:Unreal Tournament

{{See also|First-person shooter#Game design}}

File:Unreal Tournament screenshot.jpg

Unreal Tournament is an arena first-person shooter, with head-to-head multiplayer deathmatches being the primary focus of the game. The single-player campaign is a series of arena matches played with bots, where the player competes for the title of Grand Champion.Official Guide Book, p. 19. The player moves up the tournament ladder in order to challenge the current champion, Xan Kriegor, a mysterious being with exceptional skill.Official Guide Book, pp. 4,113. Also available is a practice mode, in which, as its name implies, the player practices a match. Match settings (such as score and time limits) can be customized. Also available are "mutators", which drastically alter gameplay aspects, such as "InstaGib", which makes players compete with instant-kill Shock Rifles instead of the normal weapons.Official Guide Book, pp. 19–22. Weapons include the Enforcer, the Rocket Launcher and the Ripper, which fires ricocheting blades. Each weapon has two firing modes which have different effects: for example, Rippers can also fire non-ricocheting blades that explode on impact. A special weapon is the Redeemer, which fires a miniature nuke and causes a large and powerful explosion.Official Guide Book, pp. 26–36.

Items such as body armor (which reduces damage taken), health packs (which heal players) and damage amplifiers are scattered across levels.Official Guide Book, pp. 37–42. Levels are set in a variety of environments, including spaceships, outposts and buildings like castles and monasteries.Official Guide Book, pp. 67–224. Many contain features such as elevators (lifts) and teleporters and obstacles such as water and lava.Official Guide Book, pp. 51–53. The game is backwards compatible with the majority of Unreal multiplayer maps.{{cite web|url=http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/news/6387.html|title=This Is Unreal Tournament|work=Next Generation|publisher=Imagine Media|date=April 16, 1999|access-date=October 12, 2016|author=Next Generation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991112173407/http://www.next-generation.com/jsmid/news/6387.html|archive-date=November 12, 1999}} The PC version includes a level editor in which players can create their own levels, and the PlayStation 2 version supports the use of a USB keyboard and mouse, enabling players to play in a similar manner to the PC version.{{cite book|title=Unreal Tournament PlayStation 2 Manual|date=2001|publisher=Epic Games|page=6|edition=PAL}}

For team matches, bots are used to fill the roles of the player's teammates. The player can choose the bots' skill level or have it automatically adjust to the player's performance. Bots can be further customized by changing attributes such as names, appearance and weapon preferences.Official Guide Book, p. 22. In team matches, players can give orders to bots on their team.Official Guide Book, pp. 47,48. The PC version supports multiplayer mode over the internet or a local area network (the original Unreal was mainly a single-player game).{{cite web|author1=Marsh Davies |title=Let's Reboot... Unreal |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/lets-reboot-unreal/ |website=PC Gamer |access-date=December 13, 2016 |date=February 23, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220121154/http://www.pcgamer.com/lets-reboot-unreal/ |archive-date=December 20, 2016}}Official Guide Book, p. 10.

• Assault: This game type is played with two teams, one assaulting a "base" and the other defending it. The map is set up with objectives which the attacking team must complete (usually in sequence) such as shutting down a power generator, or entering an area. The team who first attacks then defends, and attempts to defend for the entire time they attacked. If they accomplish this, they win. If the team defending first assaults the base faster than the other team, they win. If both teams defend for the maximum amount of time the match is a tie.Official Guide Book, pp. 202,203. The Dreamcast version does not feature this mode.
• Capture the Flag: Players compete to capture the other team's flag and return it to their base. Competitive teams must use a great deal of teamplay. Both teams must defend the base from incoming attackers and get into the other team's base, take their flag and return to base.Official Guide Book, p. 170.
• Deathmatch: A classic every-man-for-himself player vs. player combat, the objective is to out-kill all opposing players.Official Guide Book, pp. 60,61.
• Domination: Two teams compete to control various control points to earn points. Standard maps contain three control points. Control of these points is initially accomplished through occupation (physically occupying the space), but control of a point continues until a player from another team occupies the space. The first team to reach the point limit, or that has the most points when a time limit has expired, wins.Official Guide Book, p. 136.
• Last Man Standing: Similar to Deathmatch, the player's objective is to remain alive longer than their opponents, putting an emphasis on number of deaths rather than kills. Players start with all weapons (except the Redeemer) fully loaded and have a set number of lives. Power-ups, including health and ammunition packs, are unavailable. Once a player runs out of lives, they lose.Official Guide Book, pp. 60,62.
• Team Deathmatch: Up to four teams compete to out-kill the opposing teams.

Four "bonus packs" were released, each adding maps, characters, or features. For example, Bonus Pack 1 adds "relics" as mutators.{{cite web|title=Unreal Tournament Bonus Pack Available |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-tournament-bonus-pack-available/1100-2541533/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=October 7, 2016 |date=February 25, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709020221/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-tournament-bonus-pack-available/1100-2541533/ |archive-date=July 9, 2017}} Relics are special items that grant a significant advantage to their holder. They include (but are not limited to), the Relic of Vengeance, which creates an explosion when its holder dies, the Relic of Regeneration, which regenerates the health of the holder, and the Relic of Redemption, which makes its holder respawn elsewhere with full health and weapons intact when they would normally die.{{cite AV media notes|title=Unreal Tournament Bonus Pack README|author=Epic Games|date=2000}}{{cite magazine|author1=James Fudge|title=Epic's Free Unreal Tournament Expansion Pack|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/025/127/ut_free.html|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030524190952/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/025/127/ut_free.html|archive-date=May 24, 2003|date=January 13, 2000}} Bonus Pack 4 adds a new version of Xan Kriegor.{{cite AV media notes|title=Epic Games Presents Bonus Pack 4|author=Epic Games}}

During the Human–Skaarj war, the New Earth Government was formed. Mining was the primary method of financing the war, but was unpopular with the working class, who grew weary of the working conditions and the war. The humans were losing the war, and riots broke out. The Terran system was surrounded by Skaarj forces, but a government team destroyed their mothership, and the Skaarj withdrew. Afterward, revolts and violence among the mining colonies were on the increase, and efforts to deal with them were unsuccessful. The government then came up with the idea of giving the violence an outlet instead. "Consensual murder" was legalized in the year 2291, enabling people to fight to the death under organized conditions. The Liandri Mining Corporation worked with the government and organized leagues and public exhibitions. Soon, these matches became more profitable than mining, and Liandri formed a professional league to compete in a "Grand Tournament", the most popular event in the sport. The game takes place in 2341, fifty years after the fights were first legalized.{{cite web|title=What Is Unreal Tournament? |url=http://planetunreal.gamespy.com/View702b.html?view=Articles.Detail&id=2 |website=Planet Unreal |access-date=November 2, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908103119/http://planetunreal.gamespy.com/View702b.html?view=Articles.Detail&id=2 |archive-date=September 8, 2015}}

