Overwatch (2016)

 Xbox One
User Score
5.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 985 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 518 out of 985
  2. Mixed: 113 out of 985
  3. Negative: 354 out of 985
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. DicStillwagin
    May 30, 2016
    7
    This game is getting way more credit that it deserves in my opinion. It is a solid, well made first person shooter. The controls are spot on, the graphics are clean and sharp and it runs smooth. There are many Heroes to choose from, all unlocked and ready to go right from the start. There's a fair number of maps, all unique in their own way. Some cleverly designed, some not so much(chokeThis game is getting way more credit that it deserves in my opinion. It is a solid, well made first person shooter. The controls are spot on, the graphics are clean and sharp and it runs smooth. There are many Heroes to choose from, all unlocked and ready to go right from the start. There's a fair number of maps, all unique in their own way. Some cleverly designed, some not so much(choke points from hell).

    This game is solely PvP only. There is no story mode. There is no campaign to complete or play when you get tired and need a break from the PvP. There are only 3 true PvP game modes: Attack & Defend, Escort and an Arcade game type that's just a juiced up version of the first 2 modes I mentioned, more health, shorter ability and Ult cool downs.

    The game lacks any real depth. As I mentioned, the maps and modes are paper thin in my opinion. The games diversity comes from the characters really. The game modes and maps get very repetitive quickly and the only thing saving them is the roster of Heroes and their various roles and abilities, but even that keeps my attention for so long. The only real depth this game has is the character cosmetics like Heroes skin variations, voice and emotes and this game has a boatload of them.

    It's a good quality made game. If you're looking for a quick time killer OW is it. If you're looking for a little more depth in your gaming experience like character progression and story or a campaign, look elsewhere.    … Expand
  2. munir
    Jun 5, 2016
    6
    This game features a very inspired character and map design, great Gameplay and brilliant graphics.
    But that's about it.
    Few game modes and maps (only 3 per mode); lack of a grown up single player mode (who needs goals?); little story related content on disc (one eye on game, other on youtube); mandatory login even for bot matches / custom bot matches (really? do these guys never heard    This game features a very inspired character and map design, great Gameplay and brilliant graphics.
    But that's about it.
    Few game modes and maps (only 3 per mode); lack of a grown up single player mode (who needs goals?); little story related content on disc (one eye on game, other on youtube); mandatory login even for bot matches / custom bot matches (really? do these guys never heard of Unreal Tournament?) and still priced AAA?

    It's said that this game is gonna receive more content in the future, and that all of em are going to be free. Good.
    But for now, Overwatch requires a bit more of faith than what I'm ready to give.    … Expand
  3. kholland65
    May 25, 2016
    5
    The only thing that makes this game fun imho opinion is the variety of the characters. Each one is unique which helps spice up the the game. The game also looks pretty good. Other than that, I think this is a very weak game that feels unfinished. It ultimately feels more like a beta than a full game.

    First of all the lack of content is astounding. After a few hours I felt like I had    The only thing that makes this game fun imho opinion is the variety of the characters. Each one is unique which helps spice up the the game. The game also looks pretty good. Other than that, I think this is a very weak game that feels unfinished. It ultimately feels more like a beta than a full game.

    First of all the lack of content is astounding. After a few hours I felt like I had already finished the game and experienced everything it had to offer. There was literally no purpose for playing the game further. There is no ranking system, no competitive play, no clans, no campaign, no alternative game modes. Just one mode, 2 gametypes, that's it.

    The aiming also feels very strange in this game. I am an experienced FPS player and I'm still struggling to get a handle on this games aiming. I am yet to find a sensitivity that seems to work for me.

    The maps are pretty straight forward and inventive. Each one feels like the same map just with a different skin. They are all linear with a few offshooting pathways here and there.

    You can tell there are some slight balance issues between the characters that needs to be addressed. A handful of them appear clearly stronger than the others, and vice versa there is a handful that seem underpowered compared to the rest. Most matches consist of the same 10 or so characters.

    This game also forces you to play with a group of friends. Unlike other shooters, this game is heavily reliant on teamwork, communication, team composition. It's not a game where a collective of individual skilled players can easily dominate. If a coordinated team of mediocre players goes up against 6 isolated but good players, the coordinated team will probably win. This isn't necessarily a flaw, but something to be considered if you are mostly a solo gamer, like me.

    Finally, it lacks conceptual innovation. It's feels like a complete rip off of TF2, even to the point that many of the characters play the same.

    Overall what the game does have I think was done ok. Things work, it's solid, it more or less plays like you can tell it was intended to play. However, it just feels like a half finished game. It feels like the beta of a game that would be awesome if given another year to polish it up and add some content.    … Expand
  4. OKIJIN
    May 24, 2016
    7
    I must make it clear that the graphics and gameplay for this are top notch. FANTASTIC! A ton of unlocks to work towards also. But what I'm concerned on is that Overwatch doesn't feel like a complete package. It's very fun, but not complete. We're given a backstory and character lore but none of it is in the game. I hate to do this but it's doing what Destiny did. Great backstory and loreI must make it clear that the graphics and gameplay for this are top notch. FANTASTIC! A ton of unlocks to work towards also. But what I'm concerned on is that Overwatch doesn't feel like a complete package. It's very fun, but not complete. We're given a backstory and character lore but none of it is in the game. I hate to do this but it's doing what Destiny did. Great backstory and lore but none of it is right there in the game. Not even a "campaign" multiplayer mode. To run it down, here's the and cons.

