Summary
Before Epic addedFortnite’s infamous Creative Mode to the game, Limited Time Modes (LTMs) were king. Every LTM was hugely different, often swapping every week. This occurred mainly from Chapter 1, Season 3, up untilFortniteentered Chapter Three. Nowadays, LTMs are only added for very specific events such as Winterfest or Fortnitemares.
LTMs dramatically alter the traditionalFortnitegameplay to create something that plays very differently. Each one has its own strategies and attributes, often by usingspecific over-powered weapontypes, and others use round-based formats. Out of all these unconventional and alternativeFortnitegame modes, which ones will come out on top?
10Close Encounters
Close Encounters' main characteristic is that it involves using only shotguns and movement items. This creates a very interesting and fast-paced round ofone of the best Battle Royale games, as every player is trying their best to get close to the other person.
Ambushes, bush camping, frantic jump shots with a jetpack, and constant third partying mean that this Limited Time Mode has been a hit every time it’s returned. With so much going on and no way to be sniped or taken out from a long-range, Close Encounters has been a fan favorite due to its absolute carnage and chaos.
9High Explosives
High Explosives is exactly what it seems to be on the tin. It’s pure, unfiltered chaos. Players are sent out onto the map which contains nothing but explosive weapons, grenades, and other various movement items.
This mode was so popular that it’s returned several times since its original release back in Chapter 1. It’s also become one of players' most requested modes to return, as rocket launchers are rarely seen inFortnite, apart from during holiday seasons. High Explosives was also one of the few modes that was released in several different player formats, including solos, duos, and squads.
8Solid Gold
Solid Gold was a huge hit when it was originally released back in 2018. Players were given a standard Battle Royale experience, albeit with every gun being of Legendary rarity. This mode not only utilized gold variants of current season weapons, butunvaulted weapons from previous seasons.
Solid Gold was also an incredibly fast-moving game mode, as it almost entirely stripped out the need to hunt for loot. This meant that players were very aggressive from the start, giving Solid Gold a reputation for beingan extremely difficult challengeto win.
7One Shot
Of all the game modes on this list so far, One Shot is the first one to change the basic structure of a Battle Royale. Instead of simply replacing the regular weapons with snipers, One Shot also reduced every player’s health to 50, meaning a single shot with any sniper would be enough to eliminate them.
One Shot also removed reduced gravity inFortnite, meaning that players were suddenly capable of landing huge trick shots that were previously rendered impossible. This mode quickly became vastly popular, and the best place for players topractice their sniper aim.
6The Floor Is Lava
The Floor Is Lava originated as a huge trend on social media, so of course,Fortnitecapitalized. As the name suggested, players would have to contend with lava slowly rising to cover the map. Weapons were also changed to support this anomaly, with guns like snipers and rocket launchers being particularly popular.
This mode was known for the mad scramble to assemble materials in order tosurvive the rising lava, and then for its incredible build battles that would occur as the ground disappeared. Players would typically tackle this mode in squads, as it meant that there were far more materials available to share, increasing survivability.
5Operation: Knockout
Operation: Knockout was part of the spy-themed game modes released around Chapter 2, Season 2. What this mode unique was the round-based elimination gameplay, which hadn’t been seen before inFortnite.
Every player was given the same random selection of weapons and then fought until one team was eliminated. This would occur every round until one team was left standing. Operation: Knockout was a fantastic round-based mode that didn’t take long to get the hang of, and due to the round-based nature of the mode, was perfect for those who didn’t want to hang around and wait for their partner to win or lose.
4Infinity Gauntlet/Endgame
These two modes were released to celebrate the release ofAvengers: Infinity WarandAvengers: Endgamerespectively. Infinity Gauntlet was a standard Battle Royale Mode with a randomly spawning Infinity Gauntlet that would transform one player into Thanos, creating one of the first andbest collabs inFortnite.
Endgame was a version of this played out in a 50v50 form. Half of the players would play as standardFortniteplayers, collect superpowers, and play as the Avengers, while the other half would play as the Chitauri, as one enemy transformed into Thanos. Both of these modes were wholly unique and incredibly popular, as they allowed players to experience for the very first time,Fortniteas more of a platform than a game.
3Getaway
This was the firstheist modeinFortnite, released back in 2018. The Getaway featured four jewels spawning randomly across the map, with four vans that players needed to bring the jewels to in order to win. The fun part was that those vans were suspended in the air.
Players who carried the jewel were highlighted for the entire map to see and hunt. This game mode was highly popular at launch due to this, as it was a proper test of skill for players to see who could carry the jewel the longest before eventually being sniped.
2Shockwave
Shockwave was another round-based mode inFortnite, with a twist. Players were each given the same identical selection of weapons, and let out into a small selection of the map in order to do battle.
The twist of this mode was that weapons didn’t do damage, they simplyknocked back enemies, who would fly back further and further as more damage was dealt until they died in the quickly approaching storm. This mode was verySuper Smash Bros-esque and was a fan favorite that’s rarely been re-added to the game, to the disappointment of many.
1Wick’s Bounty
Wick’s Bounty was released in celebration ofJohn Wick 3: Parabellum. It’s also the most interesting mode ever added toFortnitethat helped players to feel like they wereplaying as John Wickand returned several times to celebrateThe Mandalorianand as a genericFortnitegame mode.
Wick’s Bounty equipped every player with a Combat Assault rifle, a Combat Shotgun, and a single Bounty Token. If a player was killed, the player that killed them was given their bounty token. Each player had three lives, and the three players with the most bounty tokens were shown on the map. Eventually, all the bounty tokens would be in one player’s possession, and they would win. It was a true test of skill and players' ability, and part of the reason why it’s Number 1 on this list of the Top LTMs Ever Added ToFortnite.
