Snow is gently falling, warm fires are crackling, and the sweet aroma of gingerbread fills the air. The holiday spirit is alive and well, even in the vibrant world of Overwatch 2. What better way to embrace this festive season than by diving into some seasonal minigames?
We’re talking about the much-loved Winter Wonderland event returning to Overwatch 2, bringing back popular game modes and countless gifts for both seasoned players and newcomers alike. So, lace up your boots, gather some snowballs, and stay warm out there – there’s a lot of excitement waiting for you!
What Is Winter Wonderland?
Every December, Overwatch brings back some exciting seasonal game modes in the Arcade along with various challenges. This year, the Winter Wonderland event takes place from December 10 to January 6, giving you plenty of time to join in on the festivities. Here’s what you can look forward to:
Mei’s Snowball Offensive/Snowball Deathmatch |
Experience a surprisingly intense and strategic snowball fight where everyone plays as Mei with adjusted abilities. Instead of her regular freezing spray and charged icicle shot, you’ll have a single snowball that instantly takes down any enemy it hits. Once you throw your snowball, you’ll need to reload by finding one of the snow piles scattered around the map. Your Ultimate turns into a snowball supply, making them limitless for a brief period. Snowball Offensive is played as a team game, while Snowball Deathmatch is a free-for-all. |
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Yeti Hunt |
This is an asymmetrical game of cat and mouse set in the Shambali Monastery. Five Meis work together to hunt down one extremely tough Yeti-Winston, attempting to trap and defeat him before he finds the food hidden in the map. If the Yeti finds four pieces of food, he powers up with a stronger version of Primal Rage that can easily take down the hunters. In this mode, Mei’s ultimate is replaced with a large steel trap, similar to Junkrat’s ability. |
Freezethaw Elimination |
Hankering for something familiar? This mode resembles the standard 5v5 Lockout Elimination, but with a frosty twist: players who are “eliminated” get frozen instead of being out of the game and can be thawed by their teammates, allowing them back into the action. |
Though it’s not officially part of Winter Wonderland, 6v6 has also made a return as a limited-time mode running during the same period as Winter Wonderland.
Winter Wonderland Rewards
If the limited-time game modes aren’t enough encouragement, there are also holiday gifts, including Skins and other cosmetics! By completing the Winter Wonderland Event Challenges, you can earn the following items:
Reward |
Challenge |
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Merry Marionette Echo Skin |
Play three games. |
Cozy Cassidy Skin + Campfire Highlight Intro |
Play six games. |
Casual Hanzo Skin + Present Thief Name Card |
Play eight games. |
Winter Chic Widowmaker Skin + Campfire Highlight Intro |
Play nine games. |
Festive Cheer Name Card |
Play 16 games. |
Snowfriend Name Card |
Play 24 games. |
Festive Pine Name Card |
Play 32 games. |
Ornament Hazard Spray |
Play three games of Freezethaw Elimination. |
Ornament Juno Spray |
Play three games of Yeti Hunt. |
Ornament Venture Spray |
Play three games of Mei’s Snowball Offensive or Snowball Deathmatch. |
Remember, wins count as two games played for all challenges, meaning you can unlock all rewards by playing as few as 16 games. So jump in and start winning!
Simply logging in during the event will also grant you the Snowflake Icon, 2025 Party Hat Icon, and Darumari Trinket free of charge.