In many ways, Overwatch’s release in 2016 birthed an entire genre: the hero shooter. Games like Overwatch all have extremely unique characters with their own special abilities, and though Overwatch wasn’t technically the first (that award likely goes to Team Fortress 2), the massive success of Blizzard’s shooter codified what many players were looking for from the genre. Thanks to its bold character designs, game-changing ultimate abilities, and a never-ending stream of premium cosmetics, Overwatch approach changed the shooter landscape in a way not seen since Halo, Call of Duty, or Fortnite before it.

In 2025, Overwatch (now the free-to-play Overwatch 2) isn’t the undisputed hero shooter king. While Blizzard’s game is still going strong with the addition of new heroes, gameplay systems, and even major new game modes like Stadium, there are plenty of other worthy games like it that can scratch a similar itch. Some emulate Overwatch’s gameplay more directly, and others take the hero shooter ideas it popularized and transplant them into different subgenres, ranging from games like Fortnite to tactical shooters and even some inspired by MOBAs.

Most of the games on this list can also be played without spending a dime, making them some of the best free games available. Some aren’t even shooters at all, but still share plenty of DNA with Blizzard’s genre-blending juggernaut. Whether you love first-person or third-person, over-the-top abilities, or more tactical gameplay, there’s a hero shooter for every taste out there. As Overwatch’s Tracer once said, the world needs heroes, and in 2025, there’s no shortage of hero shooter games like Overwatch to meet that demand.

• Platforms: PC, Mac
• Developer: Valve
• Release Date: October 10, 2007
• Payment model: Free-to-play

While Team Fortress 2 was referred to as a class-based shooter at the time of its release, today it’s easy to see its role as a hero shooter progenitor. It has all the staples that would go on to become key aspects of the genre: exaggerated character designs, a payload-pushing objective mode, and wildly different class-specific weapons. Blizzard used many of those same ideas and more to create Overwatch, so it’s not exactly a surprise that heroes such as Mercy and Torbjorn can be easily traced back to Team Fortress 2’s Medic and Engineer. Today, Valve’s iconic shooter is one of the best free Steam games and is still thriving, even if it may feel a little dated compared to more modern games on this list.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• Developer: NetEase
• Release Date: December 6, 2024
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

What was once dismissively labeled as an Overwatch clone with Marvel superheroes has since become Overwatch 2’s biggest, uh, rival–and one of the best Marvel games of all time. Marvel Rivals’ sense of style is unmatched, breathing new life into classic Marvel characters, and its Overwatch-like gameplay is every bit as polished and satisfying as Blizzard’s shooter. Where Marvel Rivals really distinguishes itself is in its character team-up abilities, encouraging players to think strategically about team compositions in order to get more advantages on the battlefield. Its third-person perspective brings gameplay benefits thanks to the game’s larger emphasis on melee-focused characters, and further helps to highlight Marvel Rivals’ excellent art direction by letting players see more of the action.

• Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PS4
• Developer: Evil Mojo Games
• Release Date: September 16, 2016
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

Despite having been in development for years prior to Overwatch’s release, Paladins ultimately released in early access shortly after Blizzard’s game had already taken the shooter landscape by storm. While there are definitely similarities (heroes with unique abilities, a payload-pushing objective mode, and similar tank, damage, and support roles), Paladins is more than capable of standing on its own thanks to its fantasy-themed setting and unique features like talents and character-modifying card decks that give players more flexibility in how they play each hero. Though publisher Hi-Rez Studios recently announced layoffs and an end of active development on three of its games, including Paladins, the game is still playable and has a dedicated following.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PS4
• Developer: Ubisoft
• Release Date: December 1, 2015
• Payment Model: Paid (soon transitioning to mostly free-to-play)

