Indus Battle Royale brings fresh ideas but needs polish to reach full potential

After over a year of beta testing, SuperGaming’s ambitious Made-in-India title, Indus Battle Royale, officially entered the mobile gaming scene on October 16. The game has received over 14 million pre-registrations on Android alone. Expectations were sky-high for the game, which was heralded as the start of ‘India’s gaming revolution.’

Given the hype, I was eager to see how Indus would fare in a battle royale landscape already dominated by heavyweights like Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) and Free Fire. While the game introduces many unique elements, it also faces challenges that may need attention to carve out its place in a crowded market. Having tried out the game on both Android and iOS devices, here’s my take on the game and its in-game experience.

The wait is over! 🎮 Indus Battle Royale, India’s most anticipated game, is here.
Be part of the Indian gaming revolution 🇮🇳 and claim your place as a new hero.
Download now on Android 📲 and iOS! pic.twitter.com/9NLFlQg29C
— Indus Game (@IndusGame) October 16, 2024

Indus Battle Royale: Core mechanics

At its heart, Indus is a battle royale title that blends Indian culture with futuristic gameplay. The game follows the traditional battle royale framework, with shrinking zones and a focus on survival. This will feel intuitive and familiar to seasoned players.

Players can choose from a variety of avatars inspired by Indian mythology and culture, each with its own backstory. In squads of up to four, you drop into the map of Virlok from a dropship called the ‘Viman’ to fight for glory. There is also a Team Deathmatch (TDM) mode. In TDM Mode, players can engage in 4v4 and 2v2 skirmishes on a different map, Saaplok. The game offers flexibility with both first-person and third-person perspectives. It allows players to approach the action in the way that suits them best.

However, the one factor that makes Indus stand out and catches everyone’s attention is its dual-win condition. In addition to being the last squad standing, the game introduces Cosmium, an ultra-rare resource that spawns in the final circle. The concept that capturing Cosmium can secure an instant win for your squad was a refreshing change from the usual battle royale formula. It had me thinking strategically in ways I hadn’t before, and that’s one of the highlights of Indus.

Another standout feature I enjoyed was the Grudge system. If you are eliminated by another player, you can mark them for revenge in the next match. It is a simple mechanic, but it definitely kept me engaged and coming back for more.

Performance and visuals

That said, the experience wasn’t without its flaws. I noticed right away that while Indus promised some great visual flair, the game doesn’t push the envelope as much as I hoped. One of the most differentiating aspects of the game are the visuals, as seen in the trailers earlier, bringing in the Indo-futuristic theme to life. The game’s graphical fidelity felt very limited, especially when considering the high standards set by its competitors and seen in trailers.

The map of Virlok looks impressive on paper, but the graphics themselves feel underwhelming. Whether I set the game to low or high graphics, the difference was negligible. It made me feel like there is still a lot of optimization needed. And given that a large portion of India’s mobile gaming market is on budget devices, it is crucial that Indus improve performance across the board.

The weapons in Indus are also a mixed bag. There are some cool weapon designs. But, none of them stood out in a way that made me excited to use them. Compared to some of the iconic weapons in other battle royales, the gunplay here felt a bit lacklustre in terms of impact and satisfaction. Similarly, the game currently only features one vehicle – a bike called ‘Toofan’. This gets the job done but is not really fun to use or game-changing. With other titles in the same genre offering more variety, it is something Indus could really benefit from. However, the music and audio in the game in general is absolutely on point!

Indus Battle Royale: Esports ambitions

Despite some limitations, one of the standout aspects of Indus is its year-long esports roadmap laid out by the developer. Called the ‘Clutch India Movement,’ it kicks off with the Indus International Tournament with a hefty INR 2.5 crore prize pool. The event is followed by the Indus International Mahasangram. SuperGaming has previously organised tournaments like Indus Inferno, Indus Unchained, and Grudge Wars. It showcases their commitment to building the esports ecosystem from the grassroots level.

Given the current state of Indian esports, Many top teams in the country’s biggest title BGMI are shutting down due to financial instability. SuperGaming’s esports initiatives appear promising. But, while the idea of a Made-in-India title gaining traction in the competitive scene is exciting, it must be supported by a complete and optimised game to deliver the best of esports action. The ambition behind making Indus an esports title is clear, but sustaining this momentum relies heavily on delivering a polished, high-quality game.

Final verdict- Potential and areas for improvement

Indus is, without question, an impressive effort and a step forward for India’s gaming industry. But after more than two years in development, we expected a more polished product. Especially after the hype the game had created with its trailers, activities and more.

The game is still rough around the edges, with technical and design improvements needed to meet the expectations of both casual and competitive players. The current state feels more like a foundation than a finished release, and areas like graphic optimization, gunplay, and performance require further refinement.

SuperGaming will need to refine and improve the game to stay competitive in an increasingly crowded market. For now, Indus Battle Royale is a promising title with potential. Whether it becomes a true contender like BGMI or Free Fire depends on how quickly the developer can address these growing pain points.

Gaming