Seriously, Play Loverwatch, the Overwatch Dating Simulator

Valentine’s Day is behind us, but don’t worry: you can still flirt with Overwatch heroes and date them in Loverwatch. Loverwatch is a web-based dating sim – the biggest and best surprise in Overwatch 2.

In the game, you’re guided by Hanzo in the form of Cupid as he helps you find your way to Genji’s or Mercy’s heart – whether that means friendship or romance is up to you. The journey will take you to Overwatch locations like a comedy club in Midtown and a five-star restaurant in Circuit Royale while you hang out with your date and get to know them better. It’s a hilarious ride filled with self-aware jokes and a surprising amount of heart.

You can play Loverwatch by going to loverwatch.gg. It plays right in your web browser – no download required. Just follow the on-screen prompts, follow Cupid’s advice, and interact with your dates. If you log in to your Battle.net account, you can earn in-game rewards for earning the admiration of Overwatch heroes.

As I mentioned in CNET season 3 guide, the Overwatch list is full of eligible dates. Of those 30+ heroes, however, Genji and Mercy are two of the most popular, with plenty of backstory to draw from. This makes them good choices for Loverwatch, which is hopefully just the first iteration of a larger Overwatch dating sim. The game itself hints at the hope of doing more.

Loverwatch, as strange and unexpected as the project may seem, is one of the best things Overwatch has produced. CNET was able to speak to the game’s writers and brand manager during media interviews the day after its launch. Here’s what we’ve learned about the game’s origins and the potential for fans to get more in the future.

Is Loverwatch canon?

No. The writers took inspiration from the characters’ personalities based on long-standing lore and in-game interactions, but the events of the dating sim aren’t canon. The game stipulates that before players start wooing the hero of their choice.

How to get the secret ending

For reward hunters: Genji and Mercy are the two options at the start of the game, but they’re not the only hearts you can earn. If you manage to make a connection with the two heroes, you’ll unlock a secret ending where Cupid himself tells you that he admires your devotion to love in all its forms. You will get a one-time reward for completing this ending, which will be transferred to your Battle.net account.

Why a dating simulation?

Overwatch has needed something like this for years. It’s a bright, dynamic game filled with characters that inspire late-night lore-binging sessions, but the base game is a competitive shooter – not the most inviting or accessible environment for everyone. world. A dating sim is a great way for Blizzard to introduce the game and its characters to more people without asking them to go through the terrors of online matchmaking. The writers do a stellar job of slipping in-jokes into the dialogue for people who have been playing for years, while also providing context for people who might have joined in when Overwatch 2 launched as a free-to-play game.

The developers seem to be aware of the potential for engagement outside of core gameplay. Overwatch brand manager Beth Bryson said that as part of the game’s new free-to-play model, “We’re going to give [fans] ways to experience the world of Overwatch and learn about and interact with our heroes in unique and different ways”, and Loverwatch is the introductory path.

According to Senior Narrative Designer Miranda Moyer, heroes are the lifeblood of the game, and Overwatch developers were excited to give fans the ability to interact with these heroes in a more character-centric experience. Moyer wrote Genji’s path in the dating sim.

Narrative Designer Kyungseo Min, who wrote Mercy’s Path, said, “We wanted [expand the universe] in a way where we wanted to include community members who felt a bit left out of the PVP experience,” and that a project like Loverwatch gives them the opportunity to grow while being inclusive.

Will there be more Overwatch dating sims?

Everyone who plays the game seems to be asking for more. Bryson said the hope is that the response from gamers will be big enough to explore other avenues like Loverwatch. “I think there’s a very big appetite for it within the team. No promises, but we certainly defend ourselves if the players jump in and enjoy it.”

Moyer added, “There’s absolutely a lot of excitement behind this project, and we have a ton of ideas for the rest of the cast.”

Maybe your ultimate hope is to be able to woo the troubled but healthy members of Overwatch or the more complicated heroes like Ashe or the members of Talon. Or maybe you just have an unquenchable thirst for one of the omnics of the game. Either way, the best way to guarantee this possibility is to go and play Loverwatch right now. Trust me, it’s worth the roughly 10 minutes a single game will take you, and you’ll be helping the entire Overwatch community by advancing our obsession.

For more on Overwatch, check out how the new hero expands the lore of the game And what you can find in the new map.