Rainbow Six Siege released before Overwatch, and as such wasn’t explicitly inspired by Blizzard’s shooter. However, those who enjoy the character-focused nature of games like Overwatch will find plenty to enjoy in Siege’s large roster of unique Operators, who each sport unique gadgets, weapons, and abilities. The game’s quick time-to-kill and tactical nature make it a far more twitch-based FPS compared to Overwatch’s more MOBA-inspired gameplay, but it is that same high-stakes, round-based gameplay that has made it one of the most popular shooters of the last decade. A major update in June that Ubisoft is calling Rainbow Six Siege X will add a permanent new game mode, Dual Front, as well as make most of the game’s modes and Operators accessible to free-to-play players.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: Respawn Entertainment
• Release Date: February 4, 2019
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

The first popular battle royale to infuse hero shooter game ideas into its formula, Apex Legends has plenty going for it. Its unique roster of Legends allows for all kinds of playstyles, from more support-based roles to stealthy-solo types. Coupled with Respawn’s excellent gunplay and penchant for great-feeling movement, as previously seen in Titanfall, it’s easy to see why Apex Legends is one of the best battle royales out there. Available on a wide variety of platforms, including last-gen hardware and Nintendo Switch, Apex Legends is one of the best cross-platform games to play with friends.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• Developer: NetEase
• Release Date: March 6, 2025
• Payment model: Free-to-play

FragPunk is one of the newest hero shooter games on the block. A blend of tactical, round-based gameplay and powerful hero abilities makes Fragpunk more similar to Valorant than Overwatch. Where FragPunk really sets itself apart is in its Shard Card system, where players on each team vote on major gameplay-modifiers each round. It’s a fun and more casual-feeling experience than one might find in similar games such as Counter-Strike, and is worth a try for those who love a fast time-to-kill but still like the variety and strategy the abilities FragPunk’s best heroes can provide.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PS4, Nintendo Switch
• Developer: PopCap
• Release Date: October 18, 2019
• Payment Model: Paid

The latest entry in PopCap’s surprisingly enjoyable shooter spin-off series, Plants vs. Zombies: Battle for Neighborville has a little something for all ages and skill levels. Its huge roster of 23 classes, from Kernel Corn to Super Brainz, all feel distinct and wacky. There’s plenty of variety in the game modes as well, with options for both 24-player PvP battles as well as smaller co-op PvE experiences where players can explore, find collectibles, and complete quests.

• Platforms: PC
• Developer: Valve
• Release Date: Unknown
• Price: Unknown

Deadlock is the only game on this list that isn’t officially out (even if thousands of people are playing it at any given time), but is without a doubt in Overwatch’s wheelhouse. That’s even more true following Overwatch’s introduction of its round-based Stadium mode, which can be played in third-person and allows players to spend credits on various character and ability upgrades–very similar to Deadlock. While Deadlock is definitely a hero shooter, it’s also without question a lane-based MOBA, as players compete to destroy towers and farm creeps. That makes its learning curve far steeper than anything in Blizzard’s shooter, but satisfying to play nonetheless.

• Platforms: PC, Mac
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Release Date: June 2, 2015
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

Hero shooters definitely owe a debt to the MOBA, a genre that, in many ways, originated multiplayer hero-based ability gameplay. It’s no surprise then that Blizzard’s own MOBA, Heroes of the Storm, makes this list, if for no other reason than nine Overwatch characters are actually playable within it. While you’ll view them from a top-down perspective, playing Overwatch characters in Heroes of the Storm is remarkably similar to how they play in Blizzard’s shooter, albeit with more abilities and customization options in the form of the game’s talent system (something that, funnily enough, has made its way into Overwatch 2 in the form of perks). Blizzard put Heroes of the Storm on life support back in 2022 (otherwise the entire Overwatch roster might have been playable in the MOBA by now), but the game still receives the occasional balance patch and has an active player base. If you’ve ever wanted to see how annoying Tracer can be from a new perspective, Heroes of the Storm is the game for you.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
• Developer: Riot Games
• Release Date: June 2, 2020
• Price: Free-to-play

Riot Games, the makers of League of Legends, certainly understand how to make cosplay-worthy characters with unique abilities, and that shows in Valorant. A combination of Overwatch-like heroes with Counter-Strike’s tactical gunplay and shop has proved to be a potent combo, making Valorant one of the best free PC games available. While some of the game’s Agents abilities are straightforwardly offensive, many are more subdued in nature, used to do things like block sight lines or gather information on enemy positions. That makes Valorant’s gameplay less bombastic than some other hero shooter games, but its strategic depth is unmatched, making every victory all the sweeter.

