I was genuinely looking forward to trying the GUNNAR Overwatch Reaper glasses. Between the matte-black frame, the recognizable Reaper skull logos, and the aggressive wraparound design, they’re some of the cooler-looking gaming glasses I’ve had the chance to try.
But looking good and feeling good are two different things. After wearing them, I came away liking the build quality and amber lenses more than I liked the fit. They’re solid glasses in some respects, but the amount of pressure they put on the sides of my head makes them difficult for me to use for extended periods.
My rating: 5.5/10. There’s plenty to like about the styling, but comfort is a significant drawback for something marketed toward gamers.
“I genuinely like how they look. I just wish they weren’t squeezing the sides of my head.”
Design and Build Quality: Reaper Gets the Look Right
Right out of the box, the design caught my attention. These glasses look like something Reaper himself might wear: dark, bold, and almost like a pair of biker-style glasses. The skull emblem on the sides is a great touch, and it makes the Overwatch 2 collaboration feel like more than just a logo slapped on an ordinary frame.
The thick temples and wraparound shape give them a distinct personality. It’s a pretty cool design, and honestly, that’s my favorite part of the product. They don’t look like the kind of glasses I’d normally choose for a gaming session; they look more like something I’d wear casually because I like the style.
The materials feel reasonably good, too. GUNNAR describes the frame as precision-engineered polymer, and in my hands it feels solid rather than flimsy. I didn’t notice anything that made the construction feel cheap. The company’s advertised multi-barrel hinges and frame design add to that substantial feel.
Comfort: The Biggest Problem With These Glasses
Unfortunately, the moment I wore them for any length of time, I started noticing the drawback.
I generally need a roomier fit, and the Reaper frame puts too much pressure on the sides of my head. The thick wraparound design makes the glasses feel secure, but for me, it crosses the line from secure into uncomfortable. They squeeze enough that I