Fortnite has been one of the biggest online games around for years now, and parents are still asking the same question: what is the next Fortnite game going to be — and what should we expect from it?
Predicting which video games will grab gamers’ attention is never easy. There are so many genres and platforms that singling out the next big hit can feel impossible. The last thing a gamer, or someone buying games for a child, wants to do is bet on a title that ends up all hype and no substance.
The best way to spot what’s coming next is to look at what Fortnite got right, and see which games have picked up those same ideas.
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Why Is the Fortnite Game so Successful?
Here are the main reasons Fortnite became so popular:
#1. Free to Play
Want more people to play your game? Don’t charge for it. Many people who don’t know much about Fortnite are surprised to learn it’s free. The game makes its money through “micro transactions” — small in-game purchases that change a player’s appearance or let them ride around in different “mounts.”
Where Fortnite gets it right is that none of these purchases change the core mechanics of the game or increase a player’s power. Gamers tend to accept micro transactions on a few conditions: nobody should be able to “pay to win,” nobody should be forced to spend money to keep up, and the base game itself should be low cost (or free).
Fortnite ticks all three boxes. Any game hoping to repeat its success will likely follow the same rules.
Best example: Path of Exile is an action role-playing game in the same space as Diablo and Torchlight. It’s free to play, easy to learn, and has grown steadily in popularity over the years. Like Fortnite, its micro transactions are cosmetic — they don’t buy in-game power.
#2. Colourful and Playful
Fortnite doesn’t take itself too seriously. Its art style and colour palette are bright, light and fun. Games looking for mass appeal — beyond dedicated gamers — can’t rely on strict realism.
Many big-budget titles lean darker and more serious, which can suit experienced players but puts off casual ones. A brighter, more cartoonish style opens the door to younger players too, roughly the 8–12 age group, a huge audience that a lot of major games miss out on.
Whatever comes next in this space is likely to lean on a similar look: vibrant, approachable and not too intense, so it appeals to both younger and more experienced players at once.
Best example: Borderlands 2 set itself apart from other shooters years ago with its comic-book-style graphics. It’s proof that a game doesn’t need the most realistic graphics to succeed — it just needs graphics people enjoy looking at.
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#3. Social
Fortnite wasn’t the first Battle Royale game, but it became by far the most popular. With up to 100 players dropping into a match at once, it’s a lot more fun when you’re playing alongside friends rather than strangers.
Fortnite also supports cross-play, meaning friends on different consoles or devices can still team up together. That removes a big barrier to entry — if one friend is on an Xbox and another on a PlayStation, they can still play side by side.
Making a game social helps it spread quickly. The more people play and talk about a game, the more others want to try it. Single-player games can still do well, but anything hoping to match Fortnite‘s reach will almost certainly need a strong multiplayer element built in from the start.
Best example: World of Warcraft is one of the longest-running social games ever made, having launched well over a decade ago and still holding a loyal community of subscribers today — proof that a genuinely social game can have real staying power.
#4. Unique and Blended Gameplay
Fortnite is not just another shooter. It’s a Battle Royale game — 100 players enter an arena that shrinks over time, and only one team or player wins. The “violence” is cartoonish rather than graphic, so it doesn’t feel out of place with younger players around. But it’s not only about eliminating opponents.
There’s resource gathering and building too. Loot is scattered across the map to encourage exploration, and much like Minecraft, players collect materials and build structures to defend themselves in the battles ahead.
Whatever the next big breakout game turns out to be, it’s unlikely to rely on one single mechanic. It will more likely blend several popular styles of play — shooting, building, multiplayer, exploration — to appeal to as many different kinds of players as possible.
Other Battle Royale games worth knowing about: Fortnite isn’t the only game in this genre. Other Battle Royale titles have built their own followings with different takes on resource gathering, building and combat. If your child enjoys Fortnite‘s format, it’s worth checking what else is currently popular in the genre and reading up on the age rating and content of each before letting them play.
No one saw Fortnite‘s rise coming, so it’s impossible to say with certainty which specific game will be “the next one.” But based on what’s worked so far, the pattern is fairly clear: it will likely be multiplayer, free (or low cost) to play, and built to appeal to both casual and experienced gamers, young and old alike.
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Is your tween or teen playing another online game you think could be the next big thing? Leave a comment below and let us know — we’d love to hear from you!
FAQs: The Next Fortnite Game
Is there an official “next Fortnite” game already announced?
There’s no single confirmed successor to Fortnite — it remains an active, regularly updated game in its own right. Rather than being replaced, it continues to evolve with new seasons and content. Any new game claiming to be “the next Fortnite” is really just following the same successful formula rather than officially taking over from it.
What should parents look out for in games similar to Fortnite?
Check the age rating, whether the game has in-game purchases or chat features, and whether it supports cross-play with strangers. Games that copy Fortnite‘s free-to-play, social, multiplayer model tend to share similar considerations around spending and online contact with other players.
Is Fortnite still popular?
Yes, Fortnite remains a widely played game, particularly among tweens and teens. It continues to be updated with new content rather than being replaced by a single successor title.
What age is Fortnite suitable for?
Fortnite carries a PEGI 12 rating in many regions due to mild violence, though parents should always check the current official rating and in-game purchase settings before allowing younger children to play.
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- Could Fortnite Monopoly Get Your Tweens & Teens Offscreen?
- The Only Minecraft Guide for Parents You Need to Read
Looking for More Screen-Time Ideas?
Not every rainy day needs to end up in front of a screen — but when it does, it helps to know what’s actually worth your child’s time. Browse our other gaming and entertainment picks for more ideas, or save this article to come back to next time the “what should they play next” question comes up.
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