One of the newest crazes in the world of video games is an online multiplayer shooter known as Overwatch. The game is played by millions both on console and computer and is the latest hit from Blizzard, a company more well-known for titles such as World of Warcraft. With Overwatch recently hitting the 25 million sale mark, it’s pretty likely you’ve already seen the game or maybe even tried it out. But if you’re one of the few who still hasn’t been exposed to one of the most critically acclaimed game in years, here are the top five reasons why you should go out and pick yourself up a copy of Overwatch.

1. The Characters:

One of Overwatch’s biggest strong suits is its large roster of characters that are all available to be played as soon as the game is started. There are a variety of characters, all of whom serve a different purpose in the various game modes that pit players against each other via online play. Some characters, or heroes as the game calls them, are big, bulky, and can take plenty of hits. These are your tanks, and they’re meant to man the front lines of an assault. Compare this with the quicker, more dangerous assault heroes, and it’s quickly apparent how much variety this game offers. By changing one’s hero, you are essentially changing the way they play the entire game. And what other game has a talking, bipedal monkey with Hulk-like anger issues?

2. The Lore: Any good game needs some backstory, a reason for you to invest in the characters you choose to play as.

Overwatch provides this in a fun and unique way when compared to other games. While the gameplay of Overwatch is entirely internet and competition-based, Blizzard continuously releases animated shorts, comics, and other things of this nature in order to provide interesting back stories to many of the heroes within the game. The animated shorts are especially awesome, as they rival some of the top animation studios in terms of both quality and storytelling.

3. The Events:

While online games can get stale after awhile, Overwatch constantly feels like a fresh experience thanks to its many updates and timed events. In these events, players can earn special cosmetic items like exclusive skins, as well as play all-new game modes for a brief time. Some of these game modes include a Rocket League-like mode featuring a giant soccer pitch as the map, an all-out snowball fight to the death, and most recently a large-scale assault on a mechanical army. Many of the events in the past have been based on holidays, and themes like Halloween and the Chinese New Year provided some excellent inspiration for a few awesome skins. These events give players who drifted off a reason to constantly check back in, all while keeping things fresh for the longtime veterans.

4. The Gameplay:

A game is nothing without gameplay. It’s sort of in the definition of what defines a game. Overwatch is unlike any other game, combining MMO team based combat with a Call of Duty-style first-person shooter. The outcome is an incredibly balanced, rewarding, and replayable package that continuously offers fun and heart-pounding, even after hundreds of hours of gameplay. Each map is designed for one specific game mode, ensuring that no matches feel broken or pointless. The Overwatch development team have been updating the game steadily since its launch last May, fine-tuning and tweaking things where needed. A year into its launch, Overwatch can be considered on of the most enjoyable games to play around.

5. Free DLC:

Lastly, if you aren't already convinced, Overwatch offers free downloadable content updates to its game. Unlike other games that force you to pay, Overwatch is constantly adding new things in for free. This includes all new maps, game modes, and even characters. The characters are the best part of this program, as each one drastically changes the course of the game upon their arrival Overwatch today feels entirely different than it did a year ago, and thanks to free DLC, it will likely feel just as different a year from now.

With all this in mind, you should at least be considering trying Overwatch out. It has been one of the most well-received games in this current genre sati on, and continues to capture new players each week. With a growing competitive scene, constant updates, and player-friendly programs like free DLC, the future of Overwatch is bright. Just try it out (you’ll be thanking me later.)