Fortnite was already a unique experience when it first launched back in July of 2017. It put the classic battle-royale mode back in the spotlight of gaming, leading to many other games trying their hand at the formula since. One thing that has helped the game remain fresh for as long as it has, however, is the implementation of seasons.
Each season allows players to unlock special items in a battle-pass, play different kinds of limited-time game modes, and brings new map changes that can really affect how games are played. There have been 17 of them so far, with each one having a huge impact on the game. Some of them have been a lot more memorable than others though.
Updated June 13, 2021, by Tom Bowen: Despite Fortnite now being almost four years old, Epic Games’ hugely successful battle royale behemoth shows no signs of slowing down just yet. The wheels on the battle bus just keep on turning, grinding out season after season of new content as they spin. Though some players have disembarked along the journey, there seems to be no shortage of new ones waiting in the wings to fill their seats; many of whom are excited to see where the series will take them next. Whether due to their excellent storylines, innovative gameplay tweaks or the brilliant bounties that their battle passes have provided though, future seasons will have to be pretty special if they’re going to compete with some of the ones which have preceded them.
17 Season X - Out of Time
Though the black hole climax was undeniably epic and the return of some fan-favorite locations was a nice touch, Season X of Fortnite just didn’t offer up nearly enough new content to keep the game feeling fresh. There were hardly any new cosmetics in the battle pass, with players instead having to make do with upgraded skins from Season 9. The changes made to gameplay weren’t bad, per se, but the sheer volume of them was perhaps a little overwhelming to some players.
16 Chapter 2: Season 1 - A New World
After a couple of days of downtime, Fortnite returned with a brand new map and the longest season to date. Sadly, like Season X, the first season of Chapter 2 was a little underwhelming, with very few updates coming throughout the season. The addition of boats and fishing was kind of cool, as too was the harpoon, but many fans were expecting a little more after the epic conclusion of Chapter 1.
15 Chapter 2: Season 6 - Primal
A lot of care and attention seems to have gone into curating the new skins for Chapter 2: Season 6, but perhaps not quite enough thought was given to the gameplay tweaks. Things did improve a little towards the end of the season and the Zero Crisis storyline had a satisfying conclusion. For a game that’s built much of its success around its combat though, many players were expecting quite a bit more, particularly from the weapons.
14 Chapter 2: Season 2 - Top Secret
Sometimes referred to as Season 12, Chapter 2: Season 2 brought big changes with it when it went live in early 2020. A spy themed battle-pass introduced players to some great new points of interests that instantly became fan favorites due to the awesome loot they had. Having Deadpool as a secret skin was also fantastic and just adds to the list of incredible crossovers Fortnite has had with other big name franchises.
13 Season 9 - The Future Is Yours
Season 9 of Fortnite definitely had its ups and downs, yet Epic Games should be praised for the ambitious changes they added throughout the season. Neo-Tilted was the new hot-drop spot full of futuristic skyscrapers and whirlwinds of air that could move players quickly across the city. Replacing the pump shotgun with the combat shotgun was a controversial decision at the time, but players eventually realized that the combat shotgun is actually a very effective weapon.
12 Chapter 2: Season 3 - Splashdown!
After a slow start to Chapter 2, its third season made quite the splash with players when it finally arrived in June of 2020. The Aquaman Challenges were a lot of fun and there was a strong selection of cosmetic rewards included in the battle pass. The decision to replace the pump-action shotgun with the charge shotgun was a little controversial, but the season was otherwise warmly received by the playerbase.
11 Season 6 - Darkness Rises
Things got a little bit spookier in Fortnite with the release of Season 6. This season fell around Halloween as well, so developers made the map feel much darker than players had become accustomed to, which came as a welcome surprise to many. This season added zombies to the battle-royale, which at first felt like a fun addition, although some felt that the zombies were completely ruining end game situations.