File:Cliff B.jpg (pictured) and James Schmalz were the lead designers of their respective companies and contributed significantly to the final game content.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131569/postmortem_epic_games_unreal_.php |title=Postmortem: Epic Games' Unreal Tournament |last=Reinhart |first=Brandon |date=June 9, 2000 |website=Gamasutra |publisher=UBM plc |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017014133/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131569/postmortem_epic_games_unreal_.php?print=1 |archive-date=October 17, 2016 |access-date=October 8, 2016}}]]

With a budget of $2 million, using 350,000 lines of C++ and UnrealScript, Unreal Tournament took around a year and a half to develop. When Unreal (the first installment of the Unreal series) was released in May 1998, it was well received by the press, but it soon became apparent that the quality of the network code used for multiplayer matches was hampering the game's further success. In the months following Unreal{{'}}s release, improving the game's multiplayer part became the top priority of the development team.{{cite web |url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/1998/08/26/sweeney-apologizes-for-unreal-woes |title=Sweeney Apologizes for Unreal Woes |author= |date=August 25, 1998 |website=IGN}} Epic Games started considering an official expansion pack intended to improve the network code while also featuring new maps and other gameplay elements.

The team began work on the expansion in summer 1998, but the task became complicated by Epic's organizational structure. During the development of Unreal, the team members at Digital Extremes were working in Ontario, Canada, while the members at Epic were based in North Carolina, United States, requiring regular travel to Ontario. To remedy this, Epic decided to centralize the teams in Raleigh, North Carolina, and by September, work on the expansion could begin. Lead programmer Steve Polge set about laying the foundations for the new game types, such as Capture the Flag and Domination, and level designers created the first round of maps for testing. The content grew quickly, and soon the team realized that it had underestimated the task. In November, after a meeting with publisher GT Interactive, Mark Rein suggested releasing the work as a stand-alone game instead of an expansion. The team was reticent at first, but soon accepted the idea, and in December the game became known internally as Unreal: Tournament Edition.

The development team for Unreal Tournament consisted of around 16 people. Most team members had worked on Unreal, though Epic hired a number of new developers to reinforce the team. Programmer Brandon Reinhart was one such hire, joining Epic in August 1998 to help with the support of Unreal and the development of Unreal Tournament. That December, Reinhart discovered an Unreal mod called UBrowser, which provided a new user interface for finding multiplayer matches. After showing it to James Schmalz, the lead designer at Digital Extremes, Schmalz decided to hire the mod's author, Jack Porter. After only a few weeks Porter was already working with the team, replacing the game's existing menu system with his new interface. Epic founder Tim Sweeney worked on improving the networking code along with Steve Polge, who also wrote code for AI, player physics and general gameplay.{{cite web |url=https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-one |title=The Longevity of Unreal Tournament: Part One |publisher=Epic Games |date=December 21, 2012 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |author=Flak |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828185429/https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-one |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |url-status=live}} Erik de Neve was responsible for the LOD character rendering, and various extra optimizations.{{cite web|url=http://www.unrealuniverse.com/features/interviews/erik.shtml|title=Unreal Tournament Interview with Erik de Neve!|publisher=Unreal Universe|date=1999|access-date=October 12, 2016|author=Unreal Universe|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815235556/http://www.unrealuniverse.com/features/interviews/erik.shtml|archive-date=August 15, 2000}}

During the game's development, the team lacked artists. The art director at Epic Games, Shane Caudle,{{cite web|url=http://machinima.com/articles/interview_shane_caudle/|title=Interview With Shane Caudle|publisher=Machinima Inc.|access-date=October 12, 2016|author=Machinima Inc.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020820050539/http://machinima.com/articles/interview_shane_caudle/|archive-date=August 20, 2002}} and the artists at Digital Extremes could not make enough new textures because of the amount of diversity in characters and maps. To help with the skin and texture production, Epic contracted Steve Garofalo. The game's level and content management program, UnrealEd, was written in Visual Basic and considered buggy, but no one had time to fix it. The game engine had an object-oriented design, and the scripting language, UnrealScript, was considered to be more like Java. The modularity of the object-oriented design meant that programmers could make large changes without affecting other parts of the game. Other tools used during development included Microsoft Visual Studio and 3D Studio Max. All of the weapon sound effects were created by Sonic Mayhem.{{cite web|url=http://www.esreality.com/?a=longpost&id=433579&page=1 |title=Interview with Sonic Mayhem |publisher=ESReality |date=July 6, 2003 |access-date=October 16, 2016 |author=SweepeR |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019051343/http://www.esreality.com/?a=longpost&id=433579&page=1 |archive-date=October 19, 2016}} The soundtrack for the game, which employed the system of module files,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m5exIODbtqkC&pg=PA341 |title=Game Development and Production |last=Bethke |first=Erik |publisher=Wordware Publishing |year=2003 |isbn=1-55622-951-8 |page=341}} was written by Alexander Brandon, Michiel van den Bos, Andrew Sega, Dan Gardopee, Peter Hajba and Tero Kostermaa.{{Cite web |url=http://www.originalsoundversion.com/from-the-expert-mods-and-the-demoscene/ |title=From the Expert – MODs and the Demoscene |last=Brandon |first=Alexander |date=May 9, 2015 |website=Original Sound Version |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904191840/http://www.originalsoundversion.com/from-the-expert-mods-and-the-demoscene/ |archive-date=September 4, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=September 4, 2017}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.unrealuniverse.com:80/features/interviews/alex.shtml |title=Interview with Alexander Brandon |author=Unreal Universe |website=Unreal Universe |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000817043118/http://www.unrealuniverse.com/features/interviews/alex.shtml |archive-date=August 17, 2000 |access-date=September 4, 2017}} Unreal Tournament had support for the EAX Version 2.0 3D positional audio technology by Creative Labs and A3D 2.0 HRTF technology by Aureal Semiconductor out of the box.{{cite web|url=https://www.anandtech.com/show/460/8|title=Diamond Monster Sound MX400|last=Andrawes|first=Mike|date=January 27, 2000|website=AnandTech|access-date=January 29, 2021|archive-date=February 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210208072250/https://www.anandtech.com/show/460/8|url-status=live}}

