The hunt for the greatest FPS mode of all time just got serious. After Round 1 pulled in more than 7,000 votes across 16 matchups, the bracket has been cut down to eight contenders, and Round 2 voting is now open. The community poll, covered in PC Gamer's FOV 90 column, closes on Monday, October 12 at 11:59 PM PDT.
Round 1 delivered both expected blowouts and genuine surprises. Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag cleared their first hurdles comfortably, while Battle Royale edged out Extraction and Payload took down Gun Game in a surprisingly tight race. King of the Hill—a mode that once defined arena shooters—fell earlier than most expected.
How Round 1 Actually Went
No shock that Team Deathmatch and Capture the Flag are still standing. Both modes are practically genre defaults. The surprise is what got cut. King of the Hill went down early, despite being one of the oldest and most recognisable arena shooter formats, according to PC Gamer.
Battle royale pulled ahead of Extraction by a thin margin, which is interesting given how dominant the BR format still is in live-service shooters. Gun Game lost to Payload in a tight race too, suggesting the voting crowd weighs originality alongside nostalgia. Even VIP got blown out, though it's worth remembering the mode had a strong run back in the Team Fortress Classic era.
Why it matters
Bracket polls typically crown whatever modes a community already plays, not necessarily the best-designed ones. TDM and CTF winning their first rounds is the safe result. The interesting pressure points are the close calls: Gun Game vs Payload, BR vs Extraction. Those are the matchups where actual taste shows up rather than muscle memory.
Who benefits if CTF dominates**: Players who want a single, clean objective that rewards coordination and map awareness over raw aim.
Who loses out if BR steamrolls through**: Anyone hoping a weirder, more asymmetric mode—VIP, Infection, Extraction—gets a second wind. Those formats demand different skills and often produce more memorable moments, but they require commitment.
The nostalgia angle**: Several modes still alive got their start in mods or older arena shooters. CTF in particular has no big modern flagship title keeping it culturally relevant, per PC Gamer's own staff. Its dominance here feels like a vote for elegant design over marketing muscle.
The live-service question**: Battle royale is essentially the dominant commercial FPS mode right now. If it wins the bracket, that's partly a win for what players spend time in, not just what they love.
Who should care
- Competitive shooters veterans**: Watch TDM vs BR closely. Both represent opposite philosophies—one rewards individual skill, the other demands adaptation and resource management.
- Nostalgia-driven voters**: If you want to see older modes get their due, back CTF and Payload. Both are at risk of being outsized by newer formats.
- Mode diversity advocates**: The Payload vs Gun Game rematch (if it happens) will reveal whether the community actually values creative formats or just defaults to familiarity.
- Casual fans**: The bracket is a conversation starter, not a definitive ranking. Your vote shapes the narrative more than the final outcome.
What to watch next
Keep an eye on the Capture the Flag vs Attack and Defend matchup. CTF is favoured after its Round 1 landslide, but if Attack and Defend pulls the upset, that's your signal the community isn't just voting along genre lines. Also watch whether Payload keeps climbing. A Payload win in Round 2 would set up an interesting contrast with the TDM-vs-everything ending people expect.
Bottom line: vote, even if you only care about one matchup. The bracket is a rare crowd-sourced look at what FPS players actually enjoy, and the closer matchups are where that preference is most revealing.
Key takeaways
- Round 2 of PC Gamer's FPS mode bracket is live, closing Monday, October 12 at 11:59 PM PDT.
- Eight modes remain after more than 7,000 votes were cast in Round 1.
- Capture the Flag was the strongest performer with a 91% Round 1 win.
- King of the Hill's early elimination surprised PC Gamer staff.
- The close pairings—BR vs TDM, CTF vs Attack and Defend—will be the most revealing matchups.
Frequently asked questions
When does Round 2 voting close?
Voting ends Monday, October 12 at 11:59 PM PDT, per PC Gamer.
How many modes are left in the bracket?
Eight modes remain after Round 1 reduced the original field of 16.
Which Round 1 result was the biggest upset?
PC Gamer flagged King of the Hill being eliminated early as a surprise, given its status as a classic arena shooter format.
Did Battle Royale beat Extraction in Round 1?
Yes, but narrowly. Battle Royale edged out Extraction in a close vote.
Is Capture the Flag the favourite to win the whole bracket?
It's currently the strongest performer after winning Round 1 with a 91% majority, but the bracket is still open.