Z1: Battle Royale Review (Zaffiro)
Rating: 4/10
Z1 Battle Royale (formerly H1Z1) was once the king of battle royale games, inspiring the entire genre before games like PUBG, Fortnite, and Apex Legends took over. Released as H1Z1 in 2015, it had a fast-paced, arcade-style approach to battle royale, with fun gunplay, intense fights, and smooth vehicle mechanics. However, due to developer mismanagement, failed updates, and a declining player base, the game lost its identity and never fully recovered.
What Made It Great? (Back in the Day)
🔫 Fast-Paced, Fun Gunplay
Unlike PUBG’s realistic shooting, Z1 Battle Royale had a more arcade-like combat system, where movement, aim, and positioning mattered most. The snappy gunplay and quick fights made for a highly competitive experience, attracting many hardcore players.
🚗 Awesome Vehicle Combat
Z1 introduced cars and driving mechanics that felt smooth and responsive, making chases and escapes some of the most exciting moments in battle royale history. The introduction of police cars, jeeps, and off-road vehicles added depth to gameplay.
🏆 One of the First Battle Royale Games
Long before PUBG and Fortnite, H1Z1 pioneered the last-man-standing formula. It was a Twitch favorite in its prime, with huge tournaments and a thriving esports scene.
🤝 Strong Competitive Scene (For a While)
At its peak, H1Z1 Pro League had top esports teams and players competing in high-stakes matches. It was one of the first battle royales to feature ranked matchmaking and skill-based leaderboards.
What Went Wrong?
❌ Too Many Bad Updates
The developers made drastic changes to the gameplay that alienated the core player base. Updates ruined the gun mechanics, movement, and vehicle handling, turning a once-loved game into a frustrating mess.
❌ Name Changes and Identity Crisis
The game went through too many rebrands:
H1Z1: King of the Kill
H1Z1
Z1 Battle Royale
Each version tried to "fix" the game, but instead, it lost players and direction with every update.
❌ Player Base Collapse
At its peak, H1Z1 had over 100,000 concurrent players. Now, finding a match is nearly impossible due to the drastic decline in population. Most players have moved on to PUBG, Fortnite, or Warzone.
❌ Competitors Did It Better
When PUBG came out, it offered better gunplay and realism. When Fortnite launched, it brought fun building mechanics and a casual-friendly style. Z1 Battle Royale failed to keep up, and players abandoned it for better alternatives.
Conclusion
Once a trailblazer in battle royale gaming, Z1 Battle Royale (H1Z1) has now become a ghost town, abandoned due to bad updates, poor decisions, and stronger competition. While it deserves credit for inspiring the genre, it’s hard to recommend in 2025, as matches are difficult to find, and the gameplay is not what it once was.
Rating: 4/10 – A battle royale pioneer that lost its way. Play only for nostalgia, but don’t expect much.