Deathmatch

Fight until eliminated

A deathmatch is a competitive game mode where players fight until one remains or reaches a kill target.

The term originated in first-person shooters like Doom and Quake, where players battle in free-for-all combat: We played deathmatch until 3 a.m.

Extended to other competitive contexts, it suggests brutal, winner-take-all confrontation: The primary turned into a deathmatch between the two frontrunners.

gaming

frag

Attack with grenade

respawnReappear after dying digitally
arenaVenue for contests
FPSVideo smoothness metric

Quake · killstreak · fragging · powerup · spawn point · multiplayer · headshot · last man standing · free-for-all · scoreboard

combat

gladiatorial

Of armed arena combat

lethalCausing or capable of death
mortal combatLife-or-death fighting
blood sportEntertainment through harm

arena · execution · duel · fatal · survival · no mercy · elimination · brutality · final battle · showdown

wrestling

hardcore

Uncompromisingly devoted

submissionYielding to another's will
pinfallPins toppled in bowling
stipulationCondition in an agreement

bloodsport · tables · chairs · weapons · heel · babyface · finisher · WWE · barbed wire · street fight

Opposites

game mode structure

Deathmatchcooperative play

Shared activity toward goals

co-op mode · PvE · horde mode · survival mode · campaign mode

conflict resolution approach

Deathmatchpeace talks

Formal conflict-resolution discussions

negotiation · diplomacy · mediation · ceasefire · truce

stakes and finality

Deathmatchfriendly match

Non-league sporting contest

exhibition match · scrimmage · practice round · sparring · practice mode

Family

death, match, deaths, deathly, dead, matches, matched, matching, matcher

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Negative · Rated PG-13