Overwatch is a video game that is described relentlessly as being a copy of Team Fortress 2 (TF2). While not incorrect, it does some injustice to compare Overwatch and TF2 because it diminishes the accomplishments that Overwatch, TF2 and other similar concept games. It holds TF2 and Overwatch on this type of pedestal that all over games are compared to. This article is not to compare the two games though, it is showcase the amazing game that Overwatch is and starting with that is the characters. It should be mentioned that the Overwatch game is not canon to the world, stated as such by the developers (devs) at Blizzard, and that Overwatch is a pure multiplayer game with no campaign or story mode. Instead the creators of Overwatch have made graphic novels, comics, and short films wrapped around every playable character and the world of Overwatch.

This article will showcase many of the 22 playable characters, who range in age from 19 to 61 and race/ethnicity from Egyptian to American to British to Japanese to Korean. In short, the playable characters of Overwatch are diverse in more ways than just age and race/ethnicity.

Ana

Ana Amari is one of the founding members of Overwatch. She was born in Cairo, Egypt and was recruited to join Overwatch because the Egyptian Military needed snipers to combat the Omnic Crisis. Ana is in the Support class as her weapon heals teammates. Like most every character in game, Ana has voice lines that are spoken during certain times of the game. Her voicelines are either in Arabic or English, but some switch between the two languages. Ana wears a hijab in all but two of her unlockable skins, those being her “Captain Amari” skins. Ana is one of the oldest characters coming in at around 60. She is mother to the other playable character Pharah, though their relationship is very rocky.

Pharah

Fareeha Amari, Pharah, was raised alongside the soldiers of Overwatch and had aspirations of joining Overwatch when she came of age. When Overwatch was disbanded, she instead joined Helix Security International, a private security agency that was tasked with protecting the artificial intelligence research station underneath the Giza Plateau. Pharah wears a specialized suit that enables flight and high powered combat. She is classified as an Offense hero. Two of Pharah’s unlockable skins pay homage to her Egyptian heritage, Jackel and Anubis. Pharah is in the middle ground of age at 32.

Mei

Mei-Ling Zhou, Mei, is a climatologist from Xi’an, China who was tasked with finding a way to slow down the rapidly increasing climate. Overwatch opened up many “Watchpoints” around the globe to maintain order around the world; Mei was stationed at Watchpoint:Antarctica. At one point the watchpoint got battered and cut off from society by a storm. To save themselves Mei and her team decided to freeze themselves into a cryo chambers; Mei was the only survivor found. Her weapon freezes enemies or shoots out icicles towards enemies, she can also build an ice wall to block off entrances and freeze herself to heal. Mei is in the Defense class and is one of the shortest playable characters. Many characters that have side conversations with Mei reference how young she looks, she is 32, and how much they look up to her. Mei is an example of the body diversity in Overwatch as she is short and chubby.

D.Va

Hana Song, D.Va, is a professional gamer and MEKA pilot from Busan, South Korea. 20 years prior to the time of the Overwatch taking place, South Korea was attacked by an “Omnic monstrosity” that caused the South Korean government to develop mechanized drone units. Eventually though the drones had to become piloted by people. The government looked towards its population of professional gamers because of their heightened reflexes and instincts. D.Va thinks of her missions as a game and periodically streams her missions. It is theorized by fans and hinted by Blizzard, that many of D.Va’s companions on her missions are around the same age as her, she is 19. With this theory and her voicelines and emotes it is believed that she suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and a dissociative disorder. D.Va is in the Tank class.

Roadhog

Mako Rutledge, Roadhog, is from Junkertown, Australia, which is in the area given to the Omnics in the treaty. Roadhog became a rebel and a ruthless killer after being displaced. Many of the people that were displaced developed the Australian Liberation Front which eventually resulted into the destruction of the fusion core resulting in a nuclear explosion and the complete destruction of the Australian Outback. Roadhog, having just watched his home become a nuclear wasteland, became changed. Many of Roadhog’s emotes, voicelines, and victory poses showcase his personality as being somewhat contradictory to that of a cold blooded killer. Roadhog is believed to be of Maori descent and based on the Polynesian God, Maui because of his hook ability. Many of his skins, both name and style, pay homage to his Polynesian descent. He is in the Tank class.

Hanzo

Hanzo Shimada, Hanzo, is from Hanamura, Japan and is a sniper specializing with a bow and arrow. He is the heir to the Shimada crime family and when his father eventually died, the Shimada advisers told Hanzo to straighten out his rebellious brother, Genji. When Genji refused to work with his brother, Hanzo was forced to kill him. Hanzo does however light a vigil for his Genji every year on the date of his death. The short, Dragons, it is revealed that the Shimada brothers are descendants of the the North and South Wind Dragons who fought in ancient times. Many of Hanzo’s voice lines and skins reference the dragons but two of his skins reference the “lone wolf.”

These are the only characters I’m going to cover right now. There are 22 playable characters and each one are just as complex as the next in backstory and representation. Right now, there are no confirmed sexuality or gender identities for character; though the developers are constantly adding new characters and maps to play on. If the Overwatch community has a voice for a certain archetype of a character then the developers of Overwatch will deliver.