The Legend of Zelda has long had an influence on the gaming industry in a number of ways, from inspiration in world and narrative structure to dungeon and exploration mechanics. As a result, a large number of imitations have appeared over the years, many of which have found success simply because of their implementation of Zeldas core design philosophy. Games like Zelda sometimes imitating it and borrowing from both the presentation and the design – like Funktronic Lab's upcoming Steam Battle royale game Scramble Knights Royale.
Steam Scramble Knights Royale doesn't just look like Zeldahowever, as it mixes elements of Nintendo's beloved franchise with those of a classic battle royale game that Fortnite. As is the case with the genre, players are dropped into a shared map and fight to be the last one standing, with a shrinking safe zone and plenty of loot. As the outer ring shrinks, players are forced closer together until those left make it out to win. But the most important difference with Scramble Knights Royale on Steam is its PvPvE game loop, which not only pits players against each other, but also tasks them with exploring a Zelda-inspired world filled with puzzles, dungeons, towns and NPCs, both friendly and unfriendly.
Scramble Knights Royale on Steam looks and plays like Zelda with PvP
As a battle royale game, what is the most interesting thing about Scramble Knights Royale is that it takes the PvP-oriented gameplay that the genre is known for and provides a PvE experience that resembles Zelda in the mixture. On the surface it seems to mimic the art style and presentation of Zelda: Link's Awakening remake and Echo of wisdom. On a deeper and more mechanical level, however, it plays more like if The legend of Zelda and a game that Fortnite or Apex Legends decided to team up and create the ultimate hybrid – only instead of guns, players have swords and shields.
Scramble Knights Royale features at a glance
- BATTLE ROYALE in Adventure Style: 32-player matches where players explore, complete quests and battle other knights to be the last one standing.
- ZELDA-INSPIRED WORLD: Archipelago with puzzles, dungeons, towns, treasures and NPC elements reminiscent of classic adventure games.
- DYNAMIC MATCH START: The matches begin with players jumping from a boat and riding a turtle to land.
- RPG STYLE PROGRESSION: Find loot, weapons, armor and accessories; upgrade equipment at a blacksmith to build unique power sets each match.
- STRATEGIC COMBAT: Multiple weapon moves to master and combat encounters that reward skill and build strategy.
- ADJUSTMENT AND SEASONS: Earn gear, clothing, and accessories linked to seasonal progression to customize your knight.
- HOMESTEAD FEATURE: A personal home base you can decorate and expand outside of matches.
- MULTIPLAYER MODE: Solo free for everyone now, with duo queues planned later; supports online split-screen cooperative play.
- FUN DEATH MECHANICS: If you get eliminated early, you can watch the rest of the match like a chicken.
Battle Royale isn't known for mixing PvP gameplay with PvE like that Scramble Knights Royale do it, even if it's not the first game to try. Still, Scramble Knights Royale stands out for that reason, as its PvE element isn't just a side activity. Exploration, dungeon crawling, puzzle solving, and NPC interactions are central to the flow of each match, giving players many ways to prepare before engaging in PvP encounters. Instead of being a mad dash for weapons and gear, like many battle royale games are, Funktronic Labs seems to have created something that feels more like a condensed adventure with a competitive edge.
Go through an archipelago filled with life, puzzles, dungeons and treasures! Every run is a unique adventure. Prepare by finding loot and completing quests as the closing ring forces each knight closer together.
On the Battle Royale page, Scramble Knights Royale throws 32 players into a single free-for-all match (duos arrive at a later date) with an ever-shrinking safe zone they're encouraged to be mindful of. That's about as far as its PvP loop goes, but the rest plays more like one Zelda game with a time limit. As players explore the archipelago, they may encounter other players who attempt to stop or slow their progress, but their primary focus is Scramble Knights Royales PvE-oriented gameplay, which sees them battle enemy NPCs, complete quests, and delve into dungeons for weapons, armor, and accessories that can improve their chances of surviving a PvP clash. However, should players get knocked out early, they can speculate the rest of the game like a chicken, which is kind of like Zelda as it will be.
Scramble Knights Royale even has a cozy Homestead feature
Scramble Knights Royale does yet another thing that is not common for battle royale games with its homestead feature. Although the feature is not listed on the game's Steam page, it is included in the list of additional features on the Scramble Knights Royales Xbox page, which describes it as “Your home away from battle, decorate it with items as you progress and relax with your friends!” Unfortunately, there are no images or information about the home man feature at the moment, but such a feature will at least offer players a cozy way to calm their nerves between matches and build something personal to come home to.
Scramble Knights Royale launches on Steam in 2026
If that much wasn't already clear, Scramble Knights Royale It looks like it could offer a genuinely interesting twist on the battle royale formula, especially for players who want more of a match than a frantic race to outdo everyone else. Currently slated to launch on Steam in 2026, Funktronic Labs is launching into an already crowded market, where the genre has either doubled down on speed or chased the longevity of the live service. What does Scramble Knights Royale however, a project worth watching is that it goes in the opposite direction, slowing down matches and encouraging players to invest time in exploration, preparation and progression before the end of a match ever takes place.
Scramble Knights Royale will also launch on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
That design choice can be its biggest strength or biggest risk. When Scramble Knights Royale coming, players will be even more accustomed to instant drops, constant battles, and minimal downtime. If its adventure-first structure lands, it could appeal to a very specific audience that has never quite clicked with classic battle royales. If it doesn't, the game may struggle to communicate why it's worth your time in a genre built on haste.
Scramble Knights Royale starts on Steam year 2026.
