Since its debut in 2017, Garena Free Fire has become one of the world’s most popular battle royale games and an esports phenomenon. Its massive global tournaments attract pro players from all continents and are watched by millions of spectators.

It’s also a great way to have fun with family and friends. Here’s why we keep skydiving onto the island of Bermuda.

Force of personalities

Nothing beats the adrenaline rush of parachuting into the action.

With dozens of different characters to choose from, each with their own unique ability, you can easily find one that fits your own play style in different situations. For example, Luqueta increases his maximum HP after taking out an enemy, while Moco can put a high-visibility tag on enemies that she’s shot at – a massive advantage in team games. There are also characters inspired by real-life celebrities such as Chrono, who’s modelled after football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, or Alok, who’s based on the eponymous DJ, so it’s extra fun if you’re a fan.

The party is always on fire

Whenever you log in to the game, you’re almost certain to find an exciting event going on or a new update. Aside from huge annual events such as Rampage in June or Booyah Day in October, there are special crossover events with popular franchises such as Attack on Titan or Money Heist , as well as events that celebrate local festivals such as Mexico’s Day of the Dead or Thailand’s Songkran. New content including characters, weapons and revamped maps are also frequently added, making the game bigger and better with each update.

Pawsome pets

In Free Fire , your pets are more than cute companions, they also provide perks that affect your game. For example, Detective Panda has a healing bonus and Night Panthers give you extra inventory space. Even better, you can level them up to unlock new poses and skins, so you can celebrate your victory with a dancing otter or a rocking-out raccoon. There’s even an entire social deduction game mode dedicated to pets called Pets Rumble, where Scientist pets can save themselves by voting out the naughty Prankster pets.

Fast, but still furious

Speed is key to your survival.

Free Fire ’s speedy pace means that you can easily squeeze in a match or two into a short break or commute. A 50-player Classic match or an 8-player Clash Squad match packs plenty of thrilling action into 15 minutes or less. Because of this, you also get more chances to hone your skills and try out different strategies.