The perception of Overwatch 2 tends to vary, as Blizzard's flagship title has very polarized ratings. However, the game's status as one of the biggest first-person shooters in the live-service market is undeniable. Its unique blend of PvP modes and co-op gameplay has drawn players in droves, and the developer keeps its fans engaged with an assortment of Brawl modes. Some of these Brawls have enjoyed substantial support, and there is a case for recent events like Catch-a-Mari to become permanent modes in Overwatch 2.
Since the title's release last year, several limited-time events have come and gone, with Blizzard consistently crafting modes inspired by seasonal themes and Greek mythology. Recent Overwatch 2 events like Winter Wonderland and the Battle for Olympus have run into problems with content recycling and lackluster rewards, but Overwatch has a history of recovering from rocky releases, and the title is looking to continue its rebound with Catch-a-Mari. Given Catch-a-Mari's popularity, Overwatch 2 could benefit by adding Deathmatch and a few other Brawls to its main lineup.
Overwatch 2's Memorable Brawls Should be Permanent
Modern first-person shooter games lean on themed events for player engagement, as seen in the case of Destiny 2's Raid Races, and Overwatch 2 has kept up with the times through its own seasonal events. One such event in recent memory was the Parchi-Marchi Spring theme, coined to celebrate the month of March. Parchi-Marchi introduced Catch-a-Mari, a new limited-time deathmatch mode that put a unique spin on traditional Elimination Modes requiring players to pick up Pachimari toys dropped by opponents in order to score points. As an added thrill, enemies' teammates could capture the dropped Pachimari of their fallen comrade to prevent the other team from scoring.
Fans of the Call of Duty franchise identified with Catch-a-Mari due to its similarities with the popular Kill Confirmed game mode, which requires players to collect dog tags of fallen enemies. Another factor that played a role in Catch-a-Mari's popularity was the return of the adorable Pachimari characters, who were part of the Overwatch franchise early in its first installment. The rewards were also generous, with an Epic Roadhog skin and Pachimari cosmetics up for grabs. In a game that is often criticized for its scant skins, Catch-a-Mari's rewards proved to be an added incentive for players.
Another Brawl that should be on Blizzard's radar is the legendary Junkenstein's Revenge. The Halloween-themed event is one of the most successful in the history of the Overwatch franchise, and subsequent events have long tried to replicate its achievements. Many players will fondly recall the thick tension that came with guarding the Eichenwalde castle gate against a mindless horde of zombie Omnics. A big drawing factor behind Junkenstein's Revenge is its deep concept, which can be spun in numerous ways to tell unique stories and has the potential to be expanded upon through the new PvE missions in Overwatch 2.
While Blizzard focuses on creating never-before-seen content and adding features to previously successful events, the developer would reap a lot of benefits for adding events with a track record of success to its already impressive arsenal of modes. Junkenstein's Revenge and Catch-a-Mari, a legendary old event and one fresh in the memory of players, can be the starting point of implementation more popular game modes in permanent rotation for Overwatch 2.
Overwatch 2 is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.