PUBG vs Free Fire: Which Game Truly Deserves the Crown in 2025?

PUBG Mobile and Free Fire stand at the pinnacle of Battle Royale Gaming. These two games have been influential in revolutionising the battle royale experience on mobile devices. Both these games boast huge user bases and fan followings and are often the centre point of one major question - which is the best?

While the question itself is very subjective and depends on the preferences of the players, there are certain parameters like graphics, gameplay, weapons, compatibility and popularity which can help a player better understand which of the two heavyweights takes the winner's belt in 2025. The Sportsdunia team have compiled all the parameters to give a fair reflection as to which of the two giants wins this hot discussion.

PUBG vs Free Fire – Gameplay and Mechanics Comparison

The real distinction between the two games comes in the form of the scale they operate on. While a normal ranked match in PUBG involves 100 players in a lobby (except for the smaller maps), Free Fire generally has a threshold of 50 players. PUBG is played on huge maps with different terrains and realistic locations that demand a more strategic approach, coupled with a gun game. Free Fire is more abrupt and focuses on engaging the players in battles as soon as possible.

PUBG offers a more realistic battle experience via gun recoil, in-game movements, and sounds. Players often feel as if they are physically present on the battlefield, and they have to survive for 30 long minutes on a map where every other player intends to finish them. The game places a huge emphasis on teamwork, synergy, tactics, patience and game sense.

Free Fire, on the other hand, has a more easy-to-understand approach due to its shorter matches and better controls. Unlike PUBG, Free Fire doesn't involve deep tactical planning; weapon and map knowledge. It also helps the player gain faster control with auto-aim, character skills, and one-button loot.

PUBG is for the combat strategists who desire nothing but a realistic experience, while Free Fire is for those who prefer quick matches and an arcade-style experience. When it comes to raw game mechanics that involve depth and realism, PUBG reigns supreme. In terms of accessibility and fun, pick-up-and-play for mobile gamers, Free Fire wins.

Free Fire vs PUBG – Graphics and Visual Experience

The Graphics of PUBG and Free Fire are very distinct from each other. While PUBG is known for its realistic, high-quality graphics and battle movements, Free Fire offers a more arcade-style experience. In PUBG, the players' characters' movements, actions, and animations appear more realistic, while in Free Fire, the animations of characters are more comical. This is evident from the fact that most of the maps in PUBG (BGMI in India) have detailed textures and animations for each part of the maps. There is also more variety, from dense green vegetation to rugged, never-ending deserts, from ruins to full-blown cities. PUBG offers a more realistic setting for the battle royale, but it demands better devices with high-end configurations to run smoothly .

On the other side, Gareena Free Fire emphasises the lighter end of things as they use a more comical and cartoonish style. Free Fire uses a lot of bright colours in its maps and characters to captivate a younger audience. Free Fire's graphics align well with the game's smaller size and its ability to be run on low-end devices. While Garena did launch Free Fire MAX with enhanced graphics and visual experience, it still lags miles behind the former when it comes to portraying ‘realism’.

It boils down to the kind of device the user has in their possession and what they seek to make a judgment based on this parameter. If the user has a decent device and wants to play a more serious, immersive and realistic battle Royale, PUBG is their best bet, but if they have a budget phone and are looking for more fast-paced and quick-loading action, Free Fire is the better option. However, in the duel of graphics, PUBG reigns supreme in general terms.

PUBG vs Free Fire – Weapons, Characters, and Features

PUBG emphasizes realistic firearms and the same guns with realistic hardware—each weapon will have a different recoil pattern, fire rate, and ballistic capabilities. Sniping with a Kar98k or rampaging through the map with an M416, PUBG requires some skill and control. PUBG provides significant weapon options, however, with attachments that allow you to put together combinations like scopes, grips, or suppressors, so you can change your weapon loadout to adapt to your playstyle or the situation.

Free Fire goes in an entirely different direction with its weapons, less realistic, and more arcade-like types of weapons. The M1887, Groza, AWM, and other weapons have specific buffs or abilities that make the weapons more advantageous for the character(s) to use. Unlike PUBG, Free Fire has its own characters, all of whom have their unique special capability, from healing faster to running faster. This adds a tactical RPG element that does not exist in PUBG.

Both games have similar features, including training grounds, special events, and custom rooms, but Free Fire has a greater emphasis on in-game events, collaborations, and cosmetics in the form of flashy gun skins and emotes. PUBG's gameplay is a little more grounded, although it does give a competitive advantage to serious players.

If you value realism and tactical combat, you may like PUBG's weapons and features. If you prefer unique powers, faster combat, and flashy weapons, then Free Fire has a more lighthearted and diverse experience.

PUBG vs Free Fire – Device Compatibility and Size

The broad compatibility with devices is crucial, particularly in India, where a majority of gamers play on entry-level devices. PUBG is a heavyweight title, meaning a lot of resources are needed, such as storage, memory (RAM), and processor power, to deal with the high-fidelity graphics and huge collection of maps used in the game. Even if you dedicate the necessary amount of memory to the game to ensure a decent experience, it still may lag or crash on devices that don't exceed the low-end specifications required. As powerful as the game engines used for PUBG are, Krafton slowly optimizes the game for better performance; however, the game is still resource-hungry.

Free Fire, on the other hand, is extremely light and has been optimized. It will play with as little as 2GB of RAM on devices with entry-level specifications or as little on spaces with connectivity. This has been a huge benefit to Free Fire’s market dominance, being heavily concentrated in smaller towns throughout India. Krafton also has a MAX edition on the same app if players wish to step up the graphics while keeping the same experience with even less demanding characteristics than PUBG. Free Fire MAX is popular for players who wish to have detailed, high-fidelity graphics but have a slower device with even entry-level specifications.

If you are a gamer who spends time on a premium phone like an iPhone 12 or higher, then it is worth playing PUBG, however, most first-time gamers on mid- or low-specification devices will want to take the Free Fire experience, where they can have a smoother experience with very few crashes. These are some of the factors that usually dictate which of the two gets installed on your device and the total playtime you'll be dedicating to the game.

PUBG vs Free Fire: Who is Best in India?

The battle between the two Battle Royale Giants has been very closely contested in India. While PUBG enjoyed massive numbers following its relaunch as BGMI in 2022, Free Fire caught up and even surpassed it in 2023. As per the latest reports from November 2024, Free Fire boasts an active unique user base of 28 million in comparison to 21 million for PUBG(BGMI).

Free Fire found its audience in the more rural parts of the country, where most of the people play on budget phones and are only casual gamers. The game has also slowly built an esports ecosystem that hosts a range of tournaments for serious players every year.

However, in terms of pure gaming and esports experience, PUBG still sets the bar very high. It has a well-established esports ecosystem that is deemed more serious than Free Fire. Krafton has also done its part in keeping the game relevant by introducing new modes, features, and collaborations after every update.

In terms of numbers, Free Fire is the clear winner, but in terms of loyalty and competitiveness, PUBG is second to none. Free Fire is the escape of casual gamers where whereas PUBG is the embodiment of the pros.

Conclusion

Both PUBG and Free Fire will offer something unique in 2025. PUBG stands out with realism, tactical gameplay, and appeal to the competitive player, while Free Fire provides quick matches, accessibility, and bright visuals.

Ultimately, which game you prefer will depend on your playing style and whether you are serious and strategic or fast and fun-loving. There is not a single winner for India’s gaming audience, as there will be Gaming Kings as both games wear the crown in different ways.