    Pros:
    -FANTASTIC gameplay
    -Diverse Characters, all feeling unique.
    -Excellent OST
    -Diverse settings

    Cons:
    -Lack of Lore and Backstory In-Game
    -No single player or multiplayer Campaign
    -Characters play one way

    I know I will get hate for this, but I love Overwatch. I do. But I will not be blinded by Blizzard and ignore what is missing in this game. This game could of been one of the greatest. It still can be if Blizzard adds in more for us who love the story and lore of what Blizzard has shown us.    … Expand
  5. captainkane
    May 27, 2016
    4
    Critics are giving Blizzard a free pass. For $60, gamers are only getting a third of a game, if that. Titanfall was hammered for its “lack” of content, but Overwatch’s dearth of content is overlooked? Halo 5 was hammered for a short campaign and missing local co-p, but Overwatch doesn’t even have a campaign! Yet it’s a 90 Metascore? Overwatch only has 2 game modes, no co-op, no campaign,Critics are giving Blizzard a free pass. For $60, gamers are only getting a third of a game, if that. Titanfall was hammered for its “lack” of content, but Overwatch’s dearth of content is overlooked? Halo 5 was hammered for a short campaign and missing local co-p, but Overwatch doesn’t even have a campaign! Yet it’s a 90 Metascore? Overwatch only has 2 game modes, no co-op, no campaign, no meaningful progression, a handful of maps—yet all this is overlooked. No other title has gotten away with such blatant exclusions. It all proves how critics are not only full of **** they play favorites too.

    Overwatch suffers from some major problems. Foremost, the lag is horrendous. Servers operate at a tickrate of 20hz. This is slow. Comparatively, Battlefield 4 servers were around 10hz at launch, and anyone who played BF4 knows how bad the lag was at the beginning. Now BF4 servers run between 30-60hz. Basically, sub 30hz is just too damn slow and DICE realized it. Black Ops 3 servers operate at 32hz, and that’s barely passable. Overwatch features much faster gameplay than COD, and the slow tickrate equates to more missed shots. Some players are impossible to kill because the servers simply can’t keep up. There are some good videos online which discuss the problems with low tickrates.

    Low tickrates equate to low overhead because fewer servers are needed. Since Overwatch isn’t based on a subscription model, it’s reasonable to assume Blizzard implemented a low tickrate to cut costs. Not wise.

    Servers are unreliable too. Players are constantly disconnected from games. Stats aren’t saved when this happens. So if players are kicked out of a great match, they lose all their progress. Overwatch also penalizes them for dropping out early. How does losing 75% experience for the next 12 matches sound? That's what happens when Blizzard boots you from the server.

    Crappy matchmaking is another problem. Random/solo players often get paired with premade teams and get crushed. I see the same problem with Battleborn. It’s absolutely game-breaking. Overwatch favors teams, so groups ought to play against other groups. Instead, Blizzard is pushing speedy matchmaking over quality matchmaking. Most matches are completely lopsided with one team getting early momentum and maintaining it throughout the entire match. If a lobby of random players wins too many matches, Overwatch breaks up the lobby and puts the players in different games. I’m serious. Penalizing random players for winning is bull**** especially since premade teams have the upper hand.

    Blizzard and console makers need to team up and eliminate party chat from public matches. Forcing players to talk with each other will greatly improve match quality. I doubt that will happen. Gaming has become such an antisocial activity lately. Oh, the days of Halo 2 and Left 4 Dead... Sigh.

    Overwatch doesn’t balance teams either. There’s no limit on the occurrences of each character. In other words, players on a team can use the same character and spam abilities. I recently left a match where all players on the enemy team choose Mei and spammed her ice wall. My team was locked in spawn. I’ve seen other teams spam D.Va because of her ridiculously OP ultimate.

    And like all hero shooters, some characters are vastly superior to others. There’s a reason so many people run around as Tracer, D.Va, Reaper, Bastion, and Soldier 76. They’re fast, can self-heal, and are really hard to hit. Despite its composition, Overwatch plays more like COD than Team Fortress 2. The pacing is fast and games aren’t tactical.

    Console players favor run-and-gun lone wolf play that isn’t conducive here. There’s little incentive to experiment. Bastion and D.Va can easily wipe out entire teams in seconds. Others like Symmetra are high cost, low reward characters. When getting steamrolled, teams can’t wait for Symmetra’s portal to charge up. And since console players tend to value K/D over win/loss, deadlier characters will be favored over supportive ones.

