While more of the same methods of storytelling and a larger PvE focus are great, Blizzard should not stop there. The developer has something special with Overwatch, and if it wanted to, it could move away from the hero shooter mold with some spin-off games. An entire Overwatch video game universe could be great, with connected stories and cameos from other characters creating an MCU-like franchise. When looking at all the heroes in Overwatch, it is easy to pick out several that could suit a solo game.
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Overwatch Heroes That Deserve Singleplayer Games
The Overwatch mascot Tracer seems like a no-brainer for a solo game, as her story and abilities could easily be fleshed out to make for an exciting singleplayer outing. Tracer could have her chronal accelerator malfunction, allowing players to experience some of the strange views of the past that she mentioned having. A time travel adventure could allow players to see the Overwatch world in its infancy, with Blizzard also showing how tragic Tracer’s life is without the device that keeps her physical form intact. Seeing more of her relationship with Emily would be great for representation as well.
Soldier 76 is another Overwatch hero that could carry his own game, as it could play like a traditional first-person shooter. Differing from the fast-paced action of a potential Tracer game, players could experience the story of a brutal vigilante, fighting crime across the world as Soldier 76. Flashbacks could show his early years as a super soldier and provide a close look at the fall of Overwatch, with gamers seeing his battle with Gabriel Reyes - AKA Reaper. Reaper would make a great antagonist in the present day, too.
Sombra is yet another Overwatch character that could carry her own game. Not only is there more going on with her story that players do not quite understand yet, as the conspiracy she is trying to unravel remains a mystery, but her personality would make her a joy to play as for a full campaign. Unique mini-games and puzzles could be part of her gameplay loop, too, with Blizzard making good use of her abilities as a hacker.
Realistically, the sky is the limit for singleplayer Overwatch games that focus on a specific hero. A Widowmaker game could show her slowly breaking free from Talon’s control, with gameplay mechanics resembles those of the Sniper Elite franchise. Genji’s role as a cyborg ninja makes him a fun candidate for a solo title, as his abilities could be expanded to create a game like Metal Gear Rising. Even Cassidy could be a fun choice, with his game featuring a more mature tone and some classic Western tropes to make it stand out.
Obviously, there is nothing to suggest that the Overwatch franchise will move beyond the hero shooter genre. Still, it is hard not to see the potential in doing so. Overwatch 2’s skill trees for PvE will be giving each hero several new abilities, showing how deep each character’s kits can really go. The same could be done with singleplayer games, with Blizzard doubling down on some of Overwatch’s most beloved heroes. Flying through the skies as D.Va or traversing entire cities as Winston would be hard to make happen in PvE, but in dedicated games for each character, levels could be carefully crafted around their skills.
Overwatch is available now on PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
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