Fragpunk Is Not a Clone: Why the Hate Needs to Stop

Let’s get one thing straight: Fragpunk is FUN.

And not just “oh, this is neat” kind of fun—but fast, fluid, punchy, inventive, and genuinely refreshing fun. After sinking hours into the beta and more into the full release, I can confidently say that Fragpunk nails a near-impossible balance: tactical shooter depth with arcade-speed movement, all wrapped in stylish chaos. But if you hop on social media right now, especially TikTok or Reddit, you'd think this game committed a crime.

Copy of Apex. Ripoff of Valorant. “Dead in a month.” The hate? It's not just loud—it’s lazy.

Stop Calling Every Shooter a Copycat

Gamers love to shout “clone” every time a new FPS drops. But here’s the thing: every game takes inspiration. Valorant is CS:GO with Overwatch frosting. Apex didn’t invent movement shooters. And if we’re being real, even Call of Duty has been re-skinning itself for two decades.

Fragpunk isn’t trying to reinvent the FPS wheel—it’s giving us a high-octane remix. Imagine if Valorant, Apex, and COD had a baby… then gave it cool power-ups, gun limits, zombie respawns, and a duel-based overtime mode that’s arguably better than what AAA devs have been feeding us for years. And guess what? It works.

The "Clone" Comments Miss the Point

Fragpunk feels fresh because it knows what it wants to be. It doesn’t overload you with complicated agent mechanics or force you into 45-minute matches. It’s tight, quick, and constantly remixing the rules thanks to the shard card system.

Not to mention—it’s well-optimized. Like, shockingly so. I’ve run it flawlessly on both my high-end PC and my dusty ol’ gaming laptop. And for a title without a console release (yet), peaking at 100k concurrent players? That’s a serious flex.

The Duel Mode is a Game-Changer

This needs a whole paragraph on its own. Fragpunk’s overtime duel mode is cracked in the best way. Instead of playing the same stale round mechanics, you get a brutal 1v1 gauntlet where each player from the winning side continues fighting until their team is fully wiped or wins. You can literally 1v5 a whole team and clutch. People are throwing rounds just to get to duel mode—that’s how exciting it is.

Can we get a duel-only mode already? Please and thank you.

The Gun Limits? Yeah, They're Smart

I know some folks are salty about not being able to run the same OP gun every round. But… that’s kind of the point? Limiting how many times you can use a weapon (unless you survive) forces you to think, adapt, and get good with different tools. It's a meta shake-up disguised as a restriction—and I dig it.

Plus, staying alive to keep your weapon? That just hits different. Survival feels more rewarding, and every round plays out uniquely thanks to the shard cards. It's not “deckbuilding,” sure—but it’s damn fun.

Cosmetics Galore—Without the Paywall

Let’s talk loot. Fragpunk has loads of skins, banner customizations, MVP animations, stickers—you name it—and I got all of mine for free. For once, it actually feels like a game where the grind is worth it.

Yes, it has microtransactions. Every game does now. But here’s the twist: you’re not forced to buy anything to feel cool or stand out. You just play. Imagine that.

And don’t even get me started on the sticker system. You can slap those suckers literally anywhere on your gun. Move 'em, stack 'em, make your gun a collage of chaos. It’s customization done right.

Real Talk: Let Games Cook

Look, Fragpunk might not be for everyone. But dismissing it as “just another clone” without even trying it? That’s what’s killing innovation. The devs clearly care—about performance, balance, customization, AND community. That’s rare.

It’s okay to like something that doesn’t come from a mega-publisher. It’s okay to enjoy a game that doesn’t have an established IP or a $500 million marketing campaign. Fun doesn’t need a brand name.

And let’s be honest: half the people hating on Fragpunk haven’t even played a match. They’re just regurgitating TikToks and memes.

So let’s stop gatekeeping fun. Let Fragpunk breathe. Try it for yourself before dismissing it. Who knows—you might just find your new favorite shooter.

And if not? That’s cool too. But let’s at least stop pretending every new game is a threat to the ones we already like. Sometimes, you can enjoy both.

Keep your crosshair steady and your salt levels low with more FPS hot takes right here at Land of Geek Magazine!

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