    Lastly, map design is uninspired. Like Advanced Warfare, it’s hard to distinguish what can and can’t be accessed. Poor map design makes Pharah’s jetpack or Widowmaker’s grappling hook damn frustrating to use at times. Spaces are tight, so players are generally piled on top of each other in a claustrophobic nightmare.

    The lack of content is mind-blowing. It’s shameful. Blizzard is clearly capitalizing on its name and marketing to bury the fact Overwatch is a half-baked product. The numerous missteps in game design, server set up, and matchmaking are enough to make me wanna quit. Anyone who gives this game a high score is foolish. I know people are enjoying it, but that doesn’t make Overwatch a great product. This trend of pushing half-finished games out the door has to stop. Now that Blizzard has done it to high critical acclaim, every developer who has hesitated will jump on the bandwagon. COD Infinite Warfare isn’t looking so bad now.    … Expand
  6. superspongebob
    May 27, 2016
    8
    This game would have got more praise from the public if it was a little cheaper but quite rightly a lot of people are complaining that it's effectively a full price game without the full package, i.e a campaign.

    However it is an absolutely epic shooter, it allows people to jump straight in and have fun without having to unlock this weapon/peak etc. It can be as simplistic or competitive    This game would have got more praise from the public if it was a little cheaper but quite rightly a lot of people are complaining that it's effectively a full price game without the full package, i.e a campaign.

    However it is an absolutely epic shooter, it allows people to jump straight in and have fun without having to unlock this weapon/peak etc. It can be as simplistic or competitive as the community makes it, my only fear is the console generation will become bored of it very quickly, I suspect the PC community will truly embrace it for what it is.

    Overall it runs fantastically well, looks good and most of all is fun!    … Expand
  7. Death0fLove
    May 29, 2016
    3
    I want to like this game, I really do. However, a lack of balance and depth make me hate it more than I like it. 21 characters, 4 game modes & 12 maps does not warrant a $60 price tag which is the biggest issue. The maps are way too linear causing too many choke points where Bastion and Torbjorn turrets can be as cheap as they want to be. Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries andI want to like this game, I really do. However, a lack of balance and depth make me hate it more than I like it. 21 characters, 4 game modes & 12 maps does not warrant a $60 price tag which is the biggest issue. The maps are way too linear causing too many choke points where Bastion and Torbjorn turrets can be as cheap as they want to be. Hanamura, Temple of Anubis, Volskaya Industries and Route 66 are arguably the worst of them. Each of those maps have an area where there is literally one way to get to an objective that cheap turret positions can cover too easily. If the game offered some type of a single player campaign, it'd be more worth it. I'd say to wait and pick it up when it goes on sale. Don't pay full price for it, it's just another Titanfall.… Expand
  8. Vasot
    May 27, 2016
    5
    Incomplete (No SP, no story), shallow (oversimplistic, the player does not affects the game, only reacts to it), repetitive (mindless and merciless pew pew, no reason and no goal why everyone fights everyone), unoriginal (both the gameplay and the characters are lent by other popular games, heroes and gameplay elements, everything has been done and seen before. Most overhyped trash sinceIncomplete (No SP, no story), shallow (oversimplistic, the player does not affects the game, only reacts to it), repetitive (mindless and merciless pew pew, no reason and no goal why everyone fights everyone), unoriginal (both the gameplay and the characters are lent by other popular games, heroes and gameplay elements, everything has been done and seen before. Most overhyped trash since Titanfall. The game is only endorsed by a part of PC community fanatics that think that Blizzard as their god.… Expand
  9. RealSamurai
    Jun 18, 2016
    4
    This game looks and feels like a more refined version of those (mostly) Korean first person shooters which are free to download and play, as long as you do it online.
    In other words, it's a glorified free-to-play (which isn't free).
    This game resembles those old Arena Shooter from early 2000's, but it doesn't offer enough content to live up to the premise of being an "Arena Shooter    This game looks and feels like a more refined version of those (mostly) Korean first person shooters which are free to download and play, as long as you do it online.
    In other words, it's a glorified free-to-play (which isn't free).

    This game resembles those old Arena Shooter from early 2000's, but it doesn't offer enough content to live up to the premise of being an "Arena Shooter reviver". Hell, it doesn't offer enough even to be called a "full" game. It's more like "we're making a fool out of AAA pricetag and of console players" game.

    And I don't want promises, Bliz. If the game isn't finished, you should have made it a holiday 2016 launch.    … Expand
  10. charlieboyd
    Jun 7, 2016
    4
    All I know is that I paid 250 BRL for less than minimum expected for a full priced console game (regardless the gender!) and that this always-online DRM is controversial and outdated as heck.

    About it being a multiplayer game only, well it's not true at all. And I guess that everyone that actually played this piece of software knows that single player bot matches are even more enjoyable    All I know is that I paid 250 BRL for less than minimum expected for a full priced console game (regardless the gender!) and that this always-online DRM is controversial and outdated as heck.

    About it being a multiplayer game only, well it's not true at all. And I guess that everyone that actually played this piece of software knows that single player bot matches are even more enjoyable in the casual scene.

