Pioneered by Team Fortress 2 and popularized in the mainstream by Overwatch, the hero shooter is gaining momentum as a force in the gaming space. Unlike modern fare such as Call of Duty or Battlefield, these games place a heavy emphasis on teamwork, as specialized characters with pre-baked looks and personality are designed with distinct strengths and weaknesses. If you work as a team, you’re able to bring out the best in each member while hiding each other’s deficiencies. On top of that, games like Team Fortress and Overwatch have succeeded in making characters that people care about, even if they do little more than kill for sport within the context of their respective games.

Paladins is the latest game in the genre, available now on PC, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and the Nintendo Switch. Using Overwatch in particular as its foundation, it adds a MOBA-inspired upgrading mechanic that allows players to improve their character to their liking over the course of the match. On top of that, this one is free-to-play. Does this squad of medieval heroes have what it takes to give the futuristic frontrunners of Overwatch a run for their money?

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