In 1999, Epic Games released a playable demo on September 16. This version of the demo was only compatible with Glide-based accelerators.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/17/unreal-tournament-demo |title=Unreal Tournament Demo! |website=IGN |date=September 16, 1999 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |author=IGN Staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011225651/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/17/unreal-tournament-demo |archive-date=October 11, 2016}} An updated demo version, with support for OpenGL and Direct3D cards, was released on September 28.{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/29/new-unreal-tournament-demo |title=New Unreal Tournament Demo |website=IGN |date=September 28, 1999 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |author=IGN Staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011232122/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/09/29/new-unreal-tournament-demo |archive-date=October 11, 2016}} Unreal Tournament went gold (became ready for release) on November 16,{{cite magazine|author1=James Fudge|title=Unreal Tournament Development Finished|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/071/ut_done.html|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030703202645/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/071/ut_done.html|archive-date=July 3, 2003|date=November 16, 1999}} shipping a few days later on November 22. The Mac version went gold on December 15.{{cite magazine|author1=James Fudge|title=Unreal Tournament for the Mac Goes Gold|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/025/006/ut_mac.html|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704000843/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/025/006/ut_mac.html|date=December 15, 1999|archive-date=July 4, 2003}} The Dreamcast version was developed by Secret Level, who had to drop Assault mode, along with many larger maps, due to the Dreamcast having insufficient memory.{{cite web|title=Interview With Dreamcast Unreal Tournament Team|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2000/12/09/interview-with-dreamcast-unreal-tournament-team|website=IGN|access-date=October 8, 2016|date=December 8, 2000|archive-date=October 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009101410/https://uk.ign.com/articles/2000/12/09/interview-with-dreamcast-unreal-tournament-team|url-status=live}} A Linux port of Unreal Tournament was also in development.{{cite web|url=https://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/finger.pl?id=266&time=19991228142120 |title=Unreal Tournament Linux libraries to be released under the Artistic License |publisher=Blue's News |date=December 28, 1999 |access-date=October 11, 2016 |first=Brandon |last=Reinhart |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012082045/https://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/finger.pl?id=266&time=19991228142120 |archive-date=October 12, 2016}} The goal of the project was to improve the quality of the Linux port of the game as well as strengthen the mod authoring community and teach Epic about open source projects. In 2000, Loki Software made an exclusive agreement with Epic Games to maintain and support the Linux version of Unreal Tournament, offering new features, addressing any technical issues and achieving revision parity with the Windows version.{{cite web|url=https://www.bluesnews.com/a/50/epic-and-loki-partner-for-unreal-tournament-for-linux |title=Epic and Loki Partner for Unreal Tournament for Linux |website=Blue's News |date=August 1, 2000 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |author=Blue's News |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161012233548/https://www.bluesnews.com/a/50/epic-and-loki-partner-for-unreal-tournament-for-linux |archive-date=October 12, 2016}} Bonus Pack 1 was released on February 25, 2000.{{cite magazine|author1=James Fudge|title=Epic Games Releases Bonus Pack For Unreal Tournament|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/115/ut_pak.html|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031009072346/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/026/115/ut_pak.html|archive-date=October 9, 2003|date=February 25, 2000}} Unreal Tournament was re-released in fall (autumn) 2000 as Unreal Tournament: Game of the Year Edition, which includes the first three bonus packs and mods such as Rocket Arena, a one-on-one combat mode.{{cite web|author1=Peter Cohen |title=Unreal Tournament Game of the Year edition coming |url=http://www.macworld.com/article/1020714/unreal.html |website=Macworld |access-date=October 7, 2016 |date=March 8, 2001 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009174144/http://www.macworld.com/article/1020714/unreal.html |archive-date=October 9, 2016}}{{cite web|title=New Edition: Unreal Tournament |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-edition-unreal-tournament/1100-2614319/ |website=GameSpot |access-date=October 7, 2016 |date=May 17, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709020220/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-edition-unreal-tournament/1100-2614319/ |archive-date=July 9, 2017}}{{cite magazine|author1=James Fudge|title=Unreal Tournament: Game of The Year Edition Announced|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/058/ut.html|magazine=Computer Games Magazine|access-date=October 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030704011000/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/029/058/ut.html|date=August 20, 2000|archive-date=July 4, 2003}}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = PC: 92/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/unreal-tournament-1999/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Unreal Tournament (1999) for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516102017/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/pc/unrealtournament |archive-date=May 16, 2008}}
PS2: 77/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/unreal-tournament/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Unreal Tournament for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517040559/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/ps2/unrealtournament |archive-date=May 17, 2008}}
SDC: 90/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/unreal-tournament/critic-reviews/?platform=dreamcast |title=Unreal Tournament for Dreamcast Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=May 5, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080429200709/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/drm/unrealtournament |archive-date=April 29, 2008}}

| Allgame = PC: {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15840&tab=review|title=Unreal Tournament Review|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|access-date=October 18, 2015|first=Chris|last=Couper|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114220821/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15840&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014}}

| CGW = PC: {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_187#page/n85/mode/2up |title=Unreal Tournament PC Review |issue=187 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=February 2000 |access-date=October 12, 2016 |pages=82, 83, 85 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_187 |archive-date=March 18, 2017}}

| CVG = PC: 9/10{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8528|title=Unreal Tournament Review|work=Computer and Video Games|publisher=Future plc|date=August 15, 2001|access-date=July 4, 2015|first=Alec|last=C.|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061202083040/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=8528|archive-date=December 2, 2006}}

| Edge = PC: 7/10{{cite magazine|magazine=Edge|publisher=Future plc|issn=1350-1593|title=Unreal Tournament|department=Testscreen|page=92|issue=76|date=October 1999}}
SDC: 6/10{{cite magazine|magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |issn=1350-1593 |title=Unreal Tournament |page=78 |issue=98 |date=June 2001 |url=http://retrocdn.net/images/e/e9/Edge_UK_098.pdf#page=78 |access-date=October 8, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010003206/http://retrocdn.net/images/e/e9/Edge_UK_098.pdf |archive-date=October 10, 2016}}

| EuroG = PC: 10/10{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=98 |title=Unreal Tournament PC Review |website=Eurogamer |author=Gestalt |access-date=May 4, 2008 |date=December 4, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218205539/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=98 |archive-date=February 18, 2005}}

| GI = PS2: 9/10{{cite magazine | url=http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200012/R03.0806.1624.07464.htm | title=Unreal Tournament Review | publisher=GameStop | magazine=Game Informer | access-date=October 17, 2016 | author=Macnamara, Andy | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802151842/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200012/R03.0806.1624.07464.htm | archive-date=August 2, 2008}}

| GameRev = PC: A−{{Cite web |url=http://www.game-revolution.com:80/games/pc/action/unreal_tournament.htm |title=Unreal Tournament review for the PC |author=Johnny B. |date=December 1999 |website=Game Revolution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001213195300/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/pc/action/unreal_tournament.htm |archive-date=December 13, 2000 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}
PS2: B{{Cite web |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com:80/games/ps2/action/unreal_tournament.htm |title=Unreal Tournament for the PS2 |author=Baldric |date=October 2000 |website=Game Revolution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001208114100/http://www.gamerevolution.com/games/ps2/action/unreal_tournament.htm |archive-date=December 8, 2000 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}
SDC: B+{{Cite web |url=http://www.game-revolution.com:80/games/dreamcast/action/unreal_tournament.htm |title=Unreal Tournament review for the Dreamcast |last=Liu |first=Johnny |date=March 2001 |website=Game Revolution |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010609180025/http://www.game-revolution.com/games/dreamcast/action/unreal_tournament.htm |archive-date=June 9, 2001 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}

