Overwatch 2’s upcoming PvE content may be switching over to a live service release format, but if all the content that was originally planned ends up releasing, then fans have a lot to look forward to. Blizzard has promised hundreds of Overwatch 2 side missions alongside the proper story missions, with characters set to get skill trees. Useful item pickups like deployable turrets could also shake the gameplay up in a big way, but if Blizzard wanted to make its co-op gameplay even more exciting, it could add a full-on horror mode.
Blizzard has already experimented with the horde mode style through Junkenstein’s Revenge, an entertaining Overwatch 2 mode that returns during every Halloween Terror event. However, while the narration, unique dialogue, and core mechanics of defending the castle door are fun enough, this brawl has grown stale after years of availability. A proper horde mode could be a lot more complex, and if done correctly, it could rival something like Call of Duty Zombies.
What an Overwatch 2 Horde Mode Should Be Like
For starters, instead of defending a door from waves of Zomnics like in Junkenstein’s Revenge, the goal could simply be to survive. This would make the mode a lot more replayable, as Blizzard could give fans access to a wider variety of locations and maps to fight through. Though Easter eggs like Banshee Moira and the hidden room from Wrath of the Bride could be featured, the main focus could remain on staying alive, with the gameplay being simple enough that everyone can have fun while still offering a growing challenge depending on how long players manage to survive.
Moving away from a single map and the “protect the door” objective would be an excellent first step for replayability, and Blizzard could take things a step further by introducing the main co-op mode's item drops via an in-game buy station. Letting players purchase health packs, turrets, Ultimate chargers, and more via these buy stations could help careful players get into higher rounds. Blizzard could even try to utilize something like Call of Duty Zombies’ Pack-a-Punch machine, letting players upgrade Genji’s shuriken or Tracer’s pistols.
Enemy variety could be a major highlight of a wave-based Overwatch 2 mode. Not only could Zomnics return, but so too could all the robots from the Uprising mission. Talon’s various enemy types could be included, with Heavies dropping in every few rounds to keep players on their toes. All the new Omnics being introduced in Overwatch 2’s PvE mode could also be included in the lineup, ensuring that there is a ton of variety and that no match feels the same.
Proper leaderboards for this horde mode would be great, as would some different difficulty levels. With Overwatch 2’s challenge system in place, too, there could be a lot of rewards on offer. Players that hit certain round milestones could get exclusive sprays, with name cards, souvenirs, and even skins possible the further they go. If the rewards are good enough, more could be motivated to try out the mode, and if the gameplay is strong they will likely stay hooked.
Lastly, if Blizzard wanted to set this hypothetical horde mode in an original map instead of a repurposed one from multiplayer, letting players fight through an Omnium would make perfect sense. These facilities are used to forge robots like Ramattra, and in theory they could produce an infinite amount of Omnic enemies to fight. The technology within them could also push factions like Talon to enter the facilities to secure it, which would justify the use of its soldiers for even greater enemy variety and tougher waves. With so many assets available to Blizzard that could easily be repurposed for a deep horde mode, hopefully the developer considers adding one for PvE fans to enjoy down the road.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
