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Splitgate cover art

Splitgate

Best if you want fast-paced Halo-style arena combat with a Portal twist—quick matches, zero pay-to-win, and strategic depth that rewards clever positioning and spatial awareness.

Released
May 24, 2019
Metacritic
71
View reviews
Genre
SHOOTER
User Rating
3.4

Why We Recommend This Game

Splitgate delivers the classic arena shooter formula with one game-changing mechanic: player-controlled portals. Every match becomes a high-speed chess match where you're not just aiming better, but thinking in three dimensions. Spot an enemy across the map? Drop a portal behind you, step through, and land a surprise flank. Getting pressured? Portal to safety or create sightlines your opponent never expected. The portal system feels intuitive within your first few matches—standard FPS controls handle shooting, and portal placement is quick and forgiving—but mastering portal chains, momentum preservation, and map knowledge creates a skill ceiling that rewards hundreds of hours of play. The gunplay itself channels Halo's satisfying, relatively slow time-to-kill design. Weapons feel weighty and readable, battles involve tracking and prediction rather than instant twitch reflexes, and you'll have time to react and counter-play during firefights. Matches are brisk—most modes wrap in 8-12 minutes—making it ideal for quick sessions or extended grinds. The variety of modes (Team Deathmatch, Domination, King of the Hill, and creative variants) keeps the loop fresh, though population concerns mean you'll spend most time in the core playlists. The learning curve is forgiving for FPS veterans but has distinct phases. Basic shooting and portal placement clicks immediately. Intermediate play involves pre-placing portals for escape routes and using them for map traversal. Advanced tactics—portal peeking, momentum flicks, and chaining portals mid-combat—separate good players from great ones. The ranked mode offers proper matchmaking for competitive players, while casual modes let you experiment without pressure. Being free-to-play with zero gameplay paywalls is refreshing. All maps, modes, and weapons are available from the start. Monetization is purely cosmetic, so you're never questioning if someone paid for an advantage. The trade-off: active development ended in 2022, and the community is smaller than peak. Queue times vary by region and time—NA evenings are healthy, but off-hours or niche modes can mean waits. Crossplay helps, and when you find matches, the gameplay itself remains mechanically sound and distinctive. Splitgate shines brightest for players who appreciate spatial problem-solving layered onto crisp shooting mechanics, and who don't mind a tight-knit community over massive populations.

Best For

  • Arena FPS fans seeking a fresh mechanical twist on classic gameplay
  • Players who enjoy spatial puzzles and creative positioning over pure twitch reflexes
  • Anyone frustrated by pay-to-win shooters wanting a completely fair competitive experience

Not For

  • Players expecting large, thriving populations with instant queues at all hours
  • Those preferring tactical, slow-paced shooters over fast arena combat
  • Anyone seeking ongoing content updates and active development

Multiplayer & Game Modes

8 online • Full Crossplay

Splitgate supports full crossplay across all platforms, supports up to 8 players online.

Features

Crossplay(Full Crossplay)
Online Multiplayer
Drop In/Out

Play Modes

MultiplayerPvPOnline Multiplayer

Player Count

Online
1-8
Team Sizes
4v4 (up to 8 players)

Additional Details

Online PvP arena shooter (no co-op campaign). Typical public matches are up to 8 players (e.g., 4v4) with other playlists like FFA. Cross-play supported across PC and consoles; parties can include players on different platforms. No split-screen/local multiplayer and no LAN mode listed on Steam/PCGamingWiki. Console online play may require the platform’s online subscription (e.g., PlayStation Plus / Xbox subscription) depending on platform rules for free-to-play titles.

Edition and Platform Information

Important details about which version to buy and where to play.

Platform Recommendations

Full crossplay across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox means you'll match with the entire player base regardless of platform. PC offers higher framerates and more precise portal placement, but controller aim assist is well-tuned for console parity. Runs smoothly on low-end hardware—integrated graphics can hit 50+ FPS at 720p Low, and the install size is small (under 10GB), making it friendly for limited storage.

Accessibility Features

Standard FPS accessibility options including field-of-view sliders, colorblind modes, and remappable controls. The portal mechanic requires spatial orientation and quick perspective shifts, which may challenge players sensitive to rapid viewpoint changes. No single-player or bot modes for practice outside of custom lobbies.

Screenshots

Click any screenshot to view in full size

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about this game answered by our team.

How hard is it to learn?

Basic shooting and portal placement are intuitive within 2-3 matches. Intermediate tactics emerge over 10-20 hours. Mastering advanced portal chains and momentum plays takes dedicated practice, but casual modes let you contribute while learning.

How long are matches?

Most matches run 8-12 minutes, perfect for quick sessions. You can comfortably fit 3-5 matches in an hour, and there's no penalty for leaving casual modes between rounds.

Is the population still active?

Active but smaller than peak. NA and EU see healthy queues during evenings, but off-hours and niche modes can mean longer waits. Crossplay helps, and core modes typically fill within 1-3 minutes during prime time.

Does it have pay-to-win elements?

Absolutely zero. All gameplay content is free and unlocked from the start. Monetization is purely cosmetic skins and battle passes. Everyone competes on equal footing regardless of spending.

Good for beginners?

Yes, if you have FPS experience. The portal mechanic is approachable, and casual modes offer low-pressure learning. Complete newcomers to shooters may struggle with the fast pace and spatial demands.