    Thankfully Metacritics allow changing reviewing score and I'll change mine when the game gets more content and get rid of this redundant old fashioned DRM.    … Expand
  11. GainesvilleGuy
    May 26, 2016
    6
    Wasn't going to buy this at first (looked too cartoony) but ended up getting convinced by the uber high review scores from the "trusted" review sites. I'm a huge fan of shooters (Halo, COD, Battlefield, Borderlands, etc) so figured any shooter getting 90+ score reviews by "trusted" reviewers would be a can't miss for me. WRONG. I really don't get the appeal to this. Just a clusterf--kWasn't going to buy this at first (looked too cartoony) but ended up getting convinced by the uber high review scores from the "trusted" review sites. I'm a huge fan of shooters (Halo, COD, Battlefield, Borderlands, etc) so figured any shooter getting 90+ score reviews by "trusted" reviewers would be a can't miss for me. WRONG. I really don't get the appeal to this. Just a clusterf--k around the objectives and I'm bored after like 4 hours. The variety of characters is decent but really none of them felt very fun to play for me: all very gimmicky. I guess I'm more into traditional shooters with a grittier vibe and higher twitch skill requirement than this cartoony clusterf--k of chaos. There is no immersiveness whatsoever just an arcade cartoony low skill shooter.

    I'll give it a 6 just because it is a shooter and I appreciate what they tried to do with the variety of characters. But unless you are like a 13 year old girl who wants to try a shooter for the first time I'd just avoid this. And for the 13 year old girl I think plants vs zombies might actually be better...    … Expand
  12. blamboom
    May 28, 2016
    1
    I played a great deal of this game already and it's simply a unimaginative rip off of team fortress.

    Besides the game's most obvious flaw (lack of content), the map's are so stupid, not in physical design so much as theme--bizarre futuristic utopian cliche's of nation states??? Not a fleck of trash or a spot of graffiti? It's like how totalitarian countries would perceive themselves.    I played a great deal of this game already and it's simply a unimaginative rip off of team fortress.

    Besides the game's most obvious flaw (lack of content), the map's are so stupid, not in physical design so much as theme--bizarre futuristic utopian cliche's of nation states??? Not a fleck of trash or a spot of graffiti? It's like how totalitarian countries would perceive themselves. How are these maps a suitable or sensible backdrop for the range of characters in game? Where does a giant robot/gorilla or a vaporous gunslinger come in to play in this universe? There design is completely confused and contrived.

    But the most infuriating aspect of the game is the massive imbalance in characters and total lack of of cooperation necessary in any of the of the game types. First, there are characters that are massively overpowered. Tracer's speed and abilities are SOOO beastly and all a team on defensive has to do is select a bunch of Bastions and post up in the right spots. This is not totally surprising coming from Blizzard (WOW's mages, Diablo III's demon hunters, etc). But worse still, the few game types available offer no incentive to coordinate as a team. If you are good enough, you can carry your team. There are ZERO mechanics beyond the hero abilities that matter. Where's the fun in that? It's boring and basic.

    Speaking of abilities, the abilities like "sprint" or "dodge roll" pathetic and uninspired. Not to mention that most ultimate abilities are underpowered/not impactful enough.

    This game is a lot of fun, no doubt--It plays fast and looks fantastic (which is all that seems to matter to IGN these days). But for $60, a pure PVP game with no campaign and no game types that require any type of thought beyond twitch reflexes will not engage me for longer than a month. Bottom line: overhyped, albeit beautiful, waste.    … Expand
  13. steponshade
    May 24, 2016
    10
    What a breathe of fresh air. This game is amazing. You can tell when a game is above average when trolls come and vote 1. Even the worst games arent a 1! This should show you that this game is here to stay. 10/10 and looking forward to all the free DLC! If you dont play this you are missing out big time. Balanced so well, maps are amazing and the design is just out of this world. SO GOOD!
  14. diggre318
    Oct 21, 2017
    0
    thanks for encouraging loot boxes or loot crates.
    ever since Diablo 3's always online marketplace, I knew this company had such terrible ideas to rip their customers off.

    The game is chopped into bits to sell more of this stuff.
    While their base games have quality art in them, ugh just rather support smaller or indie companies.
  15. Ogaar
    Oct 10, 2018
    9
    Introduction

    Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released on May 24, 2016 but since then many improvements have been made. Comparable to TF2, it has made a big impact in the eSports scene and made shooters more kid-friendly, with blood and gore being minimal. Blizzard is known to be a great game    Introduction

    Overwatch is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment. It was released on May 24, 2016 but since then many improvements have been made. Comparable to TF2, it has made a big impact in the eSports scene and made shooters more kid-friendly, with blood and gore being minimal. Blizzard is known to be a great game maker and despite this being their first multiplayer shooter, it has been a success.
    I played six months after the game came out and as soon as you get the game, you realise that it is very PvP orientated with little PvE gameplay apart from rare events that happen every few months. It is a hero shooter, with a wide range of characters with very diverse power sets. This allows every game to be different and make each game feel fresh. Instead of the cliché, "how many people each team can kill", Overwatch is very team based which allows for a very teamwork focused element in the game. There are three main game modes, with a custom game feature which allows you to change how the game is played and adds variety.

