Blizzard’s award-winning multiplayer first-person hero shooter is still my go-to game after all these years, and I can never let it go. Even after sinking nearly 300 hours into Marvel Rivals, I still yearn for the fast-paced, technically demanding gameplay of Overwatch.
The reason I’m saying all this is that no matter how much I distance myself from Overwatch, it always finds a way to pull me back in.
I Was Sure I Was Done
I stopped playing Overwatch the moment Marvel Rivals arrived—not because it was a vastly superior game, but because Overwatch 2 stopped adding new content for a while, and I grew tired of its constant matchmaking struggles after a total of 3000 hours of playtime.
Even my experience as a Solo Tank in Marvel Rivals stemmed from Overwatch.
So Marvel Rivals became my next hero-shooter obsession. It was fun in its own right, despite the lack of a role-queue system and some seriously bad optimization. Plus, my love for Marvel characters was also a huge reason why I enjoyed it.
Like a Toxic Ex
Despite my best efforts to move on, Overwatch still found ways to reel me back in. I was only mildly interested in its future—until the latest Overwatch Spotlight Event. Suddenly, the game promised multiple fan-favorite features: Hero Bans, new Heroes, and a complete overhaul of its competitive experience to fix counter-swapping.
Then they introduced Perks.
Oh my. Just when I thought I was free from Blizzard’s grasp, they made the exact change I didn’t realize I needed. The Perks system fundamentally reshaped the way I saw the game. It gave my chosen hero a fighting chance, even against a hard counter-pick. It was the perfect update, and I couldn’t wait for Hero Bans to arrive.
The Le Sserafim Skins
I was already on the verge of returning when Perks were added, but I wasn’t fully committed—until they announced a collaboration with Le Sserafim.
That’s when I knew the game was REALLY trying to win me back.
As a huge fan of the K-pop girl group, I had no choice. I had to cave. I had to download the game again. I needed to see those skins for myself.
And now, here I am—grinding, playing the same old heroes I once loved with the Le Sserafim skin equipped. But with the Perks system, everything feels fresh. I have more tools at my disposal to deal with the opposing team, and it’s making a difference.
With a new season on the horizon and an entirely new hero, Freja, about to join the roster, Overwatch 2 is shaping up to reclaim its former glory. Now, all it needs is a revitalized competitive scene and Hero Bans implemented in the base game.
Anyway, I’m off to queue up for another match. Here’s hoping my teammates—and I—don’t disappoint.