Overwatch and Paladins are the two most popular hero shooter titles you can get today.
Both the titles have a few common characteristics. However, buying both titles could be difficult for some of you. It means that you will have to choose between Overwatch and Paladins.
And you have to pick the title that provides you a commendable gaming experience, including gameplay, modes, characters, and popularity.
In this Overwatch vs Paladins comparison, we have compared the titles based on these factors.
In the end, you can understand which hero shooter game is suitable for you —for casual gaming or an eSports career.
What Is Overwatch?
Overwatch is a multiplayer first-shooter game developed by Blizzard Entertainment.
It was one of the first games to ship in the genre called ‘hero shooter.’ Hero shooter games get their name due to their focus on hero characters.
Overwatch is available for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X and Series S as of June 2021. Blizzard also introduced cross-platform play into Overwatch following an outcry from the gaming community.
Since its launch in 2016, Overwatch has received many updates from the developers. Blizzard Entertainment is also working on a sequel called Overwatch 2, but many of its newer features will be available in Overwatch.
Currently, Overwatch is one of the most widely played multiplayer shooter games available for popular gaming platforms, which is why we have this comparison.
On top of critical acclaim, Overwatch also received recognition due to its supportive community.
What Is Paladins?
Paladins: Champion of the Realm, better known as Paladins, is an online hero shooter video game.
Developed by Hi-Rez, this multiplayer game was made available in May 2018. This title also belongs to the ‘hero shooter’ category because it involved many hero characters.
The game is available for PlayStation 4, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The developers have not released a version for the new-generation Xbox consoles. It does not offer cross-platform gameplay, either.
Paladins has scored mixed to positive levels on different platforms. For instance, the Windows version of the game has received positive reviews for the most part.
Popular publications like Eurogamer, IGN, and Pocket Gamer have also praised the hero shooter game for its quality. The game has also won a few awards, such as the best free-to-play category from Global Game Awards.
The developers have not confirmed anything about a sequel. Paladins is comparatively more popular in the eSports scene, by the way.
Now that you know the basics of Overwatch and Paladins, shall we compare the games based on gameplay, modes, characters, maps, and popularity?
Overwatch Vs Paladins: Gameplay
We will talk about the gameplay of Overwatch and Paladins. Before that, you need a quick intro to the plot.
Overwatch Gameplay
The plot of Overwatch is set a few decades in the future, where technological development has reached the prime spot. The era has also survived something called the Omnic Crisis, the domination of hostile AI robots.
Following the successful attempts to protect the earth from robots, a team called Overwatch is formed. The UN dismantled the same via the Petras Act. Six years after the Petras Act, a former member and gorilla of the Overwatch team want to fight against terrorism and the potential Omnic Crisis worldwide.
The Overwatch gameplay is similar to other first-person shooter games you may have seen for an individual player. However, the matches on Overwatch are online and based on team activity.
Each team consists of six players, and each of them can select one of the 24+ available heroes. Each of these heroes will have their abilities and special skills. For instance, Damage heroes will impact the most amount of damage on the enemy, while Tank heroes will absorb damage from the enemy.
You will have an option to shift between heroes amidst the game. The objective is to deal the most damage and destroy the enemy team. Players will earn points for dealing more damage and healing allies.
As you can guess, the Overwatch gameplay requires a blend of skills, accuracy, and strategy. For instance, it is necessary to change the heroes based on the situation and the skills you need.
Because it is a multiplayer, online game, even the slightest movements would matter.
Paladins Gameplay
Unlike Overwatch, Paladins is set in a sci-fi fantasy world. This world is called Realm, and it is indicated on the full name of the game — Paladins: Champion of the Realm.
It is also worth noting that the plot for Paladins is inspired by modern sci-fi and medieval designs. For example, the heroes are similar to the medieval heroes you find in fantasy games.
On the other hand, these characters use modern weapons like shotguns instead of swords—the plot deals with the fight between the Magistrate and the Resistance.
Because it is a team-based game, players would be categorized into two teams. Each team will have five players each, and they have to use their skills and accuracy to defeat the other team.
Like we did in the case of Overwatch, players can choose one of the many champions. Unlike Overwatch, Paladins does not allow the change of the character in between the game.
However, Paladins allows the player to use skins and cards to improve the skills and abilities of the player. Customizable avatars and borders are some ways to turn the champion into a personalized character. The game also contains expansive lore for each character, which you can learn more about the backstory.
Paladins gives more importance to skills and accuracy. The game wants the player to turn the champion into the best fighter and use its skills in the best way possible. You can also choose between cards and load-outs for enhanced results.
Overwatch vs Paladins: Game Modes
We will now look at the different modes you can follow in both games.
Overwatch Game Modes
You can find seven different game modes on Overwatch. While these remain the constants, the developers introduce short-term modes during holidays and other seasons.
You can pick between regular competitive, quick play, and arcade modes from the given list.