    Main body

    The story in Overwatch is what brought many people over to it, with exciting cinematics being produced every so often and a very diverse set of characters that bring a lot of different cultures to the game. From assassins to cyborg ninjas to talking gorillas, the story has it all to bring a range of people over to the game. This game is very accessible, even for new FPS players. With skill based match-making putting you with people of your skill level, anybody can play this game and have fun as the game continues to make games harder as you get better. The mechanics in Overwatch are very good in my opinion. The controls are very accessible and easy to learn, which is very important for a game with 28 heroes to choose from. With the so called "meta" always changing, there is no wrong hero to pick which makes you feel freedom when playing. The graphics in Overwatch have a cartoony feel, which allows the game to be for all ages as the blood is very minimal. These kind of graphics are perfect for a game like Overwatch because you would not want perfectly realistic graphics for a very action packed game like this.
    As said before, there are a variety of game modes which means you will never run out of things to play and adds longevity, a very important feature for a game like a first person shooter.
    Sounds and music are very good in Overwatch. With its own soundtracks, and particular characters having conversations with other characters in game, this not only makes the game more immersing but also adds lore to the game while playing. Every few months, more and more voice lines and sound feature are added to the game so there is no shortage of voice lines for players to enjoy.
    Overwatch is not pay to win, which makes it a very good game to pick up if you do not spend money in games. There are microtransactions, such as buying loot boxes and aesthetics, but these are by no means necessary to help you play. Often skins that are brought out for heroes are good, but can be earned without buying skins too as you get a loot box every time you level up, which does not take very long (from experience).

