All Fortnite official game modes, explained

Fortnite is like one of those ATARI cassettes that had 50 mini-games in them.

Fortnite characters boarding a helicopter
Image via Epic Games

There are many ways to play Fortnite, and each offers its own type of fun. While the game has evolved into a platform with hundreds of game modes, only some are official, created by Epic Games and Fortnite developers, not players.

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These modes each add a twist to the original Fortnite battle royale experience, which was one of the first modes along with Save the World. For example, Zero Build is the usual battle royale game but with building disabled, and Team Rumble is a team mode that focuses less on survival and more on winning by achieving the most eliminations.

Although player-made modes are enjoyable, the official Fortnite game modes are often more complex and polished, thanks to the resources Epic can put into their development, and we’ve got them all listed here.

Every Fortnite official game mode, explained

A screenshot of the game selection screen in the main menu of Fortnite.
Fortnite has several official game modes. Screenshot by Dot Esports

In 2024, Epic Games has continued to focus on providing a variety of official Fortnite experiences, many of which explore game genres that are quite different from the game’s shooter origins. Here are all the Fortnite game modes made by Epic that you can play today.

Game modeDescriptionPopularity
Battle RoyaleDrop into the Battle Royale. Loot, build, explore, and fight in a game of 100 players competing to be the last one standing.Very High
Zero Build – Battle RoyaleAll battle, no building. Zero Build is all the action, loot, and progression of classic Battle Royale, without the Building.Very High
Ranked Battle RoyaleThe classic Battle Royale experience, but you fight against other players of similar skill level for extra rewards and a higher placement in the ranks.Very High
LEGO FortniteExplore open worlds made of LEGO in a survival crafting experience.High
Rocket RacingA Rocket League arcade racer mode where you race against other players for the first spot.High
Ranked Zero BuildThe Zero Build Battle Royale experience, but you fight against other players of similar skill level for extra rewards and a higher placement in the ranks.High
Save the WorldHold back monster hordes, build forts, and survive against unending waves of enemies.Medium
CreativeCreate your own game modes or play those made by the community.Medium
Festival Main StagePlay songs hitting the notes in the rhythm as they roll down the screen. You can play in a band of up to four players or solo.Medium
Festival Battle StageA 16-player PvP mode. Play songs hitting the notes in the rhythm as they roll down the screen. At the end of every round, the lowest-scoring players are eliminated and the last player standing wins. Medium
Team RumbleTwo large teams fight for the Victory Royale to see who can get to the target number of eliminations first. Respawn on elimination is on for the entire match.Low
Festival Jam StageMix songs from Jam Tracks with friends for fun.Low
Party RoyaleA casual playground to hang around with friends and interact with other players with no combat.Low
Legends LandingExplore the history of Fortnite competitive modes and visit the Hall of Champions.Low

Battle Royale is the most popular game mode in Fortnite. Even though other official modes like Zero Build and Ranked Battle Royale are very popular, none come close to that of standard Battle Royale. You may find this mode often getting 10 times as many players as the most popular community modes like Red vs. Blue and The Pit.

How many total game modes are there in Fortnite?

There are 13 official game modes in Fortnite and thousands of player-made modes, which are hard to count because anyone can create a new Fortnite mode at any time. We do know that there are 45 categories for community modes, and each category includes several dozen experiences with active players. So, it’s safe to say that there are thousands of unofficial active Fortnite game modes.

Author
Image of Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan is a Staff Writer and Fortnite Lead at Dot Esports. Gökhan graduated as an industrial engineer in 2020 and has since been with Dot Esports. As a natural-born gamer, he honed his skills to a professional level in Dota 2. Upon giving up on the Aegis of Champions in 2019, Gökhan started his writing career, covering all things gaming, while his heart remains a lifetime defender of the Ancients.
Author
Image of Bhernardo Viana
Bhernardo Viana
Bhernardo is senior guides writer and strategist at Dot Esports. He's been working in the gaming industry for over 9 years, with works published on Destructoid, Prima Games, ESPN, and more. A fan of Pokémon since 6 years old and an avid Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch player. Now writing strategy and quests guides for several mobile and PC titles.
Author
Image of Josh Challies
Josh Challies
Staff Writer. Professional writer since 2014. Pokemon, Marvel, Star Wars and overall geek. Previously wrote for Yahoo Sport, Stats Perform and online news publications.