The new golden child of Valve, Deadlock, is a game that mixes elements of shooters and MOBAs into one. Think of it as LOL and Valorant/Overwatch fused together. It’s a weird combination that somehow works. I’ll be first to admit that I had my doubts about this one, hence the belated review. But boy, was I wrong. Mistakes were made. I should’ve played it way sooner. And in case you have a similar feeling like me, here’s everything you need to know about Deadlock.
How to Get Deadlock
Since Deadlock is still in development, you can’t just go to Steam, press “Download” and play the game — you can only wishlist it. So how do you even get it? Well, you need a “friend” to invite you in order to be able to download and play the game. As long as you get someone who already has the game, they can invite you. If you don’t know anyone, you can check various discord servers, reddit, and steam community to see if anyone is willing to invite you. And if all fails, you can leave a comment here and I’ll invite you free of charge.
Deadlock Gameplay
Initially, when you look at the gameplay of Deadlock, it looks like it’s all about fast-paced, ability-driven combat. Which it is to some degree, but there’s so much that lies beneath the surface. Having a good aim can only get you so far — you’ll have to be aware of your positioning, skill usages and what gear to put on during each stage of the match. It’s one of those things that you’ll get better at the more you play.
Deadlock Gear
Gear in Deadlock is all about fine-tuning how you play. Think of it as an extra layer on top of your hero abilities, letting you push your playstyle in a certain direction. Want more sustain? There’s gear for that. Prefer raw damage? Yep, that’s an option too. The nice thing is it never feels like you’re locked out of competing just because you don’t have the “best” setup.
It took a lot of time and reading until I got a grasp on what to buy but even now, I still have a lot of room for improvement. Or if you feel lazy and want to play the game without thinking, you can always load builds that other players use.
And when I say that I know what to do, I mean that for only a few selected heroes that I play.
Deadlock Heroes
Currently, in this stage of development, there are 32 heroes that you can pick from. Some lean into mobility and quick skirmishes, others are pure damage dealers, and then you’ve got the supportive types who can completely change the flow of a fight with the right timing. It’s that variety that keeps matches fresh — you never quite know what you’re up against until the round begins.
Experimenting is half the fun here. You’ll probably latch onto a “main” pretty quickly, but it’s worth jumping around to see what else clicks. That flexibility is especially handy if you’re playing with friends, since filling in the gaps of your team can make or break a match.
Deadlock Map
At this point, Deadlock drops everyone into a single map, and honestly, it’s doing a lot of heavy lifting. The layout feels like a blend of MOBA-style lanes with shooter-style verticality, which makes fights constantly shift between long-range shootouts and tight skirmishes. It’s big enough to give you room to experiment with flanks and positioning, but not so large that you spend half the match just running around.
What works in its favor is how balanced it feels for different hero types. Snipers get clear sightlines, brawlers have chokepoints to lock down, and mobile characters can dart through side paths to keep pressure on the enemy.
Graphics and Audio
My first thought when I saw the game was “is this some sort of new Disney game?”. It’s just a vibe that I got. But once I got over that initial impression, I started to like the overall look of it.
The character designs stand out just enough without being over the top, and the maps balance detail with readability, which is huge in a fast-paced shooter. You’ll always know where the fight is happening without having to squint through visual clutter.
On the audio side, it does its job really well. Gunfire has weight, abilities sound distinct, and footsteps are clear enough to give you those crucial “someone’s behind me” moments. Overall, the presentation keeps the focus where it should be: on the match.
Replayability
Replayability mainly comes from learning different heroes and finding your favorites. Some are easy to pick up and play, while others take more practice to really shine. Pair that with the team-based dynamics, and no two matches feel quite the same. Even if the core loop is simple (jump in, fight, repeat) the mix of abilities and strategies keeps things fresh for a long time. It’s definitely the type of game that you can play for years to come and still have a unique experience.
My Final Thoughts About Deadlock
Deadlock might still be new on the block, but it already feels like a shooter with some serious staying power. The blend of high-speed movement, tactical ability use, and sharp gunplay makes every match feel awesome. Sure, it’s early days, and balance tweaks are bound to come, but the foundation is strong. I look forward to seeing more when this game officially launches.
FAQs
Is Deadlock free to play?
Yes, Deadlock is completely free to play. However, you’ll have to find someone who can invite you to the game (see info on that above). Once it launches officially, it’ll still be free. You can jump in without spending a dime, and the devs are going the usual route of cosmetics and battle passes for monetization.
Can you play Deadlock solo or do you need a team?
You can solo queue, but like with most team-based shooters, communication and coordination give you a huge advantage. Playing with friends or even just having a mic on can completely change your experience. If you’re a lone wolf though, don’t worry—you can still climb, just expect to carry a bit harder.
What platforms is Deadlock on?
Right now, Deadlock is available on PC. There’s been no official word on console ports yet, but given how most modern shooters make the leap eventually, I wouldn’t be shocked if it hits PlayStation and Xbox down the line.
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