- Assault Mode: The team with more objective points wins
- Escort Mode: The team has to escort the payload until the objective
- Hybrid Mode: In this mode, the team has to acquire the payload and escort it to the objective
- Control Mode: The team has to control the objective for a specific duration
- Capture the Flag: The team has to capture the other one’s flag and protect its flag
- Elimination Mode: The characters have only one life and one death
- Death Match: Not team-based; anyone can kill anyone; the last player standing wins
Rumors say that Overwatch will receive more modes following the launch of Overwatch 2. However, we may have to wait for these.
Paladins Game Modes
Compared to Overwatch, Paladins does not have many game modes. The developers had launched multiple modes initially, but they retired many of them following poor reception.
As of now, the developers are constantly working on the three primary playing modes.
- Siege Mode: In this mode, you have to capture objective points while escorting the payload to the destination.
- Onslaught Queue: You can find two sub-modes in this category.
- The Onslaught: It wants the team to win by earning more tickets. You can acquire tickets by killing the opponents or controlling the other team’s capture point.
- The King of the Hill: It is a special version. You can earn points by killing the opponents or holding the capture area. But the map keeps shifting to other places every 90 seconds.
- Team Death Match: The first team to reach 40 kills will win the match. The players will respawn in a few seconds after being killed.
We are not sure whether the developers want to add more gaming modes to Paladins. They seem to have their focus on fine-tuning what they have in hand.
Overwatch vs Paladins: Characters
Here is a quick overview of the characters you can choose on Overwatch and Paladins.
Characters in Overwatch
Overwatch lets you choose one of the 31 characters for your game. As we said, you can shift between all 31 characters within the game.
However, there are a few characters locked in the standard modes. Blizzard has introduced many characters after the launch, but diversity is another question. For one, the set of characters does not include women.
Nor are there many characters from less-represented communities. Of course, it has drawn criticism from players and reviewers. Rumors suggest that Overwatch 2 contains a more diverse collection of characters.
Characters in Paladins
Paladins also comes with a vast collection of characters that you can choose from. The difference is that you have to stick to a character throughout the match.
Therefore, you must be careful about the characters you pick before the game begins. On the other hand, Paladins comes with diverse characters, such as scientists, pixies, giant turtles, humans, and witches.
The team has added characters with mixed ethnicity and looks. Paladins is also appreciated for an updated set of characters. The developers introduce new characters with unique skill-sets.
Overwatch vs Paladins: Maps
Are you wondering about the availability of maps on Overwatch and Paladins?
Maps in Overwatch
You can choose between 21 maps while playing Overwatch. These maps are also quite detailed but may lack some extra features.
As you can guess, the developers have optimized the maps for team-based gameplay. It means the game has to strategize the movements to avoid attack and deal more damage.
Maps in Paladins
In comparison, Paladins does not have too many maps. You can choose between only 10 maps, but they have some unique characteristics.
For instance, you can find tunnels and hideouts in these maps. So, the gameplay allows different kinds of modes. You can also find unique maps during some matches.
If you want to try out different maps every single time, you may prefer Overwatch. However, the maps on Paladins are equally impressive.
Overwatch vs Paladins: Popularity
If we compare Overwatch and Paladins in terms of their popularity, it will be a tie. Of course, you may find that different players are interested in each game.
However, both team-based hero shooters are on the top list of popular multiplayer games. Overwatch has become one of the classic hero shooter games, thanks to its outstanding community and frequent updates. Players also love the game for its different playing modes and features.
Some also say that the graphics on Overwatch are pretty impressive. The snappier game engines and shining characters add a different feel to the gaming experience.
On the other hand, Paladins is more popular among those who love customizing their gameplay. We must also notice that Paladins is a free-to-play game while Overwatch is not.
Therefore, many players who do not want to spend on games choose Paladins over Overwatch. However, one reason that reduces the popularity of the shooter game is the limited availability. Paladins is not available for new-gen consoles.
Overwatch vs Paladins: Support
Support is an area where Overwatch overtakes Paladins — not by a long shot.
Compared to Paladins, Overwatch offers extended support from the developer. You can get frequent updates and patches from the developers. Yet, it is often said that Blizzard Entertainment does not listen to what the players want. For instance, the lack of a diverse character set is a big problem in the game.
On the other hand, Paladins is a little less premium when it comes to support. Of course, the developers can deliver major updates and features.
More importantly, these updates are based on what the players want. Unlike Overwatch, Paladins has introduced a diverse collection of characters, among other things.
Because it is a free-to-play game, however, you may find something to be a little less snappy.
The differences between the support offered by Overwatch and Paladins have to deal with the game. Rest assured, you can expect sufficient support and community resources to keep playing without hassles.
Conclusion
As you have seen, the Overwatch vs Paladins debate is quite detailed. We have tried to cover most of their characteristics in these sections.
We believe you can make a fair pick based on these pointers. Yet, if we are asked to recommend, we would recommend Overwatch for those who need a seamless gaming experience with dynamic graphics.
On the other hand, we recommend Paladins to those who need a little more space for customization and strategic gameplay.
References
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