H1Z1

Game InformerDaniel Tack

8/10

The concept of H1Z1 is simple: Hit the ground running, grab a backpack and whatever weapon is handy, and head to the safe zone while blowing away 149 opponents. Anything can happen during a match, including stealthy shootouts from behind crates, getting shot in the back while trying to cross an open field, and snagging a risky airdrop for some potent weapons and armor. Variety is the spice of life, and it’s also the cornerstone of H1Z1 that keeps you coming back for more.

IGNDavid Jagneaux

7/10

H1Z1 checks all of the boxes needed to be a competent battle royale game, but in its main mode it lacks a distinctive sense of character. Without the realistic depth and modular weaponry of PUBG or the wacky base-building antics of Fortnite, its streamlined design rushes toward straightforward, fast-paced action instead and ends up being dull as often as it is exciting. The more interesting thing about H1Z1 is its innovative Auto Royale mode, which translates battle royale mechanics to vehicular combat in a way we haven’t seen done better elsewhere.

COGConnectedFelix Wong

65/100

H1Z1 has come a very long way since its Early Access release in 2015. Originally debuted as a zombie survival shooter similar to DayZ, H1Z1 today is the separate game mode previously known as King of the Kill, the original online battle royale, which was so popular that it inspired two highly prominent successors — PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and Fortnite. Now that it has finally come out of Early Access as a free-to-play title, how does H1Z1 hold up? Not well. Though still a competent shooter, H1Z1’s straight-forward approach to the genre limits its appeal and longevity, especially in the f...

GamereactorMike Holmes

6/10

H1Z1 ticks all the right boxes, but it never really grabbed us in the same way as PUBG and Fortnite did. It doesn't look as good as the competition and it's not as interesting nor as varied as the games it's going up against. It's free-to-play which certainly helps, but with Fortnite also playing the same trick with its Battle Royale mode, that's not the selling point that Daybreak no doubt envisioned it would be. If you're a fan of the genre and you've not played it already, there's no barrier in place to stop you having a look, and given how it offers a solid experience we'd certainly sugges...

PolygonCharlie Hall

Unscored

It’s not hard to recommend H1Z1 at this point, so long as you’re comfortable with the occasional server wipe. I still have a lot of questions about how it will work in the shift to free-to-play. But for $20 on Steam, the marked improvements make it a good pay-to-play value right now.