First released on the 21st of July 2017, Fortnite is more than just a successful video game 一it’s a cultural phenomenon, recognised far beyond the gaming industry. Available across multiple platforms, it is multiplayer and packed with insane amounts of fun, Fortnite has set the standard for the battle royale sub-genre.

Due to the language, mild violence and themes, Fortnite has an age rating of 12. It also has a chat feature, so all gamers under 18 should be reminded about online safety and privacy.

Step-by-Step Gameplay

Choose a game mode

In Fortnite, “mode” is about who can play and how.

Battle royale: 100 players land on an island with the only goal of surviving. For this, players must loot, gather resources and build to outlast the competition. It can be entered in solo mode or in teams; however, once the player’s health drops to zero, the match is over for them. This is Fortnite’s signature mode.

Save the world: A cooperative mode where up to 4 players team up to fight off waves of zombie-like enemies. In this mode, Fortnite blends a tower-defence mechanic with a survival shooter.

Creative: This mode hands the player or players a private island and complete freedom to design the player’s own games and challenges. This sandbox mode lets the player’s imagination run wild, making it perfect for those who love experimenting and building.

LEGO Fortnite: An open-world survival mode that blends Fortnite and LEGO building. Players can create using LEGO bricks, from shelters to vehicles. A mode with a lighter tone and a creative approach, it is a family-friendly option, especially suitable for younger players.

Rocket Racing: Perfect for fans of racing games, this mode drops the players onto racetracks where they compete in rocket-powered vehicles. With customisable cars and tracks that demand lightning-fast reflexes and smart tactics.

Fortnite Festival: Launched in 2023, it is a musical mode that lets players step onto a virtual stage to jam on instruments and perform either solo or with friends. Fortnite Festival doubles as a social space, with a wide variety of songs from real-world artists, where they can share and collaborate in virtual concerts.

Enter the Lobby and Prepare in the Locker

Once the player selects the mode they want to play in, they enter the lobby and prepare by customising their character and choosing their weapons before the game begins. The players enter the Locker, their personal collection space in the game where they can view, manage and customise their character.

This personal hub includes all the cosmetic items like gkins (outfits) and back blings (accessories), contrails (visual effects), harvesting tools like pickaxes, gliders used to descend onto the map, emotes (the famous dances, gestures, and animations), and wraps (skins for weapons and vehicles).

Drop onto the map and enjoy!

The players drop into the map, for example, in Battle Royale, players enter the map onboard a flying bus and jump onto an island. In survival modes it is all about strategy, prioritising the gathering of materials and building defences.

As the match progresses, the storm gradually shrinks the playable area pulling players together, combat becomes more intense and opponents become harder to avoid. Monitoring the player’s health and shields is crucial during the entire duration of the match. The use of bandages, health packs and shields to stay fighting is very important. Players must stay alert and survive until the very end to claim their victory.

In-game Purchases

Fortnite is free to download and play on most platforms; however, it features a wide range of in-game purchases, the majority through its virtual currency: V-Bucks. Players can buy skins, back bling, emotes, gliders, and other customisable options to personalise their character’s appearance. These in-game purchases are completely optional and do not provide any advantages during the game.

In addition, players can buy Battle Passes which unlock exclusive rewards or seasonal challenges. Fortnite’s store is regularly updated to appeal to the players’ curiosity, who can enjoy collecting exclusive skins and experimenting with different styles.

Despite its focus on cosmetic purchases, it is important to note that the game remains free-to-download and play.

FAQ

Q: Are there any Parental Controls in Fortnite?

A: Fortnite’s parental controls can be set up or modified through the in-games menu or via an Epic Games account. These parental controls include social permissions 一such as voice and text chat, a filter for mature language, and a required PIN to add friends 一 as well as purchasing permissions, account connection controls, time limits and time reports, AI permissions, and age-rating settings. These age-rating options cover content rating, creative mode and unreal editor, and the epic games store. For more information about parental controls, visit Epic Games Support.

Q: Does Fortnite Support Crossplay?

A: Yes. Fortnite supports crossplay across almost all platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch and mobile. To turn on Crossplay go to the menu and click on setting, then go to the Account and Privacy tab. Scroll down to Gameplay Privacy to find Allow CrossPlay Platform Play.

Q: Is Fortnite a Play to Win Game?

A: No, Fortnite is not a pay-to-win game. All the in-game purchases are purely cosmetic and give no competitive advantages. The video game is designed to be fair to everyone.