    Conclusion

    This leads me to give the score of 9/10. I definitely think this game is worth picking up as it is not very expensive due to it being out for just more than 2 years now. The one thing that lets down this game is the community (so not anything in the game). The community can be extremely toxic but this is easily avoided by staying away from these players and muting anyone like this.
    10th October 2018    … Expand
  16. TheLittleKnown
    Sep 1, 2017
    7
    This game is very diverse. I will say that. However, I wish that this game would set its sights a bit higher. This game is amazing, don't get me wrong, but if it wants to succeed, it has to stop pivoting when it comes to features and start being a little more ambitious.
  17. OnandOff
    Nov 30, 2017
    4
    The lack of content and maps is a huge problem. How it won GOTY surprises me. I'm not gonna deny it's a great game and I think it can be a game even better than TF2 in the future. But it's stage right now,
    even after one year, is still lacking. Blizzard is still making these "Cinematics" which I really hate. Their effort for trying to make a story off of videos just has to stop.
  18. MortonDude
    Jun 1, 2018
    4
    So this was game of the year 2016... well we're doomed...
    Overwatch is a game featuring 20+ heroes from different backgrounds and countries. Set in the future, the world is recovering after the Omnic Crisis (A robot version of the world wars) which was stopped by the Overwatch Team. 30 Years later and the world has named the Overwatch Team as Criminals after many controversies caused by a    So this was game of the year 2016... well we're doomed...
    Overwatch is a game featuring 20+ heroes from different backgrounds and countries. Set in the future, the world is recovering after the Omnic Crisis (A robot version of the world wars) which was stopped by the Overwatch Team. 30 Years later and the world has named the Overwatch Team as Criminals after many controversies caused by a splinter group known as Blackwatch are revealed and so on... Honestly, I'm wasting my time telling you the lore because you won't find it in the game. This game is solely multiplayer and has no campaign, which is unacceptable for the price you need to pay to play this game. Sure there are events regarding lore but this is once a year! If you into the lore of this game, wait until they release a campaign or permanent PVE mode because you might as well read the comics.
    This game gets repetitive very quickly and most of the heroes remain unbalanced, which can be unfair and annoying to play with as some heroes are stupidly overpowered and some are completely useless. This game is too overrated and didn't deserve any awards.
    Also Lootboxes...
    This game has positives however...
    The game looks really nice and the controls are really good. The Heroes are very unique and control differently. But that's it...
    If you want to play a multiplayer online game, play Team Fortress 2, you get more content, play styles, maps, balance, A PVE MODE!!!! and enjoyment... ALL FOR FREE might I add.    … Expand
  19. Overwatchsuck
    Mar 5, 2019
    0
    Overwatch has a terrible matchmaking system. Instead of games the teams are balanced and it is a good challenge. Matchmaking sets up one team to be stacked with good players and the other team to have 1 to 2 skilled players. This results in winning streaks of 3 to 5 games. But then you go on 10 game losing streaks. One game matched all silver borders plus on one team vs all 1 star ranks onOverwatch has a terrible matchmaking system. Instead of games the teams are balanced and it is a good challenge. Matchmaking sets up one team to be stacked with good players and the other team to have 1 to 2 skilled players. This results in winning streaks of 3 to 5 games. But then you go on 10 game losing streaks. One game matched all silver borders plus on one team vs all 1 star ranks on the other team. How is that fair. Please fix your match making… Expand
  20. KnightFire919
    Aug 9, 2016
    1
    I find this game really boring with unbalanced maps and uninspired game modes.
    The idea that you have to play certain characters just to counter certain characters your opponents use in order to have any success is ridiculous. I should be able to use any character I want and be able to have success.
    Another problem with this game is that everyone can choose the same character, unless in    I find this game really boring with unbalanced maps and uninspired game modes.
    The idea that you have to play certain characters just to counter certain characters your opponents use in order to have any success is ridiculous. I should be able to use any character I want and be able to have success.
    Another problem with this game is that everyone can choose the same character, unless in competitive mode which is a mess too, at the start which tends to cause pickup teams to lose and just wastes player's time.
    You also can't just play this game solo and join a random team with any sort of success which makes this game a waste of time and isn't fun.
    Lastly the constant nerfing of characters by Blizzard due to pressure from players with no skill is really annoying. The game hasn't been out long and so to nerf all the characters they have has either cause those characters or others to become unbalanced which is annoying.    … Expand
  21. therandomuser
    Jan 29, 2017
    6
    overrated game without a lot of content cant believe people complain about games like battlefront about content when overwatch is equally guilty of lack of content game should only be bought if on sale. but saying that the core game is solid but feels like blizzard thought it was done without much thought if they could do something to make you care about characters as it is a characteroverrated game without a lot of content cant believe people complain about games like battlefront about content when overwatch is equally guilty of lack of content game should only be bought if on sale. but saying that the core game is solid but feels like blizzard thought it was done without much thought if they could do something to make you care about characters as it is a character driven game (the animated shorts dont count if i want to watch animation i would watch cartoon network) makes you wonder what couldve been… Expand
  22. RCTech
    Sep 13, 2016
    3
    "Overwatch" sets up a cliché and dull story, but it nonetheless does. After the initial introduction about saving the world, the player just engages in round after round of multiplayer combat. Why are the heroes fighting copies of each other? What about trying to save the world? Overwatch instead ignores this, and creates a multiplayer shooter at its finest. But the lack of story,"Overwatch" sets up a cliché and dull story, but it nonetheless does. After the initial introduction about saving the world, the player just engages in round after round of multiplayer combat. Why are the heroes fighting copies of each other? What about trying to save the world? Overwatch instead ignores this, and creates a multiplayer shooter at its finest. But the lack of story, additional modes, and unapologetically cartoonish graphics, make it an over-hyped, monotonous, dull, game, that gives the player no purpose. That's something even the disappointing "Star Wars Battlefront" could accomplish. Unless you want to spend hundreds of hours shooting cartoon superheroes over and over with no particular reason, ditch Overwatch.… Expand
  23. ap0110
    Sep 18, 2016
    1
    Here's a typical gaming session:
    - join a "quick" match
    - wait a few minutes - get dropped in to a game in progress - as you're running to the action, game ends - "DEFEATED" - wait for end game recap and stats to finish - start over waiting for a new match - match begins - nope, too many players have left - 30 seconds later, match dumps remaining players to "reinstance" - start    Here's a typical gaming session:
    - join a "quick" match
    - wait a few minutes
    - get dropped in to a game in progress
    - as you're running to the action, game ends - "DEFEATED"
    - wait for end game recap and stats to finish
    - start over waiting for a new match
    - match begins
    - nope, too many players have left - 30 seconds later, match dumps remaining players to "reinstance"
    - start over waiting for a new match
    - rinse, repeat

