Reinhardt: the salt-of-the-earth tank
Reinhardt may not be on the cover, but try telling that to anyone who has played Overwatch. He was one of the launch heroes and has stuck around as a fan favorite, right up there in recognizability with Tracer.
Kaplan admits he played him the most
In a recent interview, former Overwatch game director Jeff Kaplan was refreshingly honest: "Reinhardt was actually my main. So I played the most of Reinhardt." No surprise — the hero is big, loud, and very good at making a dramatic entrance.
Why the shield works in a team game
Designing a big shield for a six-player team game is harder than it looks. Kaplan explained that the shield needed to allow teammates to shoot through it. That small decision made Reinhardt useful in a cooperative, chaotic environment instead of just being a wall you hide behind.
Fun fact: that shield mechanic has leaked into other games. Kaplan noted that the idea has been copied by a lot of hero shooters and even some games that are not labeled "hero shooters." You can thank Reinhardt next time you see a friendly barrier that still lets your DPS do damage.
Why it matters
- Team play: A shield that lets allies fire through it changes how fights feel and how teams coordinate.
- Design influence: Small, practical choices in one game can become industry-wide tools.
- Legacy: Even if a hero is not the face of a brand, their mechanics can shape many future games.
So yes, Kaplan loved Reinhardt, and the team-friendly shield was a deliberate choice that has had ripple effects across multiplayer shooters. Not glamorous, but oddly effective.