| GameFan = PC: 95/100{{cite magazine | url=http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=859&t=r | title=Unreal Tournament Review | magazine=GameFan | access-date=October 17, 2016 | author=Howarth, Robert | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000619042404/http://www.gamefan.com/repre.asp?g=859&t=r | archive-date=June 19, 2000}}

| GRadar = PS2: 69%{{cite web | url=http://www.gamesradar.com/reviews/default.asp?articleid=59728&pagetype=2&subsectionid=166 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020528174422/http://www.gamesradar.com/reviews/default.asp?articleid=59728&pagetype=2&subsectionid=166 |archive-date=May 28, 2002 |title=Unreal Tournament |website=GamesRadar+ |date=February 5, 2001 |access-date=November 3, 2019}}

| GamePro = PC: 4.5/5{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/3569.shtml|title=Unreal Tournament Review|magazine=GamePro|publisher=International Data Group|date=January 1, 2000|access-date=July 4, 2015|first=Nash|last=Werner|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040906202151/http://www.gamepro.com/computer/pc/games/reviews/3569.shtml|archive-date=September 6, 2004}}
PS2: 4.5/5{{Cite magazine |url=http://www.gamepro.com:80/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7159.shtml |title=Unreal Tournament Review |author=The D-Pad Destroyer |date=October 26, 2000 |magazine=GamePro |publisher=International Data Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041031081857/http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/7159.shtml |archive-date=October 31, 2004 |access-date=August 29, 2017}}

| GSpot = PC: 9.5/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-tournament-review/1900-2531737/ |title=PC Unreal Tournament Review |website=GameSpot |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |access-date=May 4, 2008 |date=December 9, 1999 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029012955/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-tournament-review/1900-2531737/ |archive-date=October 29, 2013}}
PS2: 8.2/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-tournament-review/1900-2644360/ |title=PS2 Unreal Tournament Review |last=Gerstmann |first=Jeff |date=October 24, 2000 |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315044842/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-tournament-review/1900-2644360/ |archive-date=March 15, 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=August 28, 2017}}
SDC: 9.4/10{{Cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-tournament-review/1900-2696487/ |title=Dreamcast Unreal Tournament Review |last=Fielder |first=Joe |date=March 14, 2001 |website=GameSpot |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310225225/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/unreal-tournament-review/1900-2696487/ |archive-date=March 10, 2014 |url-status=live |access-date=August 28, 2017}}

| GSpy = PC: 94/100{{cite web | url = http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/unrealtournament_a.shtm | author = Fargo | title = Unreal Tournament review for the PC. The Next Logical Step in First-Person Action Gaming | publisher = GameSpy | access-date = May 4, 2008 | date = December 1, 1999 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040604132012/http://archive.gamespy.com/legacy/reviews/unrealtournament_a.shtm | archive-date= June 4, 2004}}
PS2: 77%
SDC: 8/10

| IGN = PC: 9.6/10{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/07/unreal-tournament-6 |title=Unreal Tournament Review. Epic brings the first-person multiplayer game as close to perfection as it's likely to get |website=IGN |access-date=May 4, 2008 |date=December 6, 1999 |author=IGN Staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826014451/http://www.ign.com/articles/1999/12/07/unreal-tournament-6 |archive-date=August 26, 2012}}
MAC: 9.6/10{{cite web|author1=Rick Sanchez|title=Unreal Tournament|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2002/06/10/unreal-tournament|website=IGN|access-date=October 8, 2016|date=June 10, 2002}}
PS2: 8.4/10{{cite web|title=Unreal Tournament|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2000/10/23/unreal-tournament-2|website=IGN|access-date=October 8, 2016|date=October 23, 2000|author=David Smith}}
SDC: 9.4/10{{Cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/13/unreal-tournament-4 |title=Unreal Tournament Review |date=March 12, 2001 |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901132252/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/03/13/unreal-tournament-4 |archive-date=September 1, 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=September 1, 2017}}

| MaxPC = PC: 9/10{{cite journal | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ygEAAAAAMBAJ | title=Unreal Tournament Review | publisher=Future US | date=February 2000 | access-date=October 17, 2016 | author=Norem, Josh | journal=Maximum PC | issue=Feb 2000 | page=87}}

| NGen = PC: 4/5{{Cite magazine |last=DeFore |first=Buck |title=Unreal Tournament Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGen57Sep1999/NextGen_57_Sep_1999#page/n93/mode/2up |magazine=NextGen |volume=2 |issue=1|date=September 1999 |pages=90–91 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}
PS2: 3/5{{Cite magazine |last=Preston |first=Jim |title=Unreal Tournament Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGen73Jan2001/NextGen_73_Jan_2001#page/n81/mode/1up |magazine=NextGen |volume=3 |issue=January 2001 |page=80 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}
SDC: 4/5{{Cite magazine |last=Barber |first=Chester |title=Unreal Tournament Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/NextGen78Jun2001/NextGen_78_Jun_2001#page/n87/mode/1up |magazine=NextGen |volume=3 |issue=June 2001 |page=86 |access-date=September 5, 2017}}

| PCGUK = PC: 92/100{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1935|title=Unreal Tournament Review. Single-or multi-player? Epic finally solve the age-old question and discover that there's really no difference at all|work=PC Gamer|publisher=Future plc|date=October 1999|access-date=September 14, 2015|first=Matthew|last=Pierce|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001202205900/http://www.pcgamer.co.uk/games/gamefile_review_page.asp?item_id=1935|archive-date=December 2, 2000}}

| PCGUS = PC: 90/100{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2000-08-14bc.html|title=Unreal Tournament Review — Sick of the same old first-person shooter? Then welcome to the future of the genre!|work=PC Gamer US|publisher=Future plc|date=August 14, 2000|access-date=July 4, 2015|first=Dan|last=Egger|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020526174043/http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/archives/review_2000-08-14bc.html|archive-date=May 26, 2002}}

| PCPP = PC: 94/100{{Cite magazine |title=Unreal Tournament Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/PCPowerplay-045-2000-02#page/n59/mode/2up |magazine=PC PowerPlay |last=Brading |first=Elih |publisher=Next Publishing Pty Ltd |issue=45 |pages=60–62 |access-date=August 26, 2017}}

| PCZone = PC: 90/100{{cite magazine|magazine=PC Zone|publisher=Dennis Publishing|issue=81|date=October 1999|pages=66–69|title=Unreal Tournament|issn=0967-8220|url=https://archive.org/stream/PC_Zone_Issue_081_1999-10_Dennis_Publishing_GB#page/n65/mode/2up|access-date=October 6, 2016}}

