Blizzard Entertainment's Overwatch defined hero shooters in 2016. In 2026, seven other games provide strikingly similar experiences while taking a different angle on the formula.

Fans may argue that some even surpassed the original. As a result, players have many new options.

Hero shooters like Overwatch blend team-based strategy with character abilities while prioritizing tactical gameplay. Here's a list of 7 games that followed this rulebook while also fundamentally changing it.

Some items from this list are taken from Eneba Hub's article.

Paladins - Evil Mojo Games (2018)

Paladins came out two years after the original Overwatch and looked strikingly similar. It features over 50 different characters to choose from who must fight one another in a 5v5 format on bright, vibrant maps.

The game also features hero classes comparable to Overwatch, such as Support, Damage, and Frontline, which can be compared to Tanks in Blizzard's hero shooter.

It's also a fast-paced game, but engagements feel more tactical. Matches feature objectives that generally demand greater attention than they do in Overwatch, and the time-to-kill may feel slightly longer in Paladins.

Deadlock - Valve (Limited Access)

Deadlock is one of the newer entries in the hero shooter genre. However, it features more MOBA-like elements such as lanes, bosses, and creeps (Troopers).

Beneath the MOBA veneer, Deadlock remains a hero shooter at its core. It features a cast of characters with unique abilities to pick from. You can then get into the game and defeat others while trying to finish your own objectives.

Valve's game perfectly blends MOBA elements with a hero shooter, which is a part of its appeal. The game is currently only available via friend invites.

If you don't know someone who plays it, simply go to the game's Reddit page, and you'll likely come across someone willing to invite you.

Valorant - Riot Games (2020)

Valorant is a tactical hero-shooter. The game is similar to Overwatch, given its focus on abilities. The character variation is also comparable. Jett can basically fly, Neon can run faster than anyone else, and Breach can level the entire bomb site.

Player abilities can be used to stun, flash, smoke off, or isolate an enemy. That being said, the time-to-kill in Valorant can be extremely fast, given that a headshot can generally be enough if you have the right gun.

However, it isn't an ability-fest like Overwatch.

Players must buy weapons and abilities from a menu at the start of the round; managing the economy is crucial, and tactical aiming takes great precision.

The game perfectly blends abilities and gunplay to provide a unique experience.

Splatoon 3 - Nintendo (2022)

Splatoon 3 is a team-based shooter for the Nintendo Switch. It may feel different from Overwatch, but there are more similarities than one might imagine.

For starters, its main game mode focuses on marking map territory and thereby controlling various areas. Instead of taking frags, players should focus on painting the map with their colors to make areas their own.

It features many game modes and replaces ammo with paint. Splatoon 3 is a fun and light-hearted title for Switch that comes close to Overwatch's chaotic action.

FragPunk - Bad Guitar Studio (2025)

Yet another tactical hero-shooter, FragPunk puts a twist on how the game can be played. After picking from the game's list of heroes and choosing the right guns, your team can vote on Shard Cards.

Shard Cards change the rules of the game. They can help your team gain HP, boost movement speed, and more. However, your enemies also get their own cards.

FragPunk is also a 5v5 hero shooter with its own unique visual style. The gameplay feels fresh, and the gunplay is extremely satisfying.

Team Fortress 2 - Valve (2007)

Team Fortress 2 could be credited as one of the first few hero shooters. The game popularized the genre before games like Overwatch and Valorant took over the screen.

The game features nine classes, and each character can play a crucial role in winning the match. Players must develop an understanding of the maps, character abilities, and positioning to win.

This shooter did it before anyone else, and this alone makes it worthwhile.

Marvel Rivals - NetEase Games (2025)

If you're looking for a game exactly like Overwatch, Marvel Rivals is the closest it can get. The game features strikingly similar gameplay, game modes, and a vast cast of characters.

The difference is, all the characters are from the Marvel comic books. So instead of playing as Sigma, you can be Magneto. Instead of playing as Widowmaker, you could play as Black Widow. Some characters possess virtually the same abilities, so you may not even feel new to the game.

There are many things that are similar between the two games. If you're looking for an exact experience in a new game, Marvel Rivals is for you.

Each of these seven games has moved the genre forward in their own unique ways. They prove that the genre can be relevant years after Overwatch's hype.

Which one of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Prit Chauhan