royale

Short-hand for "battle royale"; a free-for-all battle involving many individuals either each acting alone or as part of many different factions, of which there can only be one victor.

The Japanese author, Koushun Takami, who coined the term "battle royale"; very aptly titled his hit novel, in which he gave the first notable example of one, using that term: "Battle Royale". Several more royale stories and games have written and made since; as it is both a good means to induce high emotions through life-or-death stakes for storytelling, as well as a fun premise either to observe or to take part in when the actual consequences are much less permanent and you can join another right after falling in one.