Maps

Assault Maps

Assault maps all have two Control Points, from which the defending team aims to keep the attacking team off of. 

Hanamura

Location: Japan
Background: Hanamura is now a suburban tourist destination, with shops and restaurants located just outside of the enormous temple. The temple may look familiar, as it was featured in the “Dragons” animated short about the Shimada brothers. 
Gameplay:  The first choke point in this map is quite challenging, with only two small openings to get from the district of shops into the temple courtyard. Utilizing a dive strategy and team composition is the most beneficial for this map. 

Horizon Lunar Colony

Location: Moon
Background: Established by Lucheng Interstellar, this moon base was a research colony intended to examine the effects of extended living in space. Around the map, you can see evidence of where Hammond and Winston lived during their time here. 
Gameplay: This map recently received a rework, after demonstrating an unfair advantage for the defending team. One of the newer maps, this map includes a low gravity portion just before the first point. There are multiple entry points to the first point, and it is best for two groups to coordinate attacks from all sides. 

Temple of Anubis

Location: Egypt
Background: Temple of Anubis is one of the newer excavation sites in Egypt, located outside of Cairo. Guarded by Helix Security International, there is much mystery involving what has been discovered here. 
Gameplay: The first chokepoint is tricky, because directly behind it is a bridge that most defenses set up a turret and shield on. But sneak past the first doorway and to both sides are areas of cover that have health packs. The best tactic is to push either left or right with your whole team. 

Volskaya Industries

Location: Russia
Background: After the first Omnic Crisis prompted Russia to rebuild, they invested heavily in massive, human-piloted mechs called Svyatogor mechs, built here at Volskaya industries. This was the factory that Sombra, Reaper, and Widowmaker invaded as Talon in the “Infiltration” animated short.
Gameplay: The first chokepoint in this map is also a tight one, with only two paths into the first control point. You’ll likely want to use a high damage team composition to get through the shields that may be set up at the chokepoint. 

Escort Maps

Escort maps will have the Payload right outside of the attacking team’s spawn. During the game, the Payload will as the attack team comes in contact with it, healing them as well. 

Dorado

Location: Mexico
Background: The city is decorated for the festivities of Festival de la Luz, a celebration of the end of the Omnic Crisis. The Payload starts in Missión Dorado, making its way to the LumériCo. Energy facility. This was the city where Soldier:76’s “Hero” animated short takes place.
Gameplay: The map starts with a few tight corridors, as well as areas where the map ends. But if you can gather a few teammates and lead them to the underground passage that will put you behind the enemies lines in the first corridor, there a few high ground spots you can take advantage of. 

Junkertown 

Location: Australia
Background: Constructed from the remains of the destroyed omnium, it is now the home of the group of scavengers called the Junkers. In the animated short, “Junkertown: The Plan,” Junkrat and Roadhog attempt to pull off a heist, only to have their plan foiled…
Gameplay: Once you get past the first couple turns, this map is a wide map with long sight lines. The defending team will likely have a few snipers, so be sure to have your shields up and dive heroes ready to counter the snipers. 

Route 66

Location: Arizona, USA
Background: The downed train is the result of a heist led by Ashe of the Deadlock Gang. Having since been abandoned, the gas stations and cafes show traces of the travelers who used to pass through. In the animated short, “Reunion,” Ashe and McCree return for one last showdown…
Gameplay: The remains of the downed train are common spots for the defending team to hide and take pot shots at the doors, so using the side doors will throw them off a bit. Utilize dive heroes so that you can touch the Payload and get it moving before the defending team can get back to defend it. 

Watchpoint: Gibraltar

Location: Rock of Gibraltar, Spain 
Background: An Overwatch base established to defend the Mediterranean. However, it was shut down with the decommissioning of Overwatch. Recently, Winston had been using it as an outpost, preparing for the recall of heroes. He goes head to head with Reaper in animated short, “Recall.”
Gameplay: For attacking teams, you will have a couple doors to come out of. The main door is open to a wide angle of attack, so splitting up to use the side doors will be your best bet. There are many tight corridors along the Payload’s path, so making sure you have enough shield tanks will be helpful. 

Rialto

Location: Italy
Background: Rialto houses the headquarters of Talon, the major terrorist organization Overwatch worked to suppress. It is also one of the few cities where omnics and humans have existed in peace. 
Gameplay: The long sight lines and high platforms enable the defending team to use many snipers, so be sure to employ a combination of shield tanks and dive heroes to counter them. There are also many pitfalls along the map, so having heroes who can take advantage of environmental kills will be helpful. 

Hybrid Maps

Hybrid maps are a combination of both Assault and Escort maps, requiring you to take a control point before unlocking the payload. 

Blizzard World

Location: Irvine, California
Background: This theme park is an amalgam of Blizzard games, all in one place. Showcasing attractions from Diablo, Heroes of the Storm, The Lost Vikings, StarCraft, and World of Warcraft, this was a chance for the Overwatch team to have a little fun. 
Gameplay: When you first enter the park, there will be an underground path leading to stairs that put you right in the defending teams back line. Let some shielded heroes enter through the main entrance first, then spring your DPS to flank them. 

Eichenwalde

Location: Germany
Background:This town was home to one of the most important battles of the Omnic Crisis, where the Crusaders barely held back the fleet of automatons with the help of the German military. Although they won the battle, the Crusaders lost their leader. Watch the battle in the animated short, “Honor and Glory.”
Gameplay: Before getting to the Payload, you’ll need to get past a corridor with an overarching bridge. Combination of high DPS and mobility will be more effective, as the sight lines are not as long. 