• Platforms: PC
• Developer: iDreamSky
• Release Date: November 22, 2024
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

Strinova is what you get when you take the aesthetic of games like Genshin Impact, combine it with Paper Mario’s ability to swap between 3D and 2D forms, and blend it all together with a tactical hero shooter such as Valorant. Being able to turn into a piece of paper and slip between spaces, stick to walls, or even dodge incoming fire is actually pretty novel for a third-person shooter, and Strinova’s strong character designs and unique character abilities help it stand out even more. The game’s maps aren’t anything particularly memorable (they pretty much just look like Valorant maps), but the rest of Strinova manages to make a lasting impression for those who are looking for a little more anime in their tactical shooter.

• Platforms: PC
• Developer: Theorycraft Games
• Release Date: November 20, 2024
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

Supervive is what you get when some of the folks behind games like Overwatch, League of Legends, and Apex Legends try something new. It combines the top-down hero gameplay of a MOBA (complete with fog of war and neutral NPC camps) with the high-stakes squad battles of a battle royale, and the result is a fast-paced, no-brakes experience that is unlike anything else on the market. Easy to learn but difficult to master, Supervive is well worth checking out for those wanting to push outside their usual hero shooter game comfort zone.

• Platforms: PC, Mac
• Developer: Blizzard Entertainment
• Release Date: November 23, 2004
• Payment Model: Paid expansions, required monthly subscription

World of Warcraft may seem an odd fit for an Overwatch-style list, but the DNA shared between the two games is undeniable. What eventually became Overwatch began development at Blizzard as Project Titan, a shooter MMORPG meant to succeed WoW. Project Titan ultimately didn’t coalesce into a coherent whole, but certain elements did make its way into Overwatch. Many of Overwatch’s core developers, including original game director Jeff Kaplan, previously worked extensively on WoW as well. As such, there’s plenty of shared ideas between the two games, particularly when it comes to the game’s “holy trinity”-inspired hero roles of tank, damage, and support. If you enjoy healing or tanking in Overwatch, you’ll probably find you enjoy those roles in WoW too.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5
• Developer: 24 Entertainment
• Release Date: August 12, 2021
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

If you prefer more melee-focused characters in Overwatch like Reinhardt or Genji, or even games like Sekiro and Dark Souls, Naraka: Bladepoint may suit your particular interests. A hero-based battle royale where melee combos, parries, grapple hooks, dashes, and dodge rolls are essential, Naraka: Bladepoint is unique in both the hero shooter (hero brawler?) and battle royale genres. Heroes each bring powerful and unique abilities to the table, but weapons, ranging from longswords to nunchucks, are found mid-match. Mastery comes down to using a hero’s abilities properly, understanding which weapons to wield, and becoming comfortable with the game’s movement and melee combat systems, giving fans of hero-based games plenty to chew on. Xbox Game Pass subscribers get various freebies in the title, including access to all the game’s heroes.

• Platforms: PC, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, PS4
• Developer: First Watch Games
• Release Date: July 20, 2021
• Payment Model: Free-to-play

For those looking for a similar tactical hero shooter vibe to that of Valorant or FragPunk, but with a more realistic art style and a third-person perspective, Rouge Company is the ticket. Each hero has unique skills, weapons, and gadgets that can be purchased between rounds, and while the game’s roster of “Rogues” aren’t as memorable as Overwatch’s heroes, there is still a good variety of playstyles to choose from. Rogue Company, like Paladins, is published by Hi-Rez studios and will not be receiving new content updates as of February 2025, but its servers are still online and the game remains playable.