    Honestly, this has to be the most boring, disappointing game I've played in recent memory. Even when a match does last long enough to finish, there's just nothing to it. A few maps, limited characters, nothing worth putting up with the ridiculously broken matchmaking system.    … Expand
  24. Ren57
    Jan 10, 2020
    2
    I’ve played this game since day one and it’s done nothing but go downhill. At the beginning it was a very fun game, matchmaking may have taken a while but matches felt balanced and fun, then came the “improvements”. Most people don’t remember when they talked about this but they said themselves that they were moving over to a 50/50 win loss ratio system, where matchmaking will always tryI’ve played this game since day one and it’s done nothing but go downhill. At the beginning it was a very fun game, matchmaking may have taken a while but matches felt balanced and fun, then came the “improvements”. Most people don’t remember when they talked about this but they said themselves that they were moving over to a 50/50 win loss ratio system, where matchmaking will always try to keep you at a 50/50 win loss ratio to improve matchmaking times. After this the game became just a headache to play in my opinion. You either get stomped on or do the stomping (9 times out of 10 you’re the one getting stomped) hero’s are unbalanced, there is no real “matchmaking” anywhere when you as a level 60 can be paired up with 200-300+ level players. Honestly if you played overwatch before, remember it for what it used to be, maybe come back from time to time to play a game or two but move on, if you’re thinking about buying this game I can’t suggest it, I loved and love overwatch but I just can’t recommend the headache it will give you getting into a game where most the time the balancing feels unfair.… Expand
  25. Vysithis
    Apr 11, 2020
    2
    Technically the game is excellent, graphics, sound, controls...but that is where it ends the matchmaking is abysmal, the game is so over run with trolls and smurf accounts it takes the fun out 90% of the time...all the dillholes who want to say "git gud" make up the 10%-20% of the highest ranks of tge game...the same ones who are more than happy to make multiple accounts to boost theirTechnically the game is excellent, graphics, sound, controls...but that is where it ends the matchmaking is abysmal, the game is so over run with trolls and smurf accounts it takes the fun out 90% of the time...all the dillholes who want to say "git gud" make up the 10%-20% of the highest ranks of tge game...the same ones who are more than happy to make multiple accounts to boost their fragile little egos by bullying young kids and the rest of us normies who lack super human reflexes and just want to use our leisure time to try and have a bit of fun....blizzard's srance is to say "Oj, well...they will get moved out if your skill ranking pretty quickly"...ya well when it happens 8/ 10 matches handing your teams loss after loss and their is some bew jag off or the same ines on tgeir fifth acct doingbthe same crap...no they dont just "move up" our of your ranking/skill lvl...its been like thus for a good 3+ years and tgey are not going to do a damn thing to change it as the want to lick the boots if their top 10% of olayers while giving a giant middle finger to the rest of we lowly little normies who just looking for a bit of enjoyment outside the everyday grind...screw you overwatch dev team… Expand
  26. DarrkHawk
    Jul 18, 2016
    4
    So it seems that the era of fully priced, online multiplayer only games are among us. Overwatch is another example of an extremely over hyped game that just does not deliver. What do we get for this fully priced game, a handful of characters, badly designed maps, extremely unbalanced gameplay and 3 GAME MODES (4 if you want to include the hybrid). The cost of the game is not justified inSo it seems that the era of fully priced, online multiplayer only games are among us. Overwatch is another example of an extremely over hyped game that just does not deliver. What do we get for this fully priced game, a handful of characters, badly designed maps, extremely unbalanced gameplay and 3 GAME MODES (4 if you want to include the hybrid). The cost of the game is not justified in any way with this game. To beat a dead horse, Team Fortress 2 delivers exactly the same but for free (minus the stupid character special abilities).
    So why is this game so popular? E-SPORTS... f**king e-sports. Get a bunch of youtubers and twitchers to demonstrate a game of this manor and their audiences go mental. I guess that's the way gaming has become now though right? developers don't have to put any effort to create a decent game anymore cause the current generation of gaming doesn't care. Blizzard could have released this game with 5 characters, 3 maps and 1 game mode and it would still be a top seller simple because of the way modern gaming has become.

