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When Riot Games first announcedValorant, the gaming community went wild with excitement. The prospect of a new tactical shooter from the League of Legends developers was enough to pique the interest of gamers worldwide. However, as more details about the game emerged, many began to draw comparisons betweenValorantand Blizzard’s popular hero shooter,Overwatch.
Let’s just say that the similarities were hard to ignore. From the colorful cast of characters to each agent’s unique abilities,Valorantseemed to be borrowing heavily fromOverwatch‘s playbook. This led to a barrage of criticism, with many accusing Riot of creating nothing more than anOverwatchknockoff.
Now, withValorantgearing up for its highly anticipated console debut, the comparisons between the two games have once again become a hot topic of discussion among their respective fanbases.
TheOverwatchParallels: A Closer Look
As someone who has sunk countless hours into bothOverwatch(plus its so-called “sequel”)andValorant, it’s impossible to deny some of the striking likeliness between the two games.
Let’s take a look at some of the most glaring examples:
“There are gamers that like team play but don’t like the MOBA genre”: Valorant Was Specifically Created to Fill a Gap Call of Duty and Rainbow Six Couldn’t
We could go on, but you get the point:ValorantandOverwatchshare many similarities when it comes to character design and agent/hero abilities.
Valorant‘s Defense: It’s All About the Gameplay
Despite the numerous comparisons toOverwatch,Valorant‘s developers have maintained that their game is a different beast entirely. In an interview withInven Globalfrom back when the game was first announced,Valorant‘s then-game director, Joe Ziegler, had this to say:
In Valorant, we wanted to allow players to create drastic turnarounds through individual skills even if the teamwork didn’t work out. So that they can feel the biggest thrill and catharsis.
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This emphasis on individual skill and the ability to carry games through sheer mechanical prowess is what setsValorantapart from hero shooters likeOverwatch, according to Ziegler. WhileOverwatchrelies heavily on teamwork and coordination,Valorantallows for more“solo-carry”potential.
The Verdict: IsValorantJust anOverwatchClone?
After spending a significant amount of time with both games, it’s clear that, whileValorantmay share some superficial similarities withOverwatch, the two games are fundamentally different.Inspired?Absolutely.Knock-off?Not at all!
Yes, some ofValorant‘s agents may bear a resemblance to certainOverwatchheroes, but the way they play out within the context of the game is entirely different.Valorant‘s focus on precise gunplay, economy management, and round-based gameplay sets it apart fromOverwatch‘s more chaotic, objective-based matches.
Valve’s Overwatch-esque 6v6 Deadlock Gameplay Leaks, and It Might Not be Half Life 3, but it Still Looks Brain-Bending Good Fun
That being said, it’s hard,very hard, to ignore the fact thatValorantdoes draw inspiration fromOverwatch‘s aesthetic and character design. While this may be a turnoff for some players, it’s important to remember that no game exists in a vacuum. Every title is influenced by the games that came before it, and Valorant is no exception.
Valorant is available on PC via Riot’s official website and the Epic Games Store, with a limited beta for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S set to begin on July 28, 2025.
Overwatch 2 is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Soumyajit Mukherjee
Gaming Writer
Articles Published :967
Soumyajit Mukherjee is a Gaming Writer at FandomWire, known for his deep dives into tactical shooters and co-op games. Since joining in June 2024, he’s focused on breakout multiplayer titles like Helldivers 2 and Marvel Rivals, bringing sharp analysis and veteran instincts to every story. His gaming journey began at a local café with the OG Modern Warfare 2, and from that very first frag, he’s been chasing the rush ever since.A former competitive Rainbow Six Siege team captain, Soumyajit has played and written about everything from CS:GO, Valorant, Overwatch, and Apex Legends to Rocket League, Call of Duty, and Battlefield. He’s proudly PC-first and has been since said LAN days… but with GTA 6 looming on the horizon, a long-overdue PS5 might finally sneak onto his setup.
