Summary
Overwatch 2is known for having some of the best character designs in the hero shooter realm. Blizzard goes above and beyond to craft heroes and villains that look superb and are full of unique characteristics. Each character also comes with their own compelling lore that attaches them to the overarching story surrounding the many battles insideOverwatch 2.
For a game that doesn’t have a traditional story mode, the character lore inOverwatch 2has always stood out, so much so that fans have been calling for anOverwatchTV series for nine years. With42 playable heroes (currently)and a new one on the way, it’s hard to see how Blizzard keeps hitting fans with great lore. This list takes a look at which characters have the best lore inOverwatch 2.
10Ana Amari
Ana Amari is a support hero inOverwatch 2,known for healing alliesand using sleep darts to disable enemies. A founding member of the original Overwatch, Ana was once the world’s best sniper and served as a strike commander well into her fifties. Her career was thought to have ended when she was presumed killed by Talon sniper Widowmaker.
Years later, Ana reemerged, revealing she had survived the attack but lost her right eye. After spending time in hiding and reflecting on a life of conflict, she returned to protect her hometown in Egypt. Answering Winston’s Overwatch Recall, Ana rejoined the fight and helped rebuild the team — recruiting new and old allies, including her daughter, Pharah, alongside Cole Cassidy.
What’s appealing about Ana’s lore is her resilience. The shot from Widowmaker was a major blow to her confidence. But, despite her aging, she still responds to her heroic sense of duty and helps to reform Overwatch for the next generation.
9Genji
The Ninja Slayed By His Brother And Rebuilt With Cybernetics
Genji is the younger brother of Hanzo. Both are sons of the Shimada clan. The Shamada clan is a known criminal empire that breeds fierce assassins, and so both brothers were born into this reality.
They trained under Asa Yamagami, the mother of Kiriko Kamori. During their training, it was clear that Genji was rebellious against the ways of the Shimada clan. When Master Shimada passes away, the burden of carrying on the clan’s legacy falls on Hanzo’s shoulders. Hanzo is pressured to deal with his wayward brother, leading to a conflict whereHanzo seemingly kills Genji.
However, Genji survives with the help of Overwatch Medic, Mercy. Genji is revived with high-end cybernetics that become a part of his new identity. Genji joins the Overwatch covert group, Blackwatch, determined to dismantle his family’s empire. He crosses paths with Hanzo on the anniversary of his death, revealing that he survived. After an intense fight, he forgives Hanzo, encouraging him to move on from their damaged family legacy and forge a path of his own. Genji’s story is one of strength and identity, showing that people can make their own decisions despite the grim circumstances they’re born into.
8Doomfist
When Shattered Dreams Fuel A Desire For World Domination
Doomfist’s story is the perfect villain arc. Akande Ogundimu, known as Doomfist, was born into a wealthy Nigerian family that owned a prosthetic technology company. He was a gifted martial artist, until his career was cut short during the Omnic Crisis when he lost an arm. Though his family replaced the arm with advanced prosthetics, he could no longer compete, leaving him directionless.
Akande found purpose under the mentorship of Akinjide Adeyemi, the then-current Doomfist and a leader within the shadowy organization, Talon. But, Akande’s ambitions outgrew his mentor’s vision. He killed Akinjide and took the title of Doomfist for himself, reshaping Talon into a powerful military force and drawing Overwatch’s attention.
Eventually captured by a strike team of Tracer, Genji, and Winston, Doomfist was imprisoned and stripped of his iconic gauntlet. However, his capture was only a setback. With Talon’s help, Doomfist escaped and reclaimed his gauntlet — ready to bring about his new world order. Doomfist’s lore is spectacular because it makes for a compelling villain arc that fans would love to see play out in a full-length feature.
7Reinhardt
A Battle-Tested Soldier Forced To Accept His Mentor’s Sacrifice
Reinhardt was once a decorated German soldier and part of the Crusaders, a military wing in the German Armed Forces. During the battle of Eichenwald, Reinhardt’s mentor, Balderich von Adler, ordered him to protect his comrades from death, leaving him to take on a deadly squad of Bastion omnic robots alone. Balderich’s death changed Reinhardt forever, and he carried it with him long after he accepted the invitation to join Overwatch.