10 Chapter 2: Season 7 - Invasion
The alien invasion theme that punctuates the seventeenth season of Fortnite is incredibly well-written and is clearly building to another Epic event. With three more seasons left until the next chapter, it’s difficult top predict where the story will go next, but fans will no doubt have fun attempting to do so nonetheless. The gameplay changes aren’t too obtrusive and the alien themed cosmetics all look great too. The Rick Sanchez skin also seems pretty fitting given the theme and the UFOs are a lot of fun to pilot.
9 Season 7 - You Better Watch Out
The winter themed Season 7 of Fortnite did a lot of great things to help move the game forward during a time in which some believed the game was getting stale. The addition of planes completely changed the way players got around the map, making matches feel a bit faster with traversal being so quick and easy. The winter-themed areas were another first for the game and the battle-pass included some great skins, including the upgradable Lynx, which became a fan-favorite.
8 Season 5 - Worlds Collide
Even though a lot of gamers were initially disappointed with the battle-pass skins, the map updates and new weapon introductions made Season 5 a blast to play. The theme of the battle-pass was rifts in time and space, which allowed Epic Games to create areas such as Viking mountain. Weapons and items such as the rift-to-go, heavy-sniper, double-barrel shotgun, and so many more made this a season that all players could enjoy.
7 Season 1
While most of Fortnite’s player-base never experienced the earliest days of the game, Season 1 laid the groundwork for what would become one of the biggest games of all-time. Gameplay felt a lot different due to the fact that everyone was new to the game, so building wasn’t utilized nearly as much as it is now. Fortnite has done an impeccable job of making building easier since Season 1, with updates allowing builds to go through trees and adding the builder-pro option for controller players.
6 Season 8 - X Marks the Spot
While Season 7 took players to a wintery wonderland, Season 8 instead had players battling it out in a pirate’s paradise full of palm trees. The battle-pass included some solid skin additions to the game such as the Peely skin, which has become a classic skin still worn by many Fortnite players to this day. A new limited time “the floor is lava” mode was added in this season as well, which really was one of the best limited modes Fortnite has ever released.
5 Chapter 2: Season 5 - Zero Point
Not everybody was pleased about having to endure another superhero themed season and so Epic opted to switch things up a little with the game’s fifteenth season. The bounty hunter elements introduced offered up a nice change of pace and some of the new skins were pretty cool too, especially the Star Wars ones. The return of the “The Floor is Lava” game mode was also a nice surprise, although it was tarnished somewhat by an oversight that allowed players to use jetpacks to cheat the system.
4 Season 4 - Brace For Impact
One of the things that makes Fortnite so special is its ability and willingness to have crossover events with other great franchises. Season 4 gave players a chance to play as Thanos and a number of iconic super heroes in an epic crossover with the Avengers that really blew people away. A strong battle-pass with upgradable skins and the first ever in-game event are just a few more reasons why Season 4 is one of the most beloved Fortnite seasons.
3 Chapter 2: Season 4 - Nexus War
The fourteenth season of Fortnite saw the return of Marvel characters with the excellent Devourer of Worlds event. There were a ridiculous amount of superhero skins on offer, through both the battle pass and weekly challenges and some pretty cool cosmetic items to go along with them. The new locations perfectly complemented the gameplay changes and helped to showcase just how far the game had come since the first Marvel collaboration back in 2018.
2 Season 2
Fortnite’s Season 2 update really took the game to all new heights when it came to fun. Season 1’s map felt pretty bland with just rolling hills of green and a few points of interests, so the new locations in Season 2 came as a breath of fresh air. Updates kept the second season fresh by introducing the Chug Jug, impulse grenades, Cozy Campfires, and much, much more which ultimately made gameplay feel much more diverse.
1 Season 3
Season 3 of Fortnite was released in February of 2018 and is considered by many to be the best season to date. This was the first season to have a battle pass with 100 tiers to unlock, which set the standard for the many seasons that have followed. The battle pass had some iconic skins included as well, with the original John Wick skin being the tier 100 reward. Gameplay felt incredibly balanced too.
NEXT: Fortnite: 5 Landing Spots We Miss (& 5 We Don’t)
