The Soul Snatching Strategies of Deadlock

Deadlock is a third-person multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game in early development by Valve with no official release date yet. Those who currently play Deadlock are only able to play via invite from a current player. It features two teams of six players with a goal to destroy the enemy team’s “patron” or boss. 

This game is similar to other MOBA games, such as League of Legends or Dota 2. These types of video games are competitive and team-based, where players control a hero and aim to destroy the enemy team’s base. At first, the mechanics of the game can be quite confusing, and playing requires strategy and knowledge to fully enjoy it.

I’m nowhere near an expert when it comes to MOBA games, but I have played similar video games with elements that Deadlock has, such as Overwatch 2. Playing these games prior to Deadlock has definitely helped me understand the game mechanics better. I will be giving my thoughts on this game based on gameplay mechanics, characters, and my overall enjoyment. 

Starting with gameplay mechanics, I have to note that there is a huge learning curve. Deadlock features a number of different game modes and characters despite the game itself being in early development. Some of the current game modes include the core six versus six mode, a fast-paced four versus four called “Street Brawl,” bot matches, and a sandbox mode. There is also a tutorial that is offered to players, but it does not automatically force the player to play through it. 

The basic controls of the game, such as movement and abilities, are not all that different compared to other third person games . There is also key bind customization for those looking to change their controls. Going into the overall mechanics in an actual match was definitely confusing and complex; this is because there are many features that allow the player to maximize their hero’s skills throughout the game. In an actual match, the player will join as a selected hero for the entire game. Players are also able to prioritize characters as a high priority or a low priority. Whichever character is high priority will give the player a high chance of joining the game as that character, although it is not always guaranteed. Throughout a six versus six match, the player is able to upgrade or “build” their hero, unlocking and upgrading multiple skills that can give the player higher ground when facing the enemy team.

However, one of the features of this game that stood out to me was the character roster. Seeing this roster was quite overwhelming, but also exciting. I love games with a great number of characters because I enjoy seeing all of their unique abilities and playstyles. As of March 25th, 2026, there are 38 playable heroes. I chose Paige, a support-based hero who heals and gives the team assists. She is a librarian labelled as helpful, booksmart, and a protector. Additionally, her playstyle is very strategic and does not just focus on attacks towards the enemy team, which makes her effective to play as a beginner player such as myself. I decided to try her out because I enjoy playing support or “healer” characters, and Paige was pretty easy to learn. 

One last thing that I noticed while in the process of selecting other heroes to play was that every hero has a backstory. I really love it when games, especially ones that aren’t heavily story based, have lore behind the characters of the game. Not only does this addition make it interesting to read about how each character came to be, but it adds more depth to the game.

Lastly, my enjoyment of this game was honestly pretty high. Though this game is in early development, a lot of its features are very well polished, such as the characters and the official Deadlock art. Still, there were some things I was unsure of or confused about with my first playthrough. Although the tutorial gave clear instructions on the basic controls of the game, it doesn’t really give any in-depth explanations of the features in-game. To me, it was also pretty humbling going into my first match, because I had no clue what was going on. I was pretty much spamming my abilities and attacks every chance I could; still, I was able to learn a lot in a short amount of time. 

From the diverse selection of characters to its mechanics, Deadlock has impressed me in many ways. For the gameplay mechanics, I would give a rating of 7 out of 10. The mechanics of this game are quite complex, and there is just so much the player has to learn in order to understand the game fully. I was still able to enjoy the game regardless, since I am only a casual enjoyer. However, if someone were to play this game competitively, they would absolutely need to learn and get used to everything. Secondly, the playable characters I would give an 8.5 out of 10. I love the good amount of characters that Valve has developed, with each having their own unique backstory and playstyle. The only “issue” I have with the characters is that if players want to play a variety of heroes, they will need to learn different abilities and memorize heroes’ playstyles. Finally, I did enjoy this game a bunch, and I give it an 8 out of 10. I really do think that in order to fully enjoy the game, the player must know how to play completely. Overall, Deadlock is a game I would recommend to those who enjoy MOBA games or games like Overwatch 2 or League of Legends.