Rules of Survival vs. Knives Out – What’s the Difference?

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds has been published on mobile in China, but we have not seen it here in the U.S. A Chinese mobile game developer called NetEase Games has been creating battle royale games to fill the void until then.

There are two NetEase battle royale titles that take turns topping the free games charts on iOS and Android – Rules of Survival and Knives Out. 

Newcomers to the genre may find it difficult to choose between these two battle royale games because they appear similar.

Our objective is to provide you with an overview of the differences between Rules of Survival and Knives Out (if any) so that you will know what to expect in each of these popular free-to-play mobile games.

Western gamers can currently play three battle royale games through NetEase Games: Rules of Survival, Knives Out, and Survivor Royale. This article will only cover the first two games, since Survivor Royale isn’t as popular as the others. 

Rules of Survival has had the most success of NetEase’s battle royale mobile games, consistently topping the app store charts. The free game Knives Out has been steadily climbing the charts and remains among the top ten each week.

There are many similarities between both games in terms of battle royale. The last survivor must scavenge for weapons and fend off other players to survive a deserted island with over 100 unarmed fighters.

There is a safe zone in both games that grows smaller throughout the game, forcing players to get closer and closer until only one remains. In Solo mode, players can go at it alone or team up with up to four others. 

There is relatively little difference between Rules of Survival and Knives Out (or their sibling game, Survivor Royale). In spite of this, there are a few factors that differentiate these games.

Parachute vs. Wingsuit

There is one significant difference between Knives Out and Rules of Survival, albeit a very minor one. Rules of Survival is similar to PUBG in that players parachute to the ground after jumping from the cargo plane.

On the other hand, in Knives Out, players glide to the ground using a stylish wingsuit instead. Although this may slow down the descent in Knives Out, it also contributes to the game’s unique aesthetics.

Customization Options

The Knives Out HUD and controls can be customized to match your preferences. Players can customize their controls in Knives Out, including pickup settings, driving controls, and even priorities for bandages. Knives Out is a much better choice than Rules of Survival if you like having lots of control options. 

Server Selection

There are multiple servers available in Rules of Survival and Knives Out. If you choose the right server, you’ll be able to improve gameplay performance and queue times based on where you are located.

There are two servers in Knives Out and three in Rules of Survival. It doesn’t mean that there won’t be a space on Knives Out’s servers with one less server. 

Player Count and Map Layout

It boils down to the number of players in each map as well as the overall map design where Rules of Survival and Knives Out differ in terms of pacing.

Knives Out supports only 100 players compared to Rules of Survival’s 120. It may be because Rules of Survival has more players on a smaller map that fast-paced matches are more prevalent.

The layout of Knives Out’s island is also a bit more varied. Knives Out’s map features several bridges connecting the northeast shore to the mainland, rather than one large continuous island like Rules of Survival.

It is also important to consider your own skill level when choosing between the two games regarding pacing. 

There are many similarities between Rules of Survival and Knives Out. Rules of Survival and Knives Out are both free battle royale games that you can enjoy on-the-go like PUBG. Comment below to let us know which game you prefer, Rules of Survival or Knives Out, and why.