Overwatch 2 vs Valorant Comparison [2024] – Which One Is Better?

The Overwatch vs Valorant battle has been going on for more than 4 year snow. Both games are great, which one is better?

Whether we like it or not, Valorant and Overwatch 2 are two games that have a lot in common. Although most people compare Valorant to CS2, the latter is also often compared to Overwatch 2 because it is also a shooter. With that said, we believe that Valorant falls in the middle between Overwatch 2 and CS2 because it features elements from both games.

The fact that these two games have a lot of similarities means they also attract the same types of players. That’s why people often want to know, “Is Valorant better than Overwatch” or is it the other way around?

We can debate a lot about it, so let’s learn about the Overwatch 2 vs Valorant comparison and see which one is better.

Valorant vs Overwatch 2 Comparison – Players

The first metric that we want to use for our Overwatch 2 vs Valorant comparison to see which one is better is the player count. What’s important to know here is that Overwatch is the older game because it has been around for several years now. However, Overwatch 2 became available in late 2022, which means the latest version of Blizzard’s title is technically newer.

Valorant, on the other hand, became available in 2020. Since then, Riot Games’ title has slowly but steadily become one of the most popular options in the world. That said, when you compare it with Overwatch 2, you can see that the numbers are similar.

Depending on which platform you check, it seems like both games have around 20M active players. Every source is different, so it’s hard to verify this information, so you will have to take our word for it.

Overwatch vs Valorant – Gameplay & Heroes/Agents

Where things become similar in our Overwatch 2 vs Valorant Comparison is in the gameplay and heroes/characters. When talking about Gameplay, Valorant is actually much more similar to CS2 than OW. The game has rounds, and players must buy guns for the specific round. Moreover, players can pick up guns from the ground and use a wide range of alternatives.

Sadly, this is not the case in Overwatch 2. People who haven’t played the game before must know that Overwatch 2 allows you to pick a hero, and that hero comes with his own unique gun. You do not need to buy it because the hero spawns with it, but you can’t switch it for other things as well.

When discussing the gameplay differences in the Overwatch 2 vs Valorant comparison, we must also address the lack of nades in Blizzard’s title. At the time of writing, Blizzard is yet to add grenades. The only utility in the game is the ability of some heroes, and not everyone has something. On the other hand, the utility of Valorant is more prominent because there are more things to choose from, but it really depends on the Agent. For example, Controllers may have a lot of utility, but the same is not true for Duelists.

Regarding the comparison of Agents vs Heroes, we can see a lot of similarities. The positions in Overwatch 2 are only 3 – DPS, Tank, and Support, whereas in Valorant, you have Controllers, Duelists, Sentinels, and Initiators. Each hero/agent that falls into the role has unique abilities and an ultimate. This is also true for Overwatch 2.

Overwatch 2 vs Valorant Comparison – Esports

When it comes down to eSports, there is only one winner – Valorant. Until the end of 2023, the eSports scene in Overwatch 2 was bad because there were hardly any tournaments. Blizzard supported the Overwatch League, but the latter hasn’t been as popular lately, which ultimately let to its downfall. However, 2024 looks extremely promising because the Overwatch 2 Esports Ecosystem update introduced the addition of the Overwatch Champions Series.

With that said, the eSports scene in Valorant is just better. It may not be on the same level as CS2, but there are many big tournaments that people can keep an eye on. Things, such as the Ludwig x Tarik Valorant Invitational 2 are regularly available, and the best players in the world can compete for big prize pools. Overwatch 2’s eSports future may look promising, but for now, Valorant dominates this part of the comparison.

Another thing we need to mention when discussing eSports and these two games is betting. A quick look at many of the big gambling sites shows that Valorant is the most popular option. Nearly all bookies with eSports sections allow people to bet on this sport, but this isn’t the case for Overwatch.

Updates and Refinements

When it comes down to new content, this Valorant vs Overwatch comparison believes that both games are performing well. Unlike other popular times, these two receive regular updates all the time. Overwatch 2 has Seasons, and each one lasts around 3 months. Once the new season arrives, players get a lot of different hero changes, buffs and nerfs, new items, a new battle pass with quests, and more.

Valorant, on the other hand, does not have seasons. Instead, the game has patches and acts that bring a lot of new content. Like OW2, Valorant also adds new maps, agent changes (sometimes even adding a new agent), and more.

Prior to the arrival of Overwatch 2, Blizzard’s game was not free to play, so players had to purchase the game to access it, something that was not the case in Valorant. Fortunately, both games are free to play now, and users can purchase different cosmetic items if they need to.

Bottom Line – Which Is Better?
Honestly, we can’t determine which game is better in the Overwatch 2 vs Valorant comparison because the games are different. As we’ve seen, OW2 has the lead in some areas, whereas Valorant performs better in others. 

Perhaps the area where Valorant is clearly better than Overwatch 2 is eSports. With that said, Blizzard’s latest changes to the Overwatch 2 professional scene could result in a massive lead for OW2 in 2024. We will definitely keep an eye on the new events.

If you are looking for a more competitive-style game, Valorant is probably going to be the better option. The game offers more micro-skill opportunities, especially on some maps. On the other hand, people who want to work together as a team and want to have clear roles while playing will like Overwatch 2 much more.

Zlosterr has been a fan of esports for many years and mainly focuses on Dota 2. He has more than five years of experience writing Dota 2 content for numerous platforms. Besides being a passionate fan of the game, he’s also played for various amateur teams.