Since its initial release in 2016, many of us have put hundreds – perhaps even thousands – of hours into Blizzard’s first person team-based multiplayer game Overwatch. Thanks to its immersive world, diverse cast of characters and incredibly addictive gameplay, it’s not hard to see why. But perhaps you fancy a bit of a change, and you might be wondering what other games like Overwatch are out there.
Whether you want a chance of pace, simply check out the competition or you’re looking for your next major timesink, hopefully we can help. We’ve rounded up 10 of the best games like Overwatch right here.
Valorant took the multiplayer gaming community by storm when it launched in 2020, and it’s not hard to see why. It’s one of the best games like Overwatch, and it’s perhaps one of the most similar. Pitting two teams of five players together, tactical shooting and strategy is key to coming out on top. You’ll need to make sure of your environment – a pleasure to do, thanks to some wonderfully-designed maps – along with getting the most out of your character’s abilities. And it’s free to play, so you’ve no reason not to jump in and give it a try.
Apex Legends is a free-to-play game where players from all across the Frontier team up for battle. The ever-growing roster of unique heroes all come with their own abilities and skills for players to master.
Since its release in 2020, Apex Legends has gone from strength to strength, with developer Respawn continually supporting the hero shooter. Not only is this one of the best games like Overwatch in terms of gameplay, but like Blizzard’s behemoth, it also features rich lore, expanded upon by regular updates and external videos.
Read more about Apex Legends
This one’s an oldie but a goodie. Team Fortress 2 originally released back in 2007 and it quickly became one of the most popular first person shooter games out there. It’s probably safe to say that Overwatch took inspiration from Team Fortress when it was first conceived. In Team Fortress 2, players join one of two teams made up of nine playable characters including classes like The Pyro, The Heavy, The Sniper and more. There are various modes to take part in, such as Capture the Flag and King of the Hill.
Even today, Valve continues to release new content for Team Fortress 2 including new events, game modes and unlockable items. No matter how old it gets, Team Fortress 2 remains one of the great multiplayer online games available, and one of the best games like Overwatch.
While many other games like Overwatch (and indeed Overwatch itself) are developed and published by some of the biggest companies in gaming, Block N Load is more of an indie affair. Developed by Toadman Interactive, Block N Load sees you team up with a peculiar crew of misfits and work together to build a base to protect yourself from the enemy team. Like Overwatch, Block N Load offers fast-paced gameplay, an array of weird and wonderful weapons and various character abilities. But to those it adds the unique element of building, forcing you to focus on multiple things at once.
Bleeding Edge is something of a departure for its developer, Ninja Theory, who you’re most likely to associate with the likes of Hellblade or DMC: Devil May Cry. But if you’re looking for one of the best games like Overwatch, it’s well worth considering. This colourful, fun online brawler sees you take control of a range of eccentric characters, each with their own weapons and abilities.
Setting it apart from the crowd is the fact that each fighter is “mechanically enhanced” – like Buttercup, who sports detachable saw blade arms. It’s over-the-top, but that’s what makes it so much fun.
Read our review of Bleeding Edge
Paladins is another free-to-play online shooter with a huge roster of characters. The characters are split into four different classes: Front Line (high health characters that protect their allies and hold the front line), Damage (heroes made to put out consistent damage), Support (high healing abilities), and Flank (made to sneak behind enemy lines).
Paladins offers four different game modes. In Siege Mode, two teams race against each other in order to capture the point before pushing a payload (Overwatch players will be familiar with this concept). The first team to four points wins. In Onslaught, teams battle over a large arena trying to earn points by controlling a certain area and killing enemies that come onto their point. First team to 400 points wins. Team Deathmatch Mode is a classic first-person shooter mode where the first team to rack up 40 kills to win. Finally, Ranked Mode is the same as Siege, but with the added catch that each team can pick two champions (playable characters) to ban making them unavailable for the other team.
Paladins has a load of options for heroes and game modes, making it a great place to go if you’re looking for one of the best games like Overwatch with a slightly different flavour.
Okay, this is one of the more silly games on the list, and it’s not exactly like Overwatch. But if you get a kick out of fun multiplayer games, then Garden Warfare 2 is definitely worth a try.
Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2 is a third-person shooter where you can take control of either team plants or team zombies in a co-op multiplayer environment. There are eight playable classes (four plants and four zombies). Each class also comes with its own special abilities. Garden Warfare features a co-op mode as well as a few competitive multiplayer modes. Garden Ops, the co-op mode, allows up to four players to take control of the Plants to defend the garden from zombie waves. The multiplayer modes can be played with up to 24 players.
Basically, if you’re trying to take your online multiplayer gaming a little less seriously, Plants Vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare is a great place to go.
Read our review of Plants vs Zombies: Garden Warfare 2
PUBG took the world by storm in 2017 and when it launched as PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, a paid battle royale experience. In January 2022, it relaunched at PUBG: Battlegrounds, going free to play. It’s is a player vs. player third person shooter where players fight against 99 other people in a large-scale deathmatch. Players may choose to play the game alone, with one friend or with a team of up to four people.
When you land in PUBG, you’ve got nothing except the clothes on your back, so you’re forced to search nearby buildings to find anything that may be useful against the other enemies closing in. You can’t just camp out in one place either, because there’s an invisible circle always coming towards you, threatening to kick you out of the game zone and cause permanent extermination. If you enjoy the competitive and thrilling nature of games like Overwatch, then you’re bound to get a kick out of PUBG.
Another major contender in the multiplayer battle royale scene is Fortnite. Much like Block N Load, in Fortnite you’re able to build an area to defend yourself using a building tool that everyone has access to.
One of the biggest games on the planet, Fortnite sports multiple game modes, an ever-growing roster of characters and skins, and constant support from its developer Epic Games. Now on season three of Chapter 3, few games evolve as heavily as Fortnite does, with new gameplay, story and twists being added with each new season chapter.
Whether you choose to play in the co-operative Save the World mode, the thrilling 1-vs-99 Battle Royale mode, or the fun Creative mode, you’re going to have fun with Fortnite. Some game modes are more like Overwatch than others, but if you enjoy online multiplayer games with character, you’ll love Fortnite.
Destiny 2 is an online first person shooter multiplayer game set in a fantastic world where players take on the role of a Guardian, protectors of the Earth’s last surviving city. Originally launching as a paid experience, Destiny 2 can now be enjoyed for free, although numerous paid expansions are available, the most recent of which being The Witch Queen.
There’s a rich story to immerse yourself in here, but its gameplay is what makes Destiny 2 worth checking out if you’re looking for one of the best games like Overwatch. While you can play it alone, Destiny 2 is best enjoyed with friends, thanks to a variety of co-op missions and numerous PvP modes.