Beyond the new heroes, Overwatch 2 game modes have seen a pretty big rework in a number of ways for the sequel. Some have been completely removed, and some have been altered slightly to better serve the meta of the new game. But, Overwatch 2 still has a wide variety of modes to check out and this guide will cover them and what you can expect from each of them if you are jumping in.
Overwatch 2 game modes
Here are all the Overwatch 2 game modes available in the game:
Control
Control is the classic game mode from Overwatch that sees players on two teams try to seize a single objective point on the map. Each round in a control match begins on a new map and the first to win two out of three of the rounds and reach 100% capture in each of them, wins.
Escort
Escort is a payload mode where the attacking team has to guide a payload to the goal, with the defending team trying to halt their progress. The attacking team has multiple checkpoints within an Escort match, which can extend the time they have to reach the final goal. In Competitive, attacking and defending teams alternate every round and the team who delivers the payload the closest to the goal wins.
Hybrid
Hybrid modes are a combination of both Control and Escort. In this match, an attacking team fights with defenders to win control of an objective point. Once taken, the match then switches to Escort and the attackers have to deliver a payload to the goal. Competitive works the same here as in Escort and the team that delivers the payload the furthest win.
Push
Push is a brand new gamemode for Overwatch 2 and sees two teams fight to guide a robot to the opponent’s base. The robot is active when a team is standing by it and will push a barricade closer to the opposing team’s base. Whoever gets the robot the furthest towards their opponent’s side wins the match.
Capture The Flag
Capture The Flag is an Arcade mode where two teams try to steal the opposing team’s flag and return it to their base. This is the classic competitive mode seen in dozens of other shooters. The team to first capture three flags or the most flags wins.
Deathmatch
Deathmatch is a simple mode in unranked and arcade. Simply put this is a battle where everyone is out for themselves. A complete free-for-all. The first to get twenty kills in a match wins.
Team Deathmatch
Team Deathmatch is a team-based version of regular deathmatch where the first of four teams to thirty kills wins the match.
Elimination
Elimination is a small-scale arcade game mode where you or your team are against others in a battle to the death. Played in small teams or solo, once a player is down they don’t respawn and the first to three round wins, wins the match.
Bounty Hunter
Bounty Hunter is the next arcade mode and sees you and five other players rival it out to be the first to get 4000 points. Points can be gained by killing the current marked target and regular other players. But doing so will make you the target, raising your health and ultimate meter.
CTF Blitz
Control The Flag Blitz is where two teams of five players attempt to steal the enemy team’s flag and return it to their own flag. However, as an arcade mode, it is much faster and the first to deliver six or the most flags wins.
Mystery Heroes
Mystery Heroes is an unranked mode that works like Role Queue. But, you don’t get to choose your heroes. Instead, when you begin a match and every time you die, the hero in your role you play will be randomly selected. The gamemode is a mix of Control, Escort, Hybrid, and Push using normal rules.
Assault
Assault is actually a retired mode, but you can still play it in custom games. This mode has two capture points and one team is tasked with taking them from the enemy team who are defending them.
No Limits
No Limits sees two teams of five compete in Escort, Capture, Push, and Hybrid on randomised maps. But, unlike regular modes, there are no limits on hero numbers so you can play with a whole team of the same heroes or double it up with one or two.
Limited Duel
Limited Duel is a Elimination Arcade mode where you face off against one other person in a 1v1 duel. Winning three rounds will see you win the match. But, you only get a limited selection of heroes.
Low Gravity
Low Gravity is an arcade game mode and one of the more fun and silly options in Overwatch 2. This puts everyone in a low-gravity environment on randomised maps and features modes like Escort, Push, Hybrid, and Control, with regular rules beyond the low gravity.
And those are all the Overwatch 2 game modes available right now across ranked, competitive, unranked, custom games, and arcade. With a lot of modes, you will want to find the best team thanks to crossplay or use our Overwatch 2 tier list to put together a list of the top characters you should use for each of the modes.