Hollywood

Location: USA
Background: The Omnic Crisis’ effects can be here, with movie sets displaying anti-omnic sentiments. The mission here is to escort the limo, of  controversial film director, omnic HAL-Fred Glitchbot. 
Gameplay: To get to the Payload, you’ll need to get past a chokepoint with two entrances. Make sure to have your DPS to knock any shields down, and dive heroes to get around the point after you get in the gates of Hollywood. 

King’s Row

Location: United Kingdom
Background: In a city built by omnic laborers, the race tensions are high because of the denial of their rights. Protest form the omnic have become more common, resulting in violent encounters with the police. Widowmaker is sent here to assassinate Tekhartha Mondatta in the animated short, “Alive.”
Gameplay: When the door opens, you’ll be met with the defending team dodging in and out of cover using the double-decker bus, taking pot-shots at the door. Make sure you can hold a shield long enough for your DPS and dive heroes to get around the left hallway, which should lead you to their back line. The chokepoint between you and the point is separated by a low wall, so your dive heroes should be able to scale it easily. 

Numbani

Location: Africa, near Nigeria
Background: Established by Gabrielle Adawe as a peacemaking effort, this city is a booming with technology, due to the cooperation between omnics and humans. However, the peace was short-lived, as it dealt with a string of attacks by both the second and third Doomfists. Carnage of the attacks in “Doomfist Origin Story” can be seen all around the map. As a result, Efi created Orisa to defend agains future attacks. 
Gameplay: To get to the payload, you’ll need to pass through a long corridor. But with your flying heroes, you can get on platforms that will put you right on top of the payload. Use a combination of shield heroes as well as dive heroes for this map. 

Control Maps

Control Map matches are carried out in a series of best-of-3 king of the hill matches. These maps will have three different settings for each round, adjusting play style of each round. 

Oasis

Location: Iraq
Background: Oasis is a city dedicated to research and invention, and is one of the most advanced cities in the world. In this game mode, you will get to play in the City Center, Gardens, and University. 
Gameplay:
City Center: This control point is a circular point that includes a towering rotunda in the center. Because of this layout, utilizing mobile DPS and tanks will be the best fit for this map. 
Gardens: This rectangular point has a catwalk in the center of it, good for perching snipers or flying heroes. Shield tanks will also be useful here, to establish a spot on the point.  
University: University is also a rectangular point. On the main level is the point, and in the center is an opening to a lower level used for escape. Shield tanks and quick DPS are your best bet here. 

Busan

Location: South Korea
Background: Busan City is home to D.Va, our favorite internet-streaming-mech-piloting defender. In this mode, you can play in Downtown, Sanctuary, and MEKA base, home of D.Va and her squad in the “Shooting Star” animated short.
Gameplay:
Downtown: Downtown Busan is full of high buildings, but they act as barriers more than platforms. Most of combat is done under structures, so quick DPS and dive tanks will be your best bet. 
Sanctuary: Sanctuary is full of short sight lines, so quick tanks and quick DPS will be your best bet to navigate and use structures.  
MEKA Base: MEKA base has long sight lines and a ton of platforms, good for snipers. The special feature of this map are the temporary walls that encase the point. They elevate and retract on a deceivingly random interval, but if you pay attention to a shining beacon located on the bridge above it, it indicates when the walls are about to activate. 

Lijiang Tower

Location: China
Background: This city was built as a modern Chinese metropolis, its streets lined with food stalls open at all hours. The tower itself houses state-of-the-art technology as the headquarters of Lucheng Interstellar, a space exploration company. Here, you can play in the Night Market, Garden, and Control Center. 
Gameplay: 
Night Market: Night market is a rectangular point, with doorways in and out of it. Your shield tanks will be good here, as well as speedy DPS. The point is on the edge of the map, so heroes with displacing abilities will reap the environmental kills. 
Garden: Garden’s control point is an encased circular point with an ad pillar in the middle, so be sure to use your quick DPS and tank. It floats in the middle of the map connected to spawn points by bridges, so environmental kills will be readily available. 
Control Center: Control center is an indoor map with long and short hallways, as well as platforms. Snipers will be effective here, as well as midrange DPS to defend the circular point. 

Nepal

Location: Nepal
Background: Home to the Shambali tradition, the monks retreated to the high mountains after their “spiritual awakening.” In this map, you can play in the Village, Shrine, and Sanctum. 
Gameplay:
Village: The village is a point located inside a housing structure with many access points and platforms surrounding it. Both long range and short range DPS will effective here, as well as mobile tanks. 
Shrine: Shrine is an open rotunda point with long sight lines and multiple short platforms surrounding it. Good snipers can flourish here, but quick DPS and tank will be effective for the recreational player. 
Sanctum: Sanctum is an indoor, platform point that falls of on one end. Snipers will be effective with the long sight lines, and displacing abilities will be able to reap the environmental kills.  Shield tanks will also be effective, as the fire comes from a narrow, direct angle. 

Ilios

Location: Greece
Background: A quiet but ancient tow overlooking the Aegean Sea, it makes for a popular tourist attraction. However, exploration of the ruins nearby have unearthed artifacts that Talon has tried to steal. Here, you can play at the Lighthouse, Ruins, and Well.
Gameplay:
Lighthouse: A rectangular point located on the edge of a cliff, the environmental kills are waiting to happen. Several platforms provide good perches for snipers, and the corners of the point are good burrows for shield tanks to take the point. 
Ruins: This rectangular point is also located on the side of the cliff, with high potential for environmental kills. The point is located on the bottom of the excavated pit, with catwalks and platforms good for snipers and mid-range DPS. 
Well: The reoccurring theme of Ilios is its high potential for environmental kills, and the Well is no exception. In fact, the control point of the Well surrounds a massive, circular well in the middle of the point, which takes up more real estate than the point itself. Roadhog, Lúcio, D.Va, and Pharah are a must-play here. Shield tanks are also necessary to stake your claim on the point.