NintendObs Thinks: How to game the Overwatch loot box system.
Or at least how I collect in-game items without spending a single cent.
Just like the new Overwatch team game director, I love Overwatch. It is now my favorite game to play during breaks, replacing Splatoon 2 and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. (Until Splatoon 3 comes out, obviously.) It needs to be noted though that a stronger reason why it replaced both of these Nintendo games is because Overwatch is sufficiently chill for me to watch videos or listen to podcasts on the side while playing it. I initially tried the game during the Nintendo Switch Online Game Trial it ran for the first anniversary of its Nintendo Switch launch, and I just couldn’t put it down. Then as the trial was about to expire, I just bought the whole game on the Nintendo eShop while taking advantage of the accompanying 50% off sale, obtaining Overwatch Legendary Edition for €19.99 minus my remaining Gold Points balance.
However, though that was a bargain, as you play Overwatch you realize that when it comes to cosmetics, which are de facto entirely optional, the game runs its own kind of gatcha system, where every level you gain you receive a loot box of four randomized items across all characters and player icons. To complete this system, the game hosts seasonal events here and there constantly adding new cosmetics available to obtain or purchase for a limited time. Purchase as in in-game currency, sure, but that’s where the trick begins.
There aren’t that many ways to earn in-game money in Overwatch. To my knowledge, only two ways in fact, with a third one related to the first I’ll mention. The first way, is to just be lucky and get gold in loot boxes you obtain. In addition to levelling up, the game grants you loot boxes from time to time according to your recommendation level, roughly one loot box in battle per day also (separated by a minimum of twenty-four hours it seems), and there are chances you may get loot boxes by playing and/or winning unconvential arcade battles. The second way is by picking less recommended roles when the game prompt shows that you’ll be rewarded with 25 gold for doing so. This is very important. And the third way… well… is buying loot boxes with real money to augment your chances of getting in-game money in those boxes.