| XPlay = SDC: {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|last=Urbanek |first=AM |url=http://www.techtv.com/products/games/story/0,23008,3314601,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010312171111/http://www.techtv.com/products/games/story/0,23008,3314601,00.html |archive-date=2001-03-12 |title=Unreal Tournament (DC) Review |publisher=TechTV |date=2001-03-07 |access-date=2021-05-13}}

| CGSP = PC: {{Rating|5|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/181/unrealt_review.html|title=Unreal Tournament Review|work=Computer Games Magazine|publisher=theGlobe.com|date=December 10, 1999|access-date=July 4, 2015|first=Dave|last=Perkins|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030617155501/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/024/181/unrealt_review.html|archive-date=June 17, 2003}}

| EPD = PC: 10/10{{cite web|url=http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=1709|title=Unreal Tournament will exceed all your expectations|publisher=The Electric Playground|access-date=July 4, 2015|first=Tom|last=Ham|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050604075028/http://www.elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=1709|archive-date=June 4, 2005}}
PS2: 3/10{{Cite web |url=http://elecplay.com:80/reviews_article.php?article=4324 |title=Unreal Tournament Review |last=Pavlacka |first=Adam |website=The Electric Playground |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050416035809/http://elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=4324 |archive-date=April 16, 2005 |access-date=August 31, 2017}}
SDC: 9.5/10{{Cite web |url=http://elecplay.com:80/reviews_article.php?article=5380 |title=Unreal Tournament Review |last=MacIsaac |first=Jason |website=The Electric Playground |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050417012030/http://elecplay.com/reviews_article.php?article=5380 |archive-date=April 17, 2005 |access-date=August 31, 2017}}

| rev1 = Gamezilla

| rev1Score = PS2: 86%{{cite web|author1=Mitch Eatough |title=Unreal Tournament |url=http://www.gamezilla.com/reviews/u/unrealtournps2.asp |website=Gamezilla |access-date=October 8, 2016 |date=March 3, 2001 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010303102857/http://www.gamezilla.com/reviews/u/unrealtournps2.asp |archive-date=March 3, 2001}}
SDC: 87%{{cite web|author1=Gavin Zimmerman |title=Unreal Tournament |url=http://gamezilla.com/reviews/u/unrealsdc.asp |website=Gamezilla |access-date=October 8, 2016 |date=April 12, 2001 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413033923/http://gamezilla.com/reviews/u/unrealsdc.asp |archive-date=April 13, 2001}}

| rev2 = Happy Puppy

| rev2Score = MAC: 9/10{{cite web|author1=Matthew Lee |title=Unreal Tournament |url=http://www.happypuppy.com/mac/reviews/unrealtour-mac-1.html |website=Happy Puppy |access-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000818044510/http://www.happypuppy.com/mac/reviews/unrealtour-mac-1.html |archive-date=August 18, 2000 |date=February 10, 2000}}
SDC: 8/10{{cite web|author1=Mike Nam |title=Unreal Tournament |url=http://www.happypuppy.com/dc/reviews/unrealtour-dc-1.html |website=Happy Puppy |access-date=October 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010610052749/http://www.happypuppy.com/dc/reviews/unrealtour-dc-1.html |archive-date=June 10, 2001 |date=April 4, 2001}}

| rev3 = Inside Mac Games

| rev3Score = MAC: 9/10{{cite web|author1=Michael Eilers |title=Unreal Tournament |url=http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=33 |website=Inside Mac Games |access-date=October 8, 2016 |date=April 6, 2000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010003701/http://www.insidemacgames.com/reviews/view.php?ID=33 |archive-date=October 10, 2016}}

| rev4 = Dreamcast Magazine (UK)

| rev4Score = SDC: 87%{{cite magazine|magazine=Dreamcast Magazine|publisher=Paragon Publishing|pages=50–55|date=June 2002|issue=34|url=https://archive.org/stream/Dreamcast_Magazine_No_34_2002-06_Paragon_Publishing_GB#page/n49/mode/2up|access-date=October 8, 2016|title=Unreal Tournament|author=Martin Mathers|issn=1466-2388}}

| rev5 = Maxim

| rev5Score = SDC: {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=900 |title=Unreal Tournament Review |last=Steinberg |first=Scott |website=Maxim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011229082115/http://www.maximonline.com/articles/review_videogames.asp?videogame_id=900 |archive-date=December 29, 2001 |access-date=November 23, 2017}}

| MW = MAC: 4.5/5{{Cite magazine |last=Breen |first=Christopher |title=Unreal Tournament |url=https://archive.org/details/eu_Macworld-2000-05-INT_OCR/page/n47/mode/2up |magazine=Macworld |issue=May 2000 |page=46 |access-date=July 2, 2020}}

| CNG = PC: 10/10{{cite web|url=http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0,6,0-3478,00.html |title=Unreal Tournament Review |website=CNET |date=December 2, 1999 |access-date=October 17, 2016 |author=Chick, Tom |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000815094600/http://www.gamecenter.com/Reviews/Item/0%2C6%2C0-3478%2C00.html |archive-date=August 15, 2000}}

| PCA = PC: 10/10{{Cite magazine |title=Unreal Tournament Review |url=https://archive.org/stream/PCXL18Feb2000/PCXL_18_Feb_2000#page/n63/mode/2up |magazine=PC Accelerator |last=Ham |first=Tom |publisher=Imagine Media |issue=February 2000 |pages=62–63 |access-date=August 26, 2017}}

|GR=PC: 94%{{cite web |title=Unreal Tournament |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/191945-unreal-tournament/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224163549/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/191945-unreal-tournament/index.html |archive-date=24 December 2010 |website=GameRankings |access-date=7 April 2020}}}}

In the United States alone, Unreal Tournament sold 100,998 copies by the end of 1999, according to PC Data.{{cite magazine|author=Staff|date=April 2000|volume=7|issue=4|title=PC Gamer Editors' Choice Winners: Does Quality Matter?|magazine=PC Gamer US|page=33}} The game's sales in the country reached 128,766 copies, for revenues of $5.42 million, by early 2000. This placed it behind competitor Quake III: Arena over the same period.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010112165200/http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/Textonly/0,78,0-3868,00.html | url=http://www.gamecenter.com/News/Item/Textonly/0,78,0-3868,00.html | title=Game Spin: Daika-X-Box | author=Asher, Mark | date=March 10, 2000 | work=CNET Gamecenter | archive-date=January 12, 2001}} From January through October 2000, Unreal Tournament sold 234,451 units and earned $8.94 million in the region.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202214600/http://www.quartertothree.com/features/pcdata_top_10/years_bestsellers.shtml | url=http://www.quartertothree.com:80/features/pcdata_top_10/years_bestsellers.shtml | title=The Year's Ten Best-Selling Games | author1=Asher, Mark | author2=Chick, Tom | author-link2=Tom Chick | work=Quarter to Three | archive-date=February 2, 2001 | access-date=May 27, 2018}} The game ultimately received a "Silver" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA),{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221154943/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3942 |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3942 |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Silver |work=Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association |archive-date=February 21, 2009}} indicating sales of at least 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |title=ELSPA: Wii Fit, Mario Kart Reach Diamond Status In UK | author=Caoili, Eric | date=November 26, 2008 |work=Gamasutra |archive-date=September 18, 2017}} By November 2001, Unreal Tournament{{'}}s total sales were close to 2 million units.

