Overwatch is a fast-paced FPS game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment in 2016. The game features a character system with more than 30 characters. Each character has their own playstyle and skills that are divided into 3 general roles Tank, Damage, Support.

Overwatch is a fast-paced FPS game developed and published by Blizzard Entertainment in 2016

In the game, players will be assigned to a team of six to fight against another team to complete certain objectives depending on the game mode. There is currently a total of 7 game modes in Overwatch at the moment. Other than that, there are also special game modes occasionally during events. Each game mode has its own set of maps, which made it more refreshing to play.

Today, in this article, we discuss how to play all Overwatch Gameplay modes.

Table of Contents

1. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Assault

The Assault mode is one of the most popular Overwatch gameplay modes. In Assault mode, the attacking team must take over two capture points in order to win while the defending team must prevent them from doing so until the time runs out. When the first capture point is taken, the timer will increase and both teams will have a new spawn location. There will be overtime if the point is still being contested by the attacking team and it will last as long they are on the point.

In Assault mode, the attacking team must take over two capture points in order to win

In order to capture a point, one member of the attacking team must stay in the marked area while no member of the other team is in there. The capture points will be taken when the progression reached 100%.

There is a total of 5 maps in Assualt mode:

  • Hanamura
  • Horizon Lunar Colony
  • Temple of Anubis
  • Volskaya Industries
  • Paris

2. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Control

In Control mode, 2 two teams fight over a capture point in a best-of-3 format. Whichever team reaches 100% first win the round. There is no time limit in this mode. All three rounds will be in the same map. Each round will be held in a different area of the map with a new capture point. More players (cap at 3) in a capture area will increase the capture speed.

In Control mode, 2 two teams fight over a capture point in a best-of-3 format

There is a total of 5 maps in Control mode:

  • Lijiang Tower
  • Nepal
  • Ilios
  • Oasis
  • Busan

3. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Escort

Escort is a mode where the attacking team must protect a payload to the delivery point while the defending team must stall them until the timer runs out. There are 2-3 checkpoints on the way to the final destination.

Whenever the payload reaches a checkpoint, the timer will increase. The spawn locations of both teams will also be changed when a checkpoint is reached.

Escort is a mode where the attacking team must protect a payload to the delivery point

There is a total of 6 maps in Escort mode:

  • Watchpoint: Gibraltar
  • Dorado
  • Havana
  • Route 66
  • Junkertown
  • Rialto

4. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Hybrid

Hybrid mode is the combination of 2 Overwatch gameplay modes Assault mode and Escort mode. The mode starts with the Assault mode and continues with the Escort mode. These modes work the same as the normal Assualt and Escort mode.

Hybrid mode is the combination of 2 Overwatch gameplay modes Assault mode and Escort mode

There is a total of 5 maps in Hybrid mode:

  • King's Row
  • Numbani
  • Hollywood
  • Eichenwalde
  • Blizzard World

5. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Capture the Flag

In Capture the Flag mode, there is a flag for each on each side of the map. The main objective is to take the enemy's flag and bring it to the position of your team's flag while defending your own flag.

The team that reaches 3 points first will win the game. If the 5-minute timer run out before that happens the team with more points win.

The main objective is to take the enemy's flag and bring it to the position of your team's flag while defending your own flag

The game mode will not end if both team's flag is outside of their base. If the score is tied, a Sudden Death round will start with the positions of 2 flags closer to one another. The team who scored the first point win.

There is a total of 6 maps in Capture the Flag mode:

  • Ayutthaya
  • Busan (Downtown & Sanctuary only)(Lunar New Year only)
  • Ilios
  • Lijiang Tower
  • Nepal
  • Oasis

6. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Deathmatch

Deathmatch mode is a game mode with 8 players who play in a free-for-all format. Players kill each other to get points. The player who gets 20 points first or has the highest score when the 10-minute timer runs out will win the game.

Deathmatch mode is a game mode with 8 players who play in a free-for-all format

There is another variation of Deathmatch with 2 teams of 4 players. The team that scores 30 points first will win the game.

These are the maps that are available in Deathmatch mode:

  • Black Forest
  • Blizzard World**
  • Castillo
  • Château Guillard
  • Dorado**
  • Ecopoint: Antarctica
  • Eichenwalde**
  • Hanamura**
  • Havana**
  • Hollywood**
  • Horizon Lunar Colony**
  • Ilios*
  • King's Row**
  • Lijiang Tower*
  • Necropolis
  • Nepal*
  • Oasis*
  • Paris**
  • Petra
  • Temple of Anubis**
  • Volskaya Industries**

7. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Elimination

In elimination mode, players can fight 1vs1,  3vs3, or 6vs6 against another team. The team who completely eliminates the other team wins the round. Players do not respawn in the same round they were killed. Heroes used during a winning round cannot be picked again.

The team who completely eliminates the other team wins the round in Elimination mode

In 1vs1, one side needs to win 5 rounds to win. In 3vs3 and 6vs6, one side needs to win 3 rounds to win.

There is a total of 9 maps in Elimination mode:

  • Ayutthaya
  • Black Forest
  • Castillo
  • Ecopoint: Antarctica
  • Ilios*
  • Lijiang Tower*
  • Necropolis
  • Nepal*
  • Oasis

8. Overwatch Gameplay Modes - Seasonal Game Modes

Seasonal game modes are modes that only appear during events and they have different gameplay to other games mode in the game.

When Overwatch 2 is released there will be a few other modes such as Overwatch gameplay story mode and Hero Missions mode.

Also check out: Is Overwatch Free To Play? A Basic Introduction To This FPS Title From Blizzard