Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout is a popular battle royale party game that was released in 2020. In Fall Guys, up to 60 players compete in a series of chaotic, physics-based obstacle courses in an attempt to qualify and survive to the final round. Rounds in Fall Guys are fast-paced, lasting just a couple of minutes each. But how long exactly does a typical Fall Guys round last? The answer depends on the type of round.
Qualifying Rounds
Qualifying rounds in Fall Guys are designed to eliminate players quickly. There are usually 30-40 players competing in each qualifying round, but only a fraction of those players will advance to the next round. Qualifying rounds tend to be on the shorter side, lasting between 1-3 minutes. Some examples of qualifying round types and average durations include:
| Qualifying Round Type | Average Duration |
|---|---|
| Race (e.g. Hit Parade, Dizzy Heights) | 1-2 minutes |
| Survival (e.g. Door Dash, Tip Toe) | 1.5-3 minutes |
| Hunt (e.g. Team Tail Tag) | 2-3 minutes |
Race rounds task players with racing through elaborate obstacle courses as quickly as possible. The first 20-30% of players to cross the finish line will qualify. Survival rounds require players to avoid obstacles and survive to the end. Hunt rounds involve stealing tails from other players or escaping with your own tail intact. Regardless of the specific objective, qualifying rounds are purposely short and chaotic. This keeps the pace of the game fast and eliminates players rapidly in the early stages. Expect most qualifying rounds to be done in 1-3 minutes.
Finals Rounds
If you manage to survive the qualifying gauntlet, you’ll advance to the final round along with 10-20 other players. Final rounds in Fall Guys tend to run slightly longer than qualifying rounds, lasting around 2-5 minutes typically. Final rounds include challenges like:
- Survival – Be one of the last players standing on a shrinking platform
- Hunt – Steal tails from others while protecting your own
- Race – Navigate obstacles to reach the crown first
- Team Games – Cooperate with teammates to outscore the opposition
The stakes are higher in finals, so these rounds give players a bit more time to complete the more complex challenges. But rounds still finish quickly, usually in under 5 minutes, to keep the game moving at a fast pace. Some examples of average finals round durations:
| Finals Round Type | Average Duration |
|---|---|
| Fall Mountain | 2-3 minutes |
| Hex-A-Gone | 3-4 minutes |
| Jump Showdown | 3-5 minutes |
| Royal Fumble | 2-3 minutes |
The winner is declared rapidly once the final challenge has been completed. Even the longer finals usually wrap up in 5 minutes or less. This maintains the fast-paced, frenetic feel of Fall Guys from start to finish.
Why are Fall Guys rounds so short?
Fall Guys purposefully utilizes short, 60 player rounds that last just a couple of minutes. There are a few key reasons for this:
Quick Eliminations
As a battle royale style game, a key aspect of Fall Guys is quickly eliminating players to get from 60 down to just 1 winner. Short, rapid rounds filter players out rapidly so the field is constantly shrinking. This creates tension and competitive excitement.
Immediate Rewards
Short rounds allow players to experience that quick burst of gratification from either qualifying or winning a crown. Longer rounds with delayed rewards could lead to boredom.
Chaotic Fun
The mayhem of most Fall Guys rounds would be difficult to sustain for too long. Short rounds keep the gameplay fresh and chaotic from start to finish.
Accessibility
With rounds lasting just a couple of minutes, Fall Guys appeals to casual gamers who want quick hits of fun. Short rounds make it easy to pick up and play in short bursts.
How do round lengths compare to other battle royale games?
Compared to other popular battle royale games, Fall Guys rounds are extremely short. For example:
| Game | Average Round Length |
|---|---|
| Fall Guys | 1-5 minutes |
| Fortnite | 15-25 minutes |
| PUBG | 25-30 minutes |
| Apex Legends | 15-20 minutes |
Fall Guys packs all the excitement of a battle royale into bite-sized rounds. Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends all have sprawling maps and slower pacing, leading to matches that routinely hit 15+ minutes. The quick 60 player showdowns in Fall Guys serve as a more casual, arcade-like take on the battle royale concept.
How do different player counts impact round length?
Player count has a direct impact on round duration in Fall Guys. Rounds with fewer players at the start will end more quickly. For example:
| Starting Players | Average Qualifying Round Length |
|---|---|
| 60 players | 2 minutes |
| 40 players | 1.5 minutes |
| 20 players | 1 minute |
With fewer competitors, players tend to qualify much faster in racing rounds. Survival and hunt rounds also conclude more rapidly with fewer targets or tails in play.
Late in a game, finals may drop down to 6-12 players. But even with a smaller group, these rounds still average 2-4 minutes typically as final challenges are more intricate.
How do different round types impact length?
Beyond the broad qualifying vs final split, specific round types have a significant influence on round length in Fall Guys. In general:
- Race rounds are the shortest, often lasting just 1-2 minutes
- Hunt and survival rounds are moderate, averaging 2-3 minutes
- Team games take slightly longer at 3-4 minutes
- Finals with complex puzzles or platforming tend to be the longest at 4-5 minutes
So the style of gameplay directly impacts the pacing and duration of any given round. But due to the 60 player chaos, no round type ever pushes past 5 minutes at the max.
Conclusion
In Fall Guys, rounds fly by in just 1-5 minutes. Short, frantic rounds are essential to the game’s pacng and style. Players can rapidly experience the thrill of qualifying or grabbing a crown victory. When compared to other popular battle royale titles, Fall Guys serves up micro-doses of battle royale mayhem perfect for casual gamers. While specific round types, player counts, and qualifying vs final status impact duration, most rounds wrap up in under 3 minutes. So if you’re seeking quick hits of frenzied fun, the fast pacing of Fall Guys delivers brief bursts of enjoyable chaos.