Upon its release, Unreal Tournament received universal acclaim from critics, earning an overall score of 92 out of 100 on aggregate review website Metacritic. Similarly, Unreal Tournament earned an overall score of 94% on the video gaming review aggregator GameRankings. Mainstream press reviews lauded the title for its graphics, gameplay and level design, with Computer and Video Games calling it "a technical and game-playing marvel". In March 2000, Unreal Tournament was second on a list of best-selling games in Computer Dealer News trade magazine,{{Cite news | title = Off the Shelf Best Selling Titles. | newspaper = Computer Dealer News| page = 43 | date = March 10, 2000}} but the development team believed sales would have been higher if the game was released in October 1999.

Jeff Gerstmann of GameSpot praised the graphics, multiplayer gameplay, weapons, and level design. The game was similarly reviewed by GameSpy, who stated that the title raised the bar for first person multiplayer games. British magazine PC Zone was pleased with the "very intelligent" bots, but criticized the "truly terrible" music. AllGame complimented the addictiveness of Assault mode, and the game's replay value, calling it "a glowing, shining beacon in a sea of multi-player games". Computer and Video Games found the game to have an "excellent" single-player mode, adding that with an average AI skill the player will "progress with little serious effort, taking a thrilling ride through spectacularly atmospheric levels and increasing numbers of opponents". Eurogamer echoed that sentiment, and commented that the game is playable on low-end systems.

Writing for GamePro, Nash Werner said the multiplayer flexibility was "immense", adding that mutators like low gravity, Sniper Arena and Chainsaw Melee "change everything about the way deathmatch is played". Game Revolution agreed and praised the bots and maps, although it complained that player models were not particularly varied and that the game was not "as visually appealing as the original Unreal". IGN stated that Unreal Tournament received the highest ever score at the time of their review, describing the game as nearly flawless. British magazine PC Gamer complimented the artificial intelligence, and its American counterpart did the same to the game's "gorgeous" graphics and "incredible" editing tools. Computer Games Strategy Plus described the artificial intelligence as "outstanding", and commented that the Domination and Assault modes add interest. The Electric Playground, who rated the game 10 out of 10, praised the "innovative" level design, while Computer Gaming World gave it five stars out of five, saying that Unreal Tournament redeemed both Epic and the Unreal franchise to action gamers.

The Macintosh version of Unreal Tournament was equally praised. IGN enjoyed the "perfect" gameplay and multiplayer options, but criticized the high system requirements and the user interface. Nevertheless, the game was described as "the must have title" for Mac. Happy Puppy described the game as "king of deathmatch" due to its "incredible value" gaming and "amazing" variety. Inside Mac Games praised the replay value, but criticized the high system requirements. In December 1999, Unreal Tournament was inducted into the Macworld Hall of Fame.

Reviewing the Dreamcast version, Gamezilla complimented the sound, but criticized the graphics and lack of a plot. Happy Puppy described the game as "intensely fun", but criticized the "mediocre" sound. Edge criticized the lack of Assault mode. The British Dreamcast Magazine (not to be confused with the Official Dreamcast Magazine or DC-UK) was ambivalent to the port's gameplay, visuals and sounds, noting its "blasting" action and the removal of online multiplayer from the European version of the game. GameSpy cited both slow framerate speeds and low sound quality as problems with the Dreamcast version.{{cite web|url=http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/unrealtournament/index2.shtml|title=Unreal Tournament Review|publisher=GameSpy|date=2001|access-date=August 8, 2016|author=Raptor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010417180433/http://www.planetdreamcast.com/games/reviews/unrealtournament/index2.shtml|archive-date=April 17, 2001}} Scott Steinberg of Maxim rated the game 4 out of 5 stars, labeling it as a "stone-cold killer" that "runs like Carl Lewis on a Jolt Cola binge" while noting its "surprisingly workable" standard game pad controls.

The PlayStation 2 release did not fare as well as the PC and Dreamcast versions. GameSpy criticized the graphics of the PS2 version, calling it "uninspired".{{Cite web |url=http://www.planetps2.com:80/features/reviews/nov00/unrealtournament/ |title=Unreal Tournament Review (PS2) |date=November 22, 2000 |website=GameSpy |author=Jamie |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021003062034/http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/nov00/unrealtournament/ |archive-date=October 3, 2002 |access-date=October 8, 2016}} Its conclusion said about sluggish gameplay, somewhat washed out colors and textures. IGN praised the replayability, and stated that the sound is faithful to the PC version. Gamezilla criticized the PlayStation 2 version's lack of multiplayer support compared to the PC version along with Game Informer, who said despite its flaws, the game "holds its own as one of the best FPSs out there". On the other hand, the port scored 3 out of 10 in the television show The Electric Playground, with the reviewer lauding the audio and graphics but feeling that the controls could have been better implemented.

In addition to receiving Eurogamer{{'s}} first-ever perfect score, Unreal Tournament was named by the site one of the best games of 1999.{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2000_1 |title=Games Of The Year 1999 |website=Eurogamer |date=December 27, 1999 |access-date=October 14, 2016 |first=John |last=Bye |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212431/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2000_1 |archive-date=October 18, 2016}} Launch editor John Bye chose the shooter as the game of the past decade (1999–2009) and said: "Unreal Tournament is one of the few games in the early days of Eurogamer that I kept going back to months after I'd finished reviewing it, a game that I played to unwind after a long day playing other games. Whether it was trying to break the one-minute barrier in the speed running mayhem of Assault mode, battling back and forth amongst the alleyways of Domination, or dropping shrapnel shells at people's feet with the wonderfully chunky flak cannon in a fast and furious free-for-all deathmatch, Unreal Tournament was an endless source of entertainment".{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/eurogamer-editors-games-of-the-decade-article |title=Eurogamer Editors' Games of the Decade |website=Eurogamer |date=September 4, 2009 |access-date=October 14, 2016 |author=Eurogamer staff |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018215512/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/eurogamer-editors-games-of-the-decade-article |archive-date=October 18, 2016}} In 2004, Unreal Tournament was inducted into the Computer Gaming World Hall of Fame.{{Cite magazine |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_243#page/n73/mode/2up |magazine=Computer Gaming World |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=October 2004 |issue=243 |page=66 |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_243 |archive-date=March 18, 2017 |url-status=live|access-date=September 2, 2017}} Unreal Tournament was a nominee for PC Gamer US{{'}}s 1999 "Best Action Game" and "Best Multiplayer Game" awards, which went to Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Rogue Spear and Team Fortress Classic, respectively. They called it "a brilliant multiplayer game that blew its main rival Quake III away with awesome bots, graphics, game types and online functionality".{{cite journal | date=March 2000 | title=The Sixth Annual PC Gamer Awards | volume=7 | number=3 | pages=46, 47, 49, 50, 54–56, 60, 62 | journal=PC Gamer US | author=Staff}} Unreal Tournament was named as a finalist by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for "Game of the Year", "Computer Game of the Year", "Computer Action Game of the Year", and won "Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering" at the 3rd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards. The Dreamcast version Unreal Tournament was a finalist for "11th Annual GamePro Readers' Choice Awards" for "Best Combat Game of The Year", but lost to Halo: Combat Evolved for Xbox.{{cite magazine|title=11th Annual Gamepro Readers' Choice Awards|magazine=GamePro|issue=161|publisher=International Data Group|date=February 2002|pages=44–45}}{{cite magazine|title=Readers' Choice: Your Best of 2001|magazine=GamePro|issue=166|publisher=International Data Group|date=July 2002|pages=42–43}}