What makes Reinhardt’s lore so intriguing is that his presence throughout the overarching lore is felt. Like Ana, Reinhardt is well into his fifties and full of wisdom to guide the younger members of Overwatch.
His history is ingrained in pivotal plot points throughout theOverwatch 2lore, from the Battle of Eichenwald to the strike on Anubis that led to the end of the Omnic Crisis — and later, responding to Winston’s Recall, which brings Reinhardt out of retirement. Reinhardt has seen and experienced many things in his backstory, which makes him one of the standout heroes to this day.
6Sombra
An Expert Hacker Searching For The Truth
In a world of rapidly developing technology, the rebellious hacker story is always a compelling one.Sombra fits this hacker archetype perfectlyas one of the game’s best morally ambiguous characters.
Olivia Colomar, known as Sombra, was orphaned during the Omnic Crisis and survived with her exceptional hacking skills. She joined the gang, Los Muertos, taking on high-profile hacks until she stumbled upon a global conspiracy that forced her to erase her identity and go underground.
Re-emerging with cybernetic enhancements, Sombra sets her sights on uncovering the truth behind the conspiracy and freeing her homeland. Her talents soon drew the attention of Talon, where she joined forces with Doomfist and Reaper.
One thing that stands out about Sombra as a character is that her motivations come from the tragedies she experienced in Mexico. Despite being a villain inOverwatch 2, the character carries herself in a way that she could believably rebel against Talon at any moment. This is hinted at in the Volskaya Industries mission when she refused to assassinate the target Katya and instead used her as a personal informant. Sombra’s personal goals take precedence over Talon. This is one character that could one day have a redemption arc.
5Hammond (Wrecking Ball)
This Is What Happens When A Hamster Escapes
Hammond, known as Wrecking Ball, is a genetically modified hamster. He was experimented on at Horizon Lunar Colony, where animals received gene therapy to aid their habitation on the moon. As Hammond’s intelligence grew, he became more curious about the world around him.
Hammond frequently escaped into other sections of the base. Scientists would find him and return him to his cage, not realizing that Hammond was up to something. During his nightly escapades, Hammond was developing his skills as an engineer, building his own escape pod. One day, some of the gorillas on the base rose up against the scientists, including Winston. Winston had planned to leave the base for Earth and discovered that Hammond, too, was trying to leave.
Hammond hitched his escape pod onto Winston’s craft, and together, they blasted off, heading for Earth. Hammond would later settle in the Junkertown scrapyard, where he transformed his escape pod into a powerful mech known as Wrecking Ball. Wrecking Ball’s story is superb because it’s true to his nature. Anyone who has owned a hamster knows how much of a mystery it is when they go missing. Winston and Hammond escaping from their prison of experimentation together makes for a heartwarming story of liberation.
4Bastion
A Weapon Built For Destruction Learns To Love Nature
Bastion E-54 units were originally designed by Torbjörn to be peacekeeping robots. However, during the Omnic Crisis, Bastion units were turned against humanity, forming the bulk of the omnic army. With the Bastion unit’s ability to transform into an assault cannon, it made them devastating machines to go up against.
After the Omnic Crisis, most of the Bastion units were destroyed and disassembled, but one unit went forgotten for a decade. This Bastion was dormant for years, being overcome by rust and vines. One day, Bastion unexpectedly reactivated — but with his combat programming lost, he instead took an interest in his surroundings. He befriended animals around him, including his trusted birdy.
Bastion journeys through the wilds until he ends up in Sweden, where he’s united with Torbjörn. Surprised by Bastion’s change in behavior, Torbjörn fixes him up and frees him of his wartime programming. Now, Bastion spends his time assisting Torbjörn in his workshop, assisting the humans he once fought against.
Bastion has a serene story that’s full of self-discovery. It’s a story that many could imagine as a feature-length animated film that highlights the beauty of a machine built for war learning to love humanity and nature.
3Widowmaker
Forced To Assassinate Her Own Husband
The story ofOverwatch 2’s most deadly sniper is heartbreaking. Amélie Lacroix, known as Widowmaker, was once a ballet sensation. She grew up in rural France and married the love of her life, Gérard Lacroix, who was an Overwatch agent set on dismantling Talon.
