Call of Duty: Warzone

If you die early in the main mode, you are sent to the Gulag, a small arena where you fight another fallen player for a ticket back into the match. Teammates can also buy you back at stations around the map. In Resurgence, a faster mode on a smaller map, you respawn automatically as long as one teammate stays alive, so you spend far more time playing and far less time spectating.

Four friends playing quads on adjacent stations will rarely have anyone sitting bored. It also makes Warzone a decent entry point for players new to battle royales, because one mistake does not end your evening.

PS5 works well too, and cross-play means console and PC friends can share a squad. The game is free but needs a Call of Duty account and a large install, so check it is ready on your station before your time starts.

Grab armour plates early; full armour is the difference between winning and losing most fights. Use the ping system to mark enemies and loot for your squad, especially if you do not have voice chat set up. And always buy a self-revive or a teammate back when you have spare cash.

Resurgence games are shorter, around 15 minutes. An hour gives a squad several attempts; a dedicated session of two to three hours is common.