In 2011, G4tv included two maps from this game, Facing Worlds and DM-Deck 16, in its list of the "Most Influential FPS Multiplayer Maps Ever".{{cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/719258/10-of-the-most-influential-fps-multiplayer-maps-ever/ |title=10 Of The Most Influential FPS Multiplayer Maps Ever |publisher=G4tv |date=December 19, 2011 |access-date=October 15, 2016 |author=Scimeca, Dennis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019010246/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/719258/10-of-the-most-influential-fps-multiplayer-maps-ever/ |archive-date=October 19, 2016}} In 2013, PC Gamer labeled the Flak Cannon the greatest gun in PC gaming.{{cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/why-the-flak-cannon-is-the-greatest-gun-in-pc-gaming/ |title=Why the Flak Cannon is the greatest gun in PC gaming |publisher=Future plc |work=PC Gamer |date=May 4, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2016 |author=Lahti, Evan |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018213115/http://www.pcgamer.com/why-the-flak-cannon-is-the-greatest-gun-in-pc-gaming/ |archive-date=October 18, 2016}} In 2014, Complex magazine placed Unreal Tournament as number three on its list of "The 50 Best First Person Shooters Of All Time",{{cite magazine|url=http://uk.complex.com/pop-culture/the-50-best-first-person-shooters-of-all-time_563321/ |title=The 50 Best First Person Shooters Of All Time |magazine=Complex |date=April 8, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2016 |author1=Hester, Larry |author2=Freedman, Andrew |author3=Rubin, Peter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019002509/http://uk.complex.com/pop-culture/the-50-best-first-person-shooters-of-all-time_563321/ |archive-date=October 19, 2016}} while Moviepilot placed it as number two on its list of "The 7 Most Influential Video Games Ever".{{cite web |url=http://moviepilot.com/posts/2367181 |title=Unreal Tournament, Street Fighter & Mario: The 7 Most Influential Video Games EVER! |publisher=Moviepilot |date=October 21, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2016 |author=Horton, Tim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018220613/http://moviepilot.com/posts/2367181 |archive-date=October 18, 2016}} In November 2014, Kotaku named Facing Worlds the best multiplayer map.{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/unreal-tournament-s-facing-worlds-is-still-the-best-mul-1659822174 |title=Unreal Tournament's 'Facing Worlds' Is Still The Best Multiplayer Map (originally published on November 24, 2014) |publisher=Gawker Media |work=Kotaku |date=September 3, 2016 |access-date=October 15, 2016 |author=Wong, Kevin |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018211142/http://kotaku.com/unreal-tournament-s-facing-worlds-is-still-the-best-mul-1659822174 |archive-date=October 18, 2016}} In January 2016, Red Bull labeled Facing Worlds one of the 10 greatest FPS multiplayer levels of all time.{{cite web|url=http://www.redbull.com/en/games/stories/1331770502287/the-10-greatest-fps-multiplayer-levels-of-all-time |title=The 10 greatest FPS multiplayer levels of all time |publisher=Red Bull |date=January 14, 2016 |access-date=October 15, 2016 |author=Partridge, Jon |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212626/http://www.redbull.com/en/games/stories/1331770502287/the-10-greatest-fps-multiplayer-levels-of-all-time |archive-date=October 18, 2016}} In July 2016, the game was ranked number 20 on Bit-Tech{{'s}} The 50 Best PC Games of All Time.{{cite web|url=http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2016/07/22/50-best-pc-games-4/1 |title=The 50 Best PC Games of All Time: Part Four |publisher=bit-tech |date=July 22, 2016 |access-date=October 15, 2016 |author=Rick Lane |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018212852/http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2016/07/22/50-best-pc-games-4/1 |archive-date=October 18, 2016}}

File:US Navy 021102-N-3235P-505 Crewmember assigned to the guided missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) play Unreal Tournament.jpg crewmembers playing the game, 2002]]

Lead designer Cliff Bleszinski credited much of the game's success to its community. As he said in the November 2001 issue of Maximum PC: "Unreal Tournament would not have sold nearly two million copies if it did not have support from the community... We ship the very same tools that we used to build the game, and folks use these tools to realize their own visions of first-person action".{{Cite magazine |title=Infiltration |url=https://archive.org/stream/Maximum_PC_November_2001#page/n57/mode/2up |magazine=Maximum PC |author=Maximum PC|publisher=Future US |issue=November 2001 |page=58 |access-date=August 29, 2017}} Like Unreal, Unreal Tournament is designed to be easily programmable and highly modularized.{{cite web|url=http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/people/lewis/utsaf.pdf |title=UTSAF: A Multi-Agent-Based Software Bridge for Interoperability between Distributed Military and Commercial Gaming Simulation |publisher=University of Pittsburgh |work=Department of Information Sciences and Telecommunications |access-date=October 19, 2016 |author1=Prasithsangaree, Phongsak |author2=Manojlovich, Joseph |author3=Hughes, Stephen |author4=Lewis, Mike |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020042336/http://www.ischool.pitt.edu/people/lewis/utsaf.pdf |archive-date=October 20, 2016}} Through its scripting environment UnrealScript and level editor UnrealEd, developers are able to modify easily most parts of the game to both manipulate default game behavior and to supplement the game with their own mods.{{cite web|url=http://wlv.openrepository.com/wlv/bitstream/2436/34653/2/CGAMES_06(a)_Davies+and+Mehdi.pdf |title=BDI for Intelligent Agents in Computer Games |publisher=University of Wolverhampton |work=School of Computing and Information Technology |access-date=October 19, 2016 |author=N.P.Davies & Q.H.Mehdi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020035948/http://wlv.openrepository.com/wlv/bitstream/2436/34653/2/CGAMES_06%28a%29_Davies%2Band%2BMehdi.pdf |archive-date=October 20, 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1329&context=ese_papers |title=Human Behavior Models for Agents in Simulators and Games: Part II Gamebot Engineering with PMFserv |publisher=University of Pennsylvania |work=Department of Electrical & Systems Engineering |date=April 1, 2006 |access-date=October 19, 2016 |author1=Silverman, Barry G. |author2=Bharathy, Gnana K. |author3=O'Brien, Kevin |author4=Cornwell, Jason |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020041350/http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1329&context=ese_papers |archive-date=October 20, 2016}} These range from slight changes on some aspects of gameplay (such as map voting) to total conversions. One modification, ChaosUT, became popular enough that it was included with the 'Game of the Year' edition of the game, while Tactical Ops: Assault on Terror was released as a stand-alone retail product.{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOkDAAAAMBAJ&q=GameAxis+mark+rein&pg=PA1994|title=GameAxis Unwired|first=S. P. H.|last=Magazines|date=April 2005|page=13|access-date=October 7, 2016|publisher=SPH Magazines|via=Google Books}}

