Why Overwatch's Mystery Heroes is the Best Arcade Mode

Competitive shooter games can be, for the average player, fun or a headache. For me, Overwatch is my shooter of choice. Since launch, I've been addicted to the colorful and fast pace game style but the competitive mode can leave much to be desired (between aimbots and "this game is my job, my life" players) for an average "I like to just chill and play games" player. That is why I spend all of my time in arcade mode, specifically mystery heroes!

I first played mystery heroes after a year hiatus from the game. I logged on and did a quick play match but was immediately turned off by the raging players. I decided to try mystery heroes since I wanted to play different characters without the stress of role picking, etc. I remember my first character was Winston and immediately felt terrible because I sucked (arguably still suck" with him. 10 seconds in, I died and I was preparing myself for the chat window to explode. Nothing. Crickets. I spawned in as Soldier 76, a character I played quite a bit of, and was met with the same fate. The other team had two Pharahs floating in the sky after all. Still nothing from the chat and as I watched as my teammates around me were met with rockets, I realized that a) everyone is dying super-fast and b) nobody cares.

The thing I love about mystery heroes is the ability to practice all heroes without the stress of needing to fulfill roles as best you can. When playing quick play or competitive play I found myself constantly choosing the same characters and roles because they were my "safety" picks. Better to use a character I'm good at than to be dead weight. It got boring very quick. With mystery heroes, you don't have a choice and if you find yourself running off the side of the map because you don't want to play a character, you find yourself back in that character's shoes. Forced practice right? The game mode takes the stress of role fulfillment and character selection away and it also gives players a chance to practice new or less used characters. Of course in every mode, you have people that take the game too seriously, but in arcade mode those moments are far and few in between. I've had plenty of laughs and good cheers all around though. When your team wins with a 4 healer, 2 dps combo, the random team comps make the wins feel so earned.

I find that this specific arcade mode also improved my ability to think on my feet and adapt to the ever-changing team roster. One minute you could be attached to a player healing (via a character named Mercy), the next minute you could be dropping shields and tanking the incoming damage to protect your teammates behind you. Each character has a unique set of abilities and when switching characters, you really have to adapt to not only the specific skills but also the way you play them in regards to their roles (tank, dps, or healing) and range of abilities (up close or far away combat). And when the match ends and you land yourself in the spotlight of "play of the game" with a character you're not confident in, it does wonders for self-improvement.

Of course, the arcade mode features plenty of rotating game modes from capture the flag matches to holiday themed events like "Lucio Ball" (which is basically a soccer or fútbol match) that can keep you busy. I just love how mystery heroes can make you a better player without really trying. If you find yourself interested in jumping into Overwatch or need a break from competitive and repetitive play, hop into mystery heroes and if you ever match up with me, say hello!