PUBG MOBILE vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against PUBG MOBILE's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

PUBG MOBILE
This App
Knives Out
Contender
Farlight 84
Contender
Standoff 2
Contender
Blood Strike
Contender
Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
Peer
Brawl Stars
Peer
Roblox
Peer
Lost Light
New Kid
Core Identity
DeveloperTencent Mobile International LimitedGARENA INTERNATIONAL I PRIVATE LIMITEDNetEase GamesFarlight GamesAXLEBOLT LTDNetEase GamesMoontonSupercellRoblox CorporationNetEase Games
CategoryGamesGamesGames-Games---Games-
PlatformAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOS, Android-iOS, Android---Android, iOS-
Store Metrics
Rating4.3 / 54.0 / 54.3 / 5-4.4 / 5---4.5 / 5-
Ratings Count1,575,14553,595449-122,735---18,643,172-
PriceFreeFreeFree-Free---Free-
Release DateMar 19, 2018Sep 27, 2021Nov 14, 2017-Mar 28, 2018---May 26, 2011-
Last UpdatedMar 12, 2026Apr 8, 2026May 3, 2026-Apr 7, 2026---May 4, 2026-
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentimentmixedmixedmixed-mixed---negative-
Score45/10045/10055/100-48/100---25/100-
Praises
  • Core battle royale gameplay loop provides high replayability and long-term entertainment value for players
  • Core battle royale gameplay loop provides high-intensity entertainment for long-term players
  • Smooth battle royale gameplay mechanics provide a compelling alternative to established mobile shooter titles
  • Character customization options offer a standout creative outlet that differentiates the game from competitors
  • Accessible performance on lower-end hardware allows a wider range of players to participate
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  • Graphics and Visuals
  • Core Gameplay Mechanics
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  • Diverse game library provides endless entertainment options for players of all ages
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Complaints
  • New promotion match requirements create artificial progression barriers that frustrate dedicated long-term players
  • High prevalence of third-party software users and panel exploiters ruins competitive integrity
  • Technical instability and visual glitches post-update disrupt the core combat experience for many players
  • Lack of regional server support forces players into high-latency matches that degrade competitive integrity
  • Monetization pressure and repetitive reward structures diminish the long-term value for dedicated players
-
  • App Stability and Crashes
  • Cheating and Anti-cheat
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  • Mandatory age verification via facial scanning causes significant friction and privacy concerns
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Requests
  • Official controller support requested to improve precision and parity with other mobile shooters
  • Improved account recovery and support responsiveness for locked or banned profiles
  • Native controller support implementation to improve precision and comfort for mobile shooter enthusiasts
  • Localized language support for in-game communications to bridge the gap between international player bases
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  • Reversion of communication and avatar changes to restore the classic platform experience
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Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • High-fidelity visual presentation sustains long-term loyalty
  • Squad-based social infrastructure drives daily active usage
  • Ptopia Design Project lowers asset production costs
  • 10-minute match loop maximizes ad-impression inventory
  • Character-skill system creates direct monetization levers
  • Squad-based voice chat compounds community switching costs
  • Stylized aesthetic differentiates from hyper-realistic competitors
  • Performance accessibility on budget hardware expands addressable market
  • Squad-based vehicle mechanics increase session duration
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  • 120 FPS high-performance engine
  • No-unlock weapon system (fair play)
  • Active player-driven skin marketplace
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  • Network effects driven by massive user-generated content library
  • Cross-platform parity across mobile, console, and VR
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Weaknesses
  • Promotion match requirements frustrate veteran players
  • Performance regressions on mid-range hardware
  • Missing 120 FPS support on modern hardware
  • 45/100 sentiment score reflects high-frequency hacker complaints
  • Aggressive monetization drives churn among long-term players
  • Persistent network instability post-update
  • High-latency matches due to missing regional servers
  • Technical instability (flickering/quits) post-update
  • Monetization pressure from duplicate cosmetic items
-
  • Version 0.38.0 stability (frequent crashes)
  • Perceived weak anti-cheat measures
  • Imbalanced matchmaking (Gold vs Masters)
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  • 0.7★ Android-iOS rating gap
  • High-friction age verification process
  • Communication restrictions limiting social retention
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Pricingfreemiumfreemiumfreemium-freemium---freemium-
MomentumSteadyActiveActive-Active---Active-
Update Cadence5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~47d avg5 versions, 4 majors/6mo, ~22d avg5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~10d avg-5 versions, 3 majors/6mo, ~27d avg---5 versions, ~9d avg-

Compare PUBG MOBILE head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by PUBG MOBILE, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

Data licensed under CC-BY-NC 4.0