Unreal Tournament was played at the World Cyber Games in 2001{{cite web | url=http://www.wcg.com/6th/history/WCG2001/wcg2001_overview.asp | title=WCG History – WCG 2001 | publisher=World Cyber Games, Inc. | access-date=July 1, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528115952/http://www.wcg.com/6th/history/wcg2001/wcg2001_overview.asp | archive-date=May 28, 2013}} and 2002.{{cite web|url=http://www.wcg.com/6th/history/WCG2002/wcg2002_overview.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203012225/http://www.wcg.com/6th/history/WCG2002/wcg2002_overview.asp|archive-date=December 3, 2013|title=WCG History – WCG 2002|publisher=World Cyber Games, Inc.|access-date=October 8, 2016}}

The success of the original Unreal Tournament spawned four sequels, including Unreal Tournament 2003 and Unreal Tournament 2004,{{cite web|title=Unreal Tournament 2003|url=http://uk.ign.com/games/unreal-tournament-2003/pc-17386|website=IGN|access-date=October 9, 2016}}{{cite web|title=Unreal Tournament 2004|url=http://uk.ign.com/games/unreal-tournament-2004/pc-566925|website=IGN|access-date=October 9, 2016}} Unreal Tournament 3{{cite web|title=Unreal Tournament III |url=http://uk.ign.com/games/unreal-tournament-iii/pc-746632 |website=IGN |access-date=October 9, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141125223132/http://uk.ign.com/games/unreal-tournament-iii/pc-746632 |archive-date=November 25, 2014}} and the cancelled Unreal Tournament reboot.{{cite web|title=Epic Games Crowdsources Free Unreal Tournament Revival |url=http://uk.pcmag.com/console-games-products/10205/news/epic-games-crowdsources-free-unreal-tournament-revival |website=PCMag UK |access-date=October 9, 2016 |date=May 9, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161010165924/http://uk.pcmag.com/console-games-products/10205/news/epic-games-crowdsources-free-unreal-tournament-revival |archive-date=October 10, 2016}} The yearly naming structure, based around marketing the franchise as a competitive sports title, was abandoned before the launch of the third sequel.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ut-2007-renamed-360-bound/1100-6164834/|title=UT 2007 renamed, 360-bound|last=Thorsen|first=Tor|date=January 26, 2007|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=September 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171127181229/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ut-2007-renamed-360-bound/1100-6164834/|archive-date=November 27, 2017|url-status=live}} Dark Sector by Digital Extremes was initially planned as a spiritual successor to Unreal Tournament.{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-tournament-dark-sector-announced/1100-2446545/ |title=Unreal Tournament: Dark Sector Announced. Digital Extremes reveals details behind a massively multiplayer follow-up to Unreal Tournament |work=GameSpot |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=February 24, 2000 |access-date=May 19, 2016 |first=Amer |last=Ajami |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170709020221/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/unreal-tournament-dark-sector-announced/1100-2446545/ |archive-date=July 9, 2017}} The game was released for free on the Internet Archive in late October 2024.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/unreal-gold-and-unreal-tournament-are-now-free-on-the-internet-archive-and-epic-says-thats-a-okay/|title=Unreal Gold and Unreal Tournament are now free on the Internet Archive, and Epic says that's A-okay|last=Chalk|first=Andy|date=November 14, 2024|accessdate=November 15, 2024|work=PC Gamer}}

Unreal Tournament is the subject of anthology series Secret Level, created by Tim Miller for Amazon Prime Video and released in December 2024.{{Cite web |last=Tassi |first=Paul |title=A List Of Every Game Featured In Amazon's Promising {{'}}Secret Level{{'}} Show |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2024/08/21/a-list-of-every-game-featured-in-amazons-promising-secret-level-show |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Forbes |language=en}} The episode, Unreal Tournament: Xan, has the voices of Elodie Yung, Gideon Emery, Mitch Eakins, Chris Payne Gilbert, Carlin James, and Fred Tatasciore.

{{Reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Refbegin}}

• {{cite book | first=Jamie | last = Madigan | title=Unreal Tournament Official Strategy Guide | year=1999 | publisher=GW Press | location=Minneapolis | isbn =978-1-56893-946-9}}

{{Refend}}

• {{Cite web |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131569/postmortem_epic_games_unreal_.php?print=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190906171319/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/131569/postmortem_epic_games_unreal_.php?print=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 6, 2019 |title=Postmortem: Epic Games' Unreal Tournament |last=Reinhart |first=Brandon |website=Gamasutra|date=June 9, 2000}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-one |title=The Longevity Of Unreal Tournament: Part One |author=Flak |date=December 21, 2012 |website=Epic Games}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-two |title=The Longevity Of Unreal Tournament: Part Two |author=Flak |date=January 3, 2013 |website=Epic Games |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828235240/https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-two |url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-three |title=The Longevity Of Unreal Tournament: Part Three |author=Flak |date=January 8, 2013 |website=Epic Games |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 29, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829000118/https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-three |url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web |url=https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-four |title=The Longevity Of Unreal Tournament: Part Four |author=Flak |date=January 16, 2013 |website=Epic Games |access-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-date=August 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170828235357/https://www.epicgames.com/community/the-longevity-of-unreal-tournament-part-four |url-status=dead}}
• {{Cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-23-unreal-tournament-retrospective |title=Unreal Tournament retrospective |last=Lane |first=Rick |date=February 23, 2014 |website=Eurogamer}}

{{Commons category|Unreal Tournament}}

• {{webarchive | url = https://web.archive.org/web/20020529005241/http://www.unrealtournament.com/ | date = May 29, 2002 | title = Official website}}
• {{MobyGames | /unreal-tournament}}
• {{PCGamingWiki|Unreal_Tournament}}

{{Unreal series|state=collapsed}}

{{Epic}}

{{Digital Extremes}}

{{Cliff Bleszinski}}

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