ratings largely reflect reviews published between 2017 and 2019, not evaluations of Fortnite’s current live-service version.
What did critics think of Fortnite: Battle Royale?
The central critical appeal was the way building could change how a fight played out. In its March 27, 2018 review, IGN praised the freedom of the building mechanic and its effect on play style, writing: “It may not be the first battle royale game, and it certainly won’t be the last, but Fortnite sets itself apart from the crowd by giving you the freedom and tools to express your own personal playstyle.” Metacritic’s PlayStation 4 critic page reproduces the excerpt.
The broader reception was positive, though not uniformly enthusiastic. In Metacritic’s PlayStation 4 sample, nine reviews were classified as positive, seven as mixed, and none as negative. That breakdown describes the reviews in that particular sample; it is not a survey of all critics or players.
How do Fortnite’s critic scores compare?
| Source and scope | Displayed critic result | What the figure represents |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic, all-platform listing | 78 Metascore from 16 critic reviews | A critic aggregate for the listing; keep it distinct from its user score of 5.2 from 3,539 user ratings. |
| Metacritic, PlayStation 4 critic page | 78 Metascore from 18 critic reviews | A platform-specific critic aggregate. The page also classifies nine reviews as positive, seven as mixed, and zero as negative. |
| Epic Games Store, OpenCritic-derived display | 94% critics recommend; 84 top critic average; “Mighty” rating | A different aggregation and set of measures. The retrieved listing does not establish a stable review count or precise snapshot date. |
The Metacritic pages show why a score needs its scope and denominator attached: the all-platform listing and the PlayStation 4 page both display 78, but they count different numbers of critic reviews. The Epic Games Store’s recommendation percentage and top-critic average are not Metascores and should not be merged with them. The listings are dynamic, so the figures above describe the retrieved pages in 2026 and may change.
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- Epic Design: Inspired by Fortnite's legendary Battle Bus, this LED light brings the action of the Battle Royale to your gaming setup, bedroom or home with a colour changing glow.
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What game were critics reviewing?
Fortnite: Battle Royale is a mode within Fortnite. In an official announcement dated September 12, 2017, Epic described a 100-player contest on one map built around a battle bus, building, destructible environments, and player-versus-player combat. Epic said the mode would be separate from Fortnite’s player-versus-environment mode during the test period.
Epic’s September 19, 2017 announcement said Battle Royale would become free to access on September 26 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Mac, and that Epic would not sell items providing a competitive advantage. Those are launch-era statements, not a current platform list or a description of every present-day mode, season, or monetization rule.
Rank #2
- Official Licensed Collectible: Officially licensed Fortnite playing cards created in collaboration with Epic Games and crafted by theory11. This premium collectible deck brings Fortnite artwork, characters, and battle royale details into a fully playable standard poker deck.
- Custom Artwork & Fortnite Details: Every card features custom Fortnite artwork with detailed court cards, illustrated Aces, Jokers, and a custom back design. Look for references inspired by iconic in-game moments, locations, and Victory Royale energy throughout the deck.
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How current are the reviews?
The score pages include reviews from different points in the game’s early history, including IGN’s March 27, 2018 review and GamesRadar+’s March 1, 2019 review, as well as reviews from 2017. They are historical judgments of the versions critics assessed at those dates. They do not establish how critics would rate the current live service, whose content and systems may differ.
For that reason, treat the aggregates as a record of early critical reception rather than a current-version verdict. The critic scores also answer a different question from Metacritic’s user rating: the latter reflects user ratings, not professional reviews.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
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Rank #3
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