Gone are the days of going outside in the sun or playing cards with your friends. Now, for better or for worse, the wave of electronic entertainment and socializing has come crashing in. The newest phenomenon in the gaming world of XBOX, Playstation and PC is the co-op survival game that is free of charge, Fortnite. This game has consumed many students’ lives and has become a favorite after-school or weekend activity.

Early this year, Fortnite was commercially released as a free-to-play game. Anyone with the right console or computer is able to download and play Fortnite. Most students gravitate to the game-mode, Battle Royale, which is player-versus-player with up to 100 players in one individual server. Whether you play solo, in a duo with one extra teammate or in a squad with a full group of four, the objective is to be the last man (or team) standing.

The game starts off with every player on the “Battle Bus,” a flying bus that travels over the island game map. The players then pinpoint where they want to land and then jump off the bus to skydive or hang glide down to the ground. Once on foot, players search for materials and weapons so that they are prepared for combat. On the top right corner of each player’s screen is the number of people still in the game, one’s kill count and the map which eventually shows a white line that directs players to where the gameplay area is safe from the storm. If players do not follow the line, they will be caught in the incoming storm. At the end of the game, the untouched circle is usually small, as it has shrunk over time from its initial size which covered the whole map at the beginning of the game.

The threat of being killed forces players to stay vigilant while they are knocking down trees and looting houses for needed supplies. They also have to make sure they have enough time to outrun potentially lethal storms.

Many players adopt their own strategies to win a Battle Royale game, whether it is to attain the best arsenal or avoid fighting until late in the “Hunger Game”-esque battle.

“You can mold the battlefield to your advantage,” senior Dom Monaco said.

A popular strategy is for players to build; the game allows players to construct protective forts and use three tiers of blocks to shield from an imminent attack.

At the beginning of the game, players have to consider where the best spot to drop will be in order to be in the best position to win. Students at West Essex say their favorite places to drop are Tilted Towers and Pleasant Park. These places are often highly populated with users, even if the Battle Bus is not flying on a path near them. Still, some students are proud to take on the challenge of facing many players all concentrated in one area.

“First off I wipe Tilted Towers,” senior Patrick Reilly said. “Then I move to the circle and cop that Victory Royale.”

Though areas such as Lonely Lodge and Loot Lake are less popular, they might be more strategically sound if a player wants to last the whole game, as players can usually accumulate great supplies and weapons there without fearing an early and unexpected encounter with other players.

Another key reason why the game has been a go-to activity for students is likely due to its social opportunities. Friends who have the same console, XBOX or PS4, can play together in Duo or Squad mode. It is as simple as adding your friend on the system and setting up a party with them so you can be on their team. Being able to play alongside your friends adds to the excitement when ambushing another team or finding a glowing chest full of supplies to ration out to one’s comrades.

“The adrenaline rush from a Victory Royale with my squad is the greatest feeling I have ever felt,” Reilly said.

Although it seems that almost everyone plays Fortnite, about 40 percent of the school has still never even tried it.

“I don’t really know what it is but I always see pictures of people winning on my Snapchat stories,” senior Julia Schmulewitz said.

Even if someone does not like video games or has never played one, almost everyone has found something to like about Fortnite. Details such as knowing how to build a fort or use a jump pad pale in comparison to the excitement of playing.

“It is one of a kind and its demographic ranges through all ages, junior Jimmy Zhang said. Even with all of the fun online things to do these days, Fortnite has become one of the primary pastimes of West Essex high-schoolers. From Fortnite themed clothing apparel to social media accounts that display Fortnite highlights, people are not holding back from expressing their love for the game. The halls of West Essex are full of passionate conversations about the game and people eager to share their personal game experiences with others.

“It’s an epidemic,” Reilly said.