It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Winter Wonderland is one of the most anticipated Overwatch events of the year. The snowy streets of King’s Row bring a certain magic to the game that you can’t find anywhere else. The holiday spirit is palpable, and nothing brings the community closer than ignoring the payload in your most festive gear. Along with a festive Blizzard World map and an adorable new Torbjorn emote, Overwatch released more of their anticipated Winter themed skins. We have seen some fantastic designs come out since Winter Wonderland’s inception; here are some of the best Winter-themed skins Overwatch has produced over the years!
The original casual Hanzo was a disaster in the eyes of many Overwatch fans. Blizzard, for some reason, thought it would be a good idea to give the young sniper grey hair. In the Reflections comic, Hanzo’s head was shaved, and there was not a grey hair in sight.
Image courtesy of PlayStation Lifestyle
The original skin got enough backlash that Blizzard actually did the right thing and transformed the young heir to the Shimada clan back into his edgy, younger self. The enemy Hanzo in your game now looks ten times better, even as he more than likely misses shot after shot.
Image courtesy of Overwatch
The cute, stylish design shows a more relaxed side to Overwatch’s favorite sniper. This design captures the spirit of who Amélie Lacroix probably was before turning into the ice blue femme fatale we know and love. It shows off her competitive spirit and allows Widowmaker to be comfortable as she snipes you for interrupting her vacation.
Image courtesy of Polygon
Inspired by Tchaikovsky’s ballet, Zenyatta’s Nutcracker skin is fun, festive, and a tad-bit off-putting; just like an actual nutcracker doll! The wooden design is perfect for the Omnic monk as it personifies his typically stoic demeanor. But as the story goes, don’t underestimate him just because he looks fragile – there’s more to him than meets the eye.
Image courtesy of Mic
While some might prefer last year’s ice fisherman skin, Roadhog’s Rudolph inspired skin is one that brings smiles to people all year round. His brightly-lit belly lights up the battlefield, and it is incredibly amusing to be hooked into a man who is glaring daggers at you with reindeer antlers on his head.
Image courtesy of Overwatch
Gift-wrapped Bastion is fun and festive but last year’s Avalanche skin is better. Ganymede’s transformation into a snow owl and the alpine color scheme make for an enjoyable design.
Plus he has a tiny hat.
Image courtesy of ArtStation
Love her or hate her, Symmetra is always on the receiving end of some badass skins. Figure skating is an art that requires precision and demands perfection – everything Symmetra loves. The design of her Photon Projector even includes blades, tying the whole ensemble together.
Image courtesy of Overwatch
Can’t go wrong with a classic! Santa Torbjorn is one that many people wear all year-round. When the Reflections comic first came out in 2016, Overwatch fans got a rare glimpse into the life of the Lindholm’s. We learned that not only does Torbjorn have a giant family, the grumpy mechanic also enjoys dressing up as Santa for the enjoyment of his little ones. It’s a great skin and one that Reinhardt teases his best friend about at this time of year.
Image courtesy of Overwatch
Everything about this skin is fantastic; the wide blinking eyes, the turquoise tufts of feathers, and the clawed feet. Snow owls are fierce hunters in the wild who use their snowy environments to their advantage as they sneak up on unsuspecting prey. As a sniper, this is a wonderful skin for Ana as it shows just how deadly she can be.
Image courtesy of Overwatch
After last year’s disappointment that was Beach Rat, the Overwatch team has officially redeemed themselves with this Krampus inspired skin. The tale of Krampus perfectly encapsulates the Junker’s mischievous personality. The fiery RIP-tire emblazoned with a giant letter K looks sick as it rushes towards you unless a Christmas miracle happens and either one of your fabulously dressed snipers hits a shot on it.
Image courtesy of Overwatch
Not to be biased former Mercy main, but this is one of the best skins Blizzard has ever released. The detail in the wings on this skin alone is worthy of the number one spot. The only complaint against this skin would have to be that her wings remain yellow during Valkyrie. The yellow takes away from the overall aesthetic of the skin, though some may argue that it reminds them of pixie dust and adds to the whimsical theme.
Image courtesy of Inven Global
Remember that you can receive any of these skins during Overwatch’s Winter Wonderland event through loot boxes! Log in for the remainder of the event and try out the different Winter arcade modes every week to potentially earn any of these beautiful skins! The Winter Wonderland event ends on January 2nd.
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Featured Image courtesy of Blizzard
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