Game modes are various rulesets that can be used to alter the way Overwatch 2 is played. Besides the five standard modes available in Competitive and Quick Play, there are various other game modes available in the Arcade and Custom Games. During limited-time events, special game modes may also be available.
Standard play
Overwatch 2 standard play is played as 5v5 on a randomly selected map from one of the five standard game modes: Control, Escort, Flashpoint, Hybrid, and Push. Standard play is available in both Quick Play and Competitive Play menus for Role Queue and Open Queue.
Control
Main article: Control
Control is a game mode in which two teams fight over a capture point in a best-of-three format. While a team has control over a capture point, that team will gain capture percentage until they reach 100%, and the team that reaches 100% first wins the round. Overtime will be triggered if one team has reached 99% and the point is currently being contested. This game mode does not have a time limit, unlike others.
All three rounds are played on the same parent map, with each round located in a different area of the map and featuring a new capture point. More teammates capturing the point at the same time will increase the capture speed with a limit of three; a fourth teammate will have no effect on capture speed.
Escort
Main article: Escort
Escort is a game mode in which the attacking team must escort a payload to a delivery point, while the defending team attempts to prevent them until the timer runs out. Each map has three checkpoints between the starting position and delivery point which, when reached, will increase the timer and move both teams' spawn locations. Overtime will be triggered if time runs out while the payload is being contested by the attacking team.
Flashpoint
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Main article: Flashpoint
Flashpoint is a game mode released in Season 6.
Hybrid
Main article: Hybrid
Hybrid is a game mode which starts with an Assault capture point and continues with an Escort objective. Once the attacking team captures the initial point, both teams' spawn locations are moved. The payload is then unlocked, and players must escort the payload through two checkpoints to win. Overtime will be triggered if time runs out while the payload or capture point is being contested by the attacking team.
Push
Main article: Push
Push is a game mode released alongside Overwatch 2 in which two teams fight to escort a robot who pushes an objective onto the opposite (enemy) side of the map. Each map has two checkpoints along the objective path. When a team escorts the robot past the first enemy checkpoint, their spawn is moved up to "forward spawn." If neither team reaches both checkpoints, the team that pushed their objective the furthest wins. Overtime will trigger if the team with less progress has possession of the robot when time expires.
Clash
Main article: Clash
Clash is an upcoming game mode for Overwatch 2.
Arcade game modes
Main article: Arcade
Arcade features several game modes on rotation, as well as special game modes during seasonal and limited-time events.
Deathmatch
Deathmatch is a game mode in which eight players compete in a free-for-all while attempting to obtain 20 eliminations (points) first. The player who reaches 20 points first or has the highest score when the 10-minute timer runs out will be awarded first place. Win credit is awarded to the top four players of each match. Some Hybrid and Escort maps are modified for play in Deathmatch.
The Team Deathmatch variation uses the same rules as Deathmatch, but divides players into two teams of four each. Any kills by any team member are attributed to that team's overall score. The team that reaches 30 points first or has the most points when the 10-minute timer runs out wins the match.
Assault
Main article: Assault
Assault is a game mode in which the attacking team must take two capture points, while the defending team attempts to prevent them until time runs out. When the first point is captured, the timer will increase, and the attacking team's spawn location will move. The defending team's spawn is always located on point B. Overtime will be triggered if the attacking team is still contesting the active point when the timer runs out.
The Push game mode replaced Assault with the release of Overwatch 2.
Capture the Flag
Capture the Flag is a game mode in which there is one flag on each side the of the map. Players must capture the enemy team's flag and bring it back to their team's flag position, while also preventing the enemy team from capturing their team's flag. The team that reaches three points first, or has the most points when the five-minute timer runs out, wins the match.
The game mode will not end if either teams' flag is outside of their base. If either team does not have their flag secure when the timer runs out, Overtime will begin. Overtime will not start running out until both teams have secured their flags. If the score is tied at the end of regular play or overtime, a Sudden Death round will begin with flags moved significantly closer to one another and only one point needed to score.
Elimination
Elimination is a game mode in which players attempt to eliminate all members of the enemy team. Elimination can be played as a 1v1, a 3v3, or a 5v5. The team that eliminates all enemy players wins the round, and the first team to win three rounds wins the match (except in the 1v1 variation, which is first-to-five). Once killed, a player is "eliminated," and cannot re-spawn during that round.
In the Lockout Elimination variation, heroes played by the team that wins the round cannot be played again for the duration of the match.
Seasonal game modes
Seasonal game modes are available only during each specific season's event. These game modes differ from each other in maps and style to match the theme of the event.
Modes
- Lúcioball
- Junkenstein's Revenge
- Mei's Snowball Offensive
- Yeti Hunt
- Overwatch Uprising
- Overwatch Retribution
- Overwatch Storm Rising
Limited-time game modes
Limited time event game modes are game modes only available during specific limited-time events. Some are played on altered versions of standard play maps.
Modes
- Starwatch: Galactic Rescue
- Roadhog's Catch-A-Mari
- Battle for Olympus Deathmatch
- Loverwatch: Love Never Dies (web client only)
- Mischief and Magic
- Cosmic Crisis
PvE Missions
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Story Missions
Main article: Story Missions
Story Mission is a game mode released in Season 6.
Event Missions
Main article: Event Missions
Event Missions originally appeared in Overwatch Uprising. Event Missions are only available during their respective events and are played on unique versions of standard play maps. These missions take players through a standard play map, typically a Payload or Hybrid map, as they face waves of enemies and complete objectives.
Canceled game modes
Overwatch 2 PvE was expected to release with several new modes including Story Experience and Hero Missions.
Hero Missions
Hero Missions were a new game mode to be introduced in Overwatch 2. They would make use of the game's talents system.