8 of the Best Fortnite Game Modes Beyond Standard Battle Royale

Fortnite is one of the most popular battle royale games in the world. So, many players might forget that Fortnite also includes a variety of permanent game modes beyond standard battle royale. There are about 10 core game modes in Fortnite, but there can be more with temporary additions. If you can pull yourself away from standard battle royale to look at them, you’ll discover there’s much more to Fortnite than merely fighting to the last man standing. These are the best Fortnite game modes to check out beyond standard battle royale.

Rocket Racing

Rocket Racing (developed by Psyonix Inc.) is a somewhat overlooked Fortnite game mode that offers an entirely different playing experience from standard battle royale. This is a high-speed arcade racer game that throws guns out of the window. Up to 12 players race in rocket-propelled vehicles across a wide variety (53 in total) of tracks to climb the rankings. The courses throw up many obstacles players must jump over to get ahead of the rest with their turbo boosters. It’s a great game mode for some pretty intense racing frolics.

Ballistic

Ballistic is one of the newer Fortnite game modes, which has been part of the game since December 2024. The Ballistic game mode is a team-based five vs. five tactical shooter seemingly inspired by Counter-Strike. This game mode throws two teams against each other, with one attacking side for detonating explosives and the other defending the bomb sites. Players can also purchase gear before rounds, much like in Counter-Strike 2. So, Ballistic pretty much is a Counter-Strike clone, but its matches are shorter and also include unique Flex Gadgets for players to select.

Zero Build

Zero Build is a variation of the standard battle royale Fortnite game mode. It pretty much is Fortnite battle royale without the fort-building gameplay mechanic. You can’t place walls for building forts in Zero Build, which is the only difference. Zero Build was initially supposed to be a temporary game mode, but Epic decided to make it permanent due to its popularity. Players who don’t utilize the fort-building gameplay mechanic much are better off playing the Zero Build mode.

Reload

Reload is a somewhat faster battle royale Fortnite game mode that drops 40 players onto a smaller map to fight until only one remains. What really sets this game mode apart is that eliminated teammates in squad matches are automatically revived up to a point. In single player mode, you receive two extra lives up to a no-reboot point. Thus, you can get killed and still win matches in this game mode.

If you prefer to play quicker matches, Reload is a better alternative to the standard battle royale Fortnite game mode. As this mode has a smaller map with a safe zone that shrinks quickly, you’ll get into scraps with more regularity. Players who prefer faster-paced action will get more of a kick out of playing Reload matches.

Fortnite OG

Fortnite OG is the ultimate nostalgia trip that gives you a chance to see and experience what battle royale used to be like in Fortnite. This game mode drops players onto the Fortnite Chapter 1 map, which has been rotating through seasons since December 2024. Its basic rules and format are the same as standard battle royale (except a 999 material limit), but the old Fortnite map, weaponry, and items included and NPCs (non-player characters) excluded in OG make it a somewhat different game mode. Some players prefer the simplified, more strategic gameplay of the old-style Fortnite OG game mode.

Lego Fortnite: Odyssey

LEGO Fortnite: Odyssey is a fun, LEGO-themed survival game mode in which players can build homesteads, villages, and other structures within large maps by killing monsters, gathering resources, and crafting items. It’s a very different Fortnite game mode from battle royale that mixes Minecraft sandbox with survival world gameplay on top of the LEGO brand. LEGO Fortnite’s fun, creative freedom, map exploration, and cooperative gameplay have made it one of the more popular game modes with regular content updates that keep it fresh.

Creative Mode Maps

Creative mode enables Fortnite players to create their own custom maps and games. There are hundreds of thousands of Creative maps you can play, many of which have unique game modes that add considerable diversity to Fortnite. For example, players can play battle royale remixes, boss battles, one vs. one, team deathmatch, role-playing, prop hunt, and platformer game modes with Fortnite Creative mode maps.

To explore what Fortnite Creative mode has to offer, click on the search tool within the main lobby of the game. Then, click on some of the categories to discover some Creative maps to play. Alternatively, click on the featured collections categories on this Fortnite page to browse through the Creative maps available. You’ll need to copy (Ctrl + C) and paste (Ctrl + V) the map codes on their pages into Fortnite’s search tool to find and play them within the game.

Fortnite Blitz

Fortnite Blitz was another initially temporary addition that’s now among the permanent Fortnite game modes due to its popularity. It is the super-quick Fortnite battle royale mode with 32 players thrown into matches that can be over in a little longer than six or seven minutes. It also includes medallion and boon combat buffs and a blitz level that increases as you rack up more kills and survive longer. Thus, Fortnite Blitz is the all-out brawl game mode that’s great for players who love carnage play.

So, there’s so much more to Fortnite than merely its famed standard battle royale mode. The Fortnite game modes above add considerably more gameplay diversity. If you haven’t played any of those game modes, check them out to discover what Fortnite has to offer beyond the standard battle royale mayhem.