Talon saw an opportunity to weaken Gérard’s attempts by kidnapping his unsuspecting wife, Amélie. While captured by Talon, Améliesuffered immense brainwashing. Meanwhile, Gérard exhausted every resource to rescue his wife. To Gérard’s delight, Overwatch rescued Amélie, and their tests led them to believe she was fine.
Sadly, the tests proved inaccurate. Amélie had given into Talon’s brainwashing, leading her to kill her husband Gérard in his sleep. After this tragic assassination, Amélie fled into the arms of Talon, becoming one of their most valuable agents. She leaves her ballet shoes behind and falls in love with her beloved sniper rifle, taking on the moniker of Widowmaker.
Widowmaker is a key member of Talon, assisting them in many of the game’s biggest plot points, such as the retrieval of Doomfist’s gauntlet, as well as the mission where she bested Overwatch’s famed sniper Ana Amari.
What’s gripping here is how Widowmaker’s backstory is executed in her character design and personality. Her passion for ballet is still inside her, made clear by how she moves around the battlefield. Widowmaker uses the thrill of sniping to mask the deep pain caused by her past and the harm she inflicted upon her love.
2Reaper
A Former Overwatch Commander Who Turned To The Dark Side
Reaper is another baddie who started on a righteous path. Gabriel Reyes, known as Reaper, grew up in Los Angeles, serving first in the LAPD and later in the army, where he was selected for the Soldier Enhancement Program. There, he gained superhuman abilities alongside Jack Morrison (Soldier 76), whom he befriended during the Omnic Crisis. Both later joined Overwatch but drifted apart, with Morrison appointed Strike Commander and Reyes leading the covert Blackwatch division.
Frustrated by bureaucracy and red tape limiting Overwatch’s effectiveness, Reyes became disillusioned — particularly after speaking with the captured Doomfist, who convinced him that real change required more drastic measures.
Overwatch disbanded after a Blackwatch mission went wrong, causing public outrage. Reyes and Morrison engaged in a heated argument at the Swiss Overwatch base. This argument turned violent, and a devastating explosion rocked the base, with both Reyes and Soldier 76 caught in the inferno. Reyes barely survived the blast, and he woke up to treatment from Dr. Moira O’Deorain, who he himself hired. To save him, Moira infused his body with chemicals that now allow him to manipulate his form. Reyes re-emerged as Reaper and joined Talon on the anniversary of Overwatch’s demise. Doomfist and Reaper have the aligned goal of bringing about a new world order.
Reaper’s story is one that is so ingrained in all the game’s major story arcs that he’s perhaps one of the best-developed characters from the game’s original cast. Hisdescent from hero to villainis compelling, making him a truly complex character.
1Sigma
A Scientist Haunted By The Universe’s Secrets
Dr. Siebren de Kuiper (Sigma) is trapped in his own cycle of madness after an experiment gone wrong that granted him the ability to control gravity. Dr. Kuiper believed gravity could be harnessed, envisioning a future where humanity controlled black holes. While conducting experiments aboard a space station, an accident occurred, exposing him directly to a black hole’s power.
Though Kuiper survived and was evacuated, he suffered severe psychological damage. Authorities quarantined him on Earth, labeling him “Subject Sigma,” believing he posed a danger to others.
Sigma’s mental state is a manic cycle between three personalities: one that wishes for the betterment of humanity, one who wants to be free, and one who seeks control.
After learning about the scientist’s quarantine, Talon took interest in Sigma, believing that his genius would be an asset to them. A Talon squad infiltrated the facility and freed him. Talon told Sigma he was now free to develop his power and unlock the secrets of the universe, all while benefiting from his terrifying abilities.
What stands out aboutSigma’s lore, is the depth and detail put into every aspect of the character, right down to his voice lines in-game and his character reveal video. What Sigma saw in that black hole sent his mind into a rapid cycle of pain and discovery. When he’s chained up and imprisoned at the facility, he cannot understand why he’s imprisoned for witnessing such an incredible event. And, long after the accident, Sigma continues to hear the universe singing to him.
