Game Modes in PUBG Mobile Lite

PUBG Mobile Lite is built around the classic battle royale loop, but it is not limited to one mode. The August 2026 announcement described several gameplay modes as part of the LIGHT package, with some in the first install and others as on-demand modules. This page separates what is confirmed from what is still an optional download decision.

The game is upcoming (official posts: mid-November 2026; App Store listing currently shows 12 November 2026). Erangel is in the first install. Coverage from the 25 August 2026 announcement described Team Deathmatch and Metro Royale as part of the mode selection, alongside the classic battle royale.

Classic Battle Royale — the core mode

Classic is the 100-player Erangel match that defines PUBG Mobile Lite. It is the first-install mode and the one the November window is designed to deliver. Plane, parachute, loot, zone, rotate, survive — last team or solo alive wins.

Classic is what this wiki covers in most depth: how to play is the full loop, maps covers Erangel geography, landing spots covers drop rankings, weapons covers the gun families, squad roles covers four-stack jobs, and cross-play covers mixed-client parties.

Classic has two playlists in most PUBG Mobile releases: solo and squads (duos and four-man). Ranked versions unlock after a certain level threshold. The ranked system uses the same Erangel map and the same 100-player format, with visible skill tiers from Bronze to Conqueror.

Team Deathmatch (TDM) — practice mode

Team Deathmatch puts two teams in a smaller arena on a section of Erangel or another map, fighting to a kill target within a time limit. The mode is designed for aim practice without the commitment of a full battle royale match.

Use TDM to:

• Practice spray patterns (M416, Beryl) in a low-stakes environment
• Work on SMG hip-fire in close quarters (Vector, UMP)
• Test new sensitivity settings before taking them into classic
• Practice movement and peek timing without zone pressure

TDM is described as an optional module in coverage of the August 2026 announcement. Download it from the in-client module manager when you want it, not on launch night alongside Erangel. The optional module note makes sense given the storage pitch: TDM adds a map and mode you may not need if you are only playing classic.

For sensitivity and control practice that feeds into TDM, see controls and sensitivity. For the weapons context, see weapons.

Metro Royale — the PvP/PvE mode

Metro Royale is a distinct mode that originated in the main PUBG Mobile app as a combined PvP and PvE experience set in an underground metro environment. It is not a battle royale — it is a loot-and-survive session with AI enemies and human players mixed together.

Metro Royale appears in coverage of the August 2026 announcement as an optional mode. Like TDM, it is described as a module that is not part of the mandatory first download.

This wiki will not treat Metro Royale as part of the core experience until it is actually in players’ hands on LIGHT. If it is available in the launch client or as a day-one module, it will be noted on the updates hub. For mode strategy once it is installed, check the in-game tutorial and the PUBG Mobile site.

Arcade modes

PUBG Mobile also runs rotating Arcade modes: Sniper, Mini Zone, and others that change weekly. These are typically smaller-player-count or limited-time events. They are not part of the core LIGHT pitch and this wiki will not track them as permanent additions until launch delivers a stable mode list.

Which mode should a new player start with?

Start with classic Erangel solo or squads. That is the mode the first install is designed to deliver, and it is where the 1 GB (Android) / under 2 GB (iOS) storage pitch makes the most sense. TDM is useful for aim practice once the HUD is familiar. Metro Royale is for players who want a PvE/PvP hybrid after they have learned the classic loop.

Do not download every module at launch. Miramar and Sanhok as optional maps are described on maps. TDM and Metro Royale as optional modes are described here. The storage pitch is that you start with Erangel and add what you actually queue.

Mixing modes with cross-play

Vincent Wang confirmed that LIGHT cross-plays with the standard PUBG Mobile app. This means a LIGHT player can party with a standard-app friend regardless of which mode each client has installed — as long as both players are queuing the same mode and map. If a standard-app friend queues TDM and you have not downloaded the TDM module, you cannot join that lobby. Cross-play covers the account and party setup.

What this page will add after launch

Once the November 2026 window opens and the actual client is in players’ hands, this page will note which modes appeared in the first install and which required a module download. Ranked rules, mode-specific maps, and Arcade rotation will be updated with confirmed facts.

For dates and announcements, see the updates hub. For the full classic loop, start with how to play. For the Erangel map this mode runs on, see maps.