PUBG was once the king of battle royale games, but in 2025, it feels outdated, clunky, and frustrating. The movement and gunplay are stiff, the optimization is still poor, and cheaters continue to plague the experience. While the game introduced the genre to the mainstream, its competitors have surpassed it in almost every way—better mechanics, smoother gameplay, and a more engaging experience.

The slow updates and lack of meaningful improvements make it hard to recommend PUBG over alternatives like Apex Legends, Warzone, or even Fortnite. Unless you’re a die-hard fan of its unique pacing and realism, there’s little reason to play PUBG today.

20/100

PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS is a game I have been holding out on for ages, ever since it came out, as I never really saw the charm in it. Whilst I can appreciate the way it paved for the BR "genre" - if you will - in its early days, I can not help but feel like the game did not at all age well and going F2P was a last ditch attempt from the developers to keep their dying game alive. With that said, I have sunk some hours into the game and I have had fun with my friends. But I am glad I never spent money on this game nor would I. So, in short, this game is good for a few games with friends, but stay away from the aggressive and exploitative micro-transactions.

PUBG is such a pure and fun experience that it overcomes its many flaws. There are glitches, there are crashes, there is jank. The game will probably never be fully done. But parachuting down onto that island feels new and exciting every time. A number of simple ideas comes together to make a great game and establish a great genre.