    For me, the game grew stale after about an hour or so. It was fun to play as a healer for a few games, then experimented with the other classes. After you try each character once, what else is there? Although the game boasts a 21 character library, your lucky if you see half of them in a good session. You are always playing against the same, overpowered characters again and again, making gameplay extremely frustrating.
    If blizzard stick to their word and release more content (a la Destiny), the game might become half decent and worth playing ..... for another hour until it becomes stale again. Ultimately, the game is not good. It is a poor attempt at a revival for a game style that only appeals to an extremely small crowd, and those who don't care about financial expenses.    … Expand
  27. dramaqueen7102
    Oct 9, 2017
    9
    Blizzard’s newest game, Overwatch, has won over 100 awards including Game of the Year 2016, leading us to believe it’s a one of a kind game for a wide audience. With a choice from 25 characters and a variety of gameplay to experience, Overwatch is definitely a game to try out.
    A crucial part of the game is the cartoon styled characters which are categorised into 4 different groups:    Blizzard’s newest game, Overwatch, has won over 100 awards including Game of the Year 2016, leading us to believe it’s a one of a kind game for a wide audience. With a choice from 25 characters and a variety of gameplay to experience, Overwatch is definitely a game to try out.
    A crucial part of the game is the cartoon styled characters which are categorised into 4 different groups: Offence, Defence, Tank and Support. Within the groups, each character has their own unique abilities to ultimately win the match. My personal favourite characters from each category would be, Tracer, Mei, Zarya and Lucio. Each of these characters have very different gameplay; Tracer is agile and quick as she can teleport around the map and go back in time to regain health, while Mei is typically used for stealth as she can freeze enemies and kill them with a headshot afterwards.
    Not only are their skills diverse but their backgrounds are too, Blizzard really outdid themselves when it came to the characters, animated shorts have been released for certain characters further explaining how they came to be a member of Overwatch.
    When playing online they are three different game modes; Quick Play, Arcade and Competitive. You can choose which mode best suits you. However, the objective within matches in Quick Play or Competitive is to either push the payload as far through the map as you can or to capture an objective and hold it till the percentage equals 100%. Be warned, if you’re playing the same character on every map, attack and defence, you’re going to get bored eventually which is why the vast selection of heroes is so important. It keeps the game fresh.
    Competitive is my preferred game mode. Once a new season starts you participate in 10 placement matches and are placed into a tier based on your skill within games. Your skill rating changes depending on how many medals you achieved in game but mainly if you won or lost. At the end of the season, you win a collection of competitive points dependant on what tier you’re in, which can be used to buy golden guns for any character along with other rewards. The idea of a Competitive game mode is really fun, it can help you find how good of an Overwatch player you are, but in all honesty unless you are placed in a high tier there’s not much hope. Many other online players often cause havoc on teams as they aren’t picking the heroes that are potentially needed to win the game.
    Within the world of Overwatch sound plays a huge part in fully immersing yourself in the gameplay, each hero has their own voice actor based on the country the character originated from. Mei for example is Chinese, therefore so is her voice actor which is an amazing extra. They all have their own voice lines, in English and their native language. While in a game, if an enemy uses their ultimate ability the hero will say so in game using his/her unique voice line to alert every player that this is taking place. The use of sound is super fun and helpful in game.
    As the developers of this game is Blizzard, they are constantly working on how the game could be improved and listening to what the players themselves have to say. Videos are often published online from the Lead Developer of Overwatch, Jeff Kaplan, who explains what they are adding to the game and what that means for us. Characters are constantly being buffed or nerfed depending on players’ remarks of them and how popular each character is. Every 3 months, a new hero is added to the game which always seems to cause a wave of excitement as another animated short will be released to go along with the new addition. The updates are frequent and the majority of bugs are quickly found and corrected.
    Another huge part of Overwatch is the customisation of the characters as well as the events that are held. Each character has their original outfit along with other skins, maybe in a different colour or even following a specific theme; these can be obtained by opening loot boxes which can be bought with real money or receive one after levelling up, or using the in-game currency. After having a whole year of Overwatch, the following events are likely to take place every year now; Summer Games, Halloween Terror, Winter Wonderland, Lunar New Year, Uprising and Anniversary. When these events are active extra game modes are added keeping to the theme, now it may just be me but I find these events really fun and do nothing but add to the already wonderful game.
    Finally, the price of Overwatch constantly varies from £25-£50. Overall Overwatch is a fun game suitable for anyone, particularly those who are already fans of Blizzard. There is such a wide variety within the game and there's guaranteed to be a character that suits the gameplay you're looking for. In my opinion, it is more of a social game, to play with friends is better than by yourself but that doesn't mean you don't have a good time. To put it plain and simple, it's worth every penny.    … Expand
  28. BMTanner
    Jun 1, 2016
    5
    the game overall is fun. the characters are unique and well developed. the are ONLY 3 game types, no campaign, 21 characters,12 maps,micro transactions, and no ranked play. BUT they will be adding more characters for free, more game types, and maps. all for free. but at launch it is not worth $40-60(America) OR $80 (Canada) id wait until its on sale to purchase it.
  29. SpottedLaughter
    Jun 1, 2016
    7
    Overwatch is a fantastically fun game, probably one of the funnest, competitive FPS games I've played in a long time. With gorgeous graphics, wonderfully realized characters and gameplay that encourages variety and teamwork, it's a must buy, when it comes down in price.

    Yes, I don't believe that the game is worth a full $40 on PC or even a full $60 on Xbox and PS4. There simply isn't    Overwatch is a fantastically fun game, probably one of the funnest, competitive FPS games I've played in a long time. With gorgeous graphics, wonderfully realized characters and gameplay that encourages variety and teamwork, it's a must buy, when it comes down in price.

    Yes, I don't believe that the game is worth a full $40 on PC or even a full $60 on Xbox and PS4. There simply isn't enough content in the game at launch to warrant such high prices. I mean we're looking at a multiplayer only game, with 3 game modes and 5 -7 maps. That's all content you'll blow through in one sitting.

    Lastly we have game balance, which isn't a big issue because it can be patched, but right now there is quite a bit that could be tweaked and adjusted in terms of character abilities, damage output and so on.    … Expand
  30. Wheater
    Jul 25, 2016
    2
    The problem with the game lies within the equation: Content x Price (this math never gets old).
    Had them put this game around $20, even with paid DLC; or released later (with more content on) they'd walk away with a free pass from users as well.
    Also, you don't simply deny offline play to console gamers, it's sort of a cultural clash!
prev
Page:

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best Xbox One Game of 2016
6
#6 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016
11
#11 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
91

Universal acclaim - based on 18 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 18
  3. Negative: 0 out of 18
  1. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Jul 14, 2016
    90
    Blizzard at its best, refining a formula until it sings. As good as team-based shooters get. [Aug 2016, p.83]
  2. XboxAddict
    Jul 13, 2016
    90
    Despite a few drawbacks, which aren't deal breakers, Overwatch is one of the best games I've played this year. It's simplistic nature really allows you to just pick up a controller and shoot everything in sight. This is easily a game that will drain countless hours of your life away thanks to its quality, execution, and simplistic core.
    Read full review
  3. Stevivor
    Jun 26, 2016
    90
    The bottom line is that Overwatch is easy to pick up and understand, and amazingly fun to play.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »