Overwatch 2 review – a free-to-play shooter for the rest of us

PC, Xbox, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch; Activision Blizzard
It's not really a sequel, but Overwatch's enthusiastic rejection of self-serious military shooters still draws you in

If Overwatch 2 were a movie, it would probably be called a reboot or a reimagining rather than a sequel. This is the same team-based sci-fi shooter we've been playing since 2016, with mostly the same characters battling it out with familiar moves. The biggest change is economic: Overwatch has now gone free-to-play, meaning you can download it on to your PC or console and start blasting without paying a penny.

The game has been refitted to work with that infamous talisman of the free-to-play shooter: the Fortnite-style battle pass. If you want to customise your costume and weapons - or play as Kiriko, one of the three new characters - you'll either need to play a lot of the game, completing daily challenges and working your way through the tiers before the season ends ... or just buy the Battle Pass. Some cosmetic items will only be available if you pay for a subscription or buy them directly from the shop. You don't need them, but if you're a completist about weapon charms and rare costumes, you might find your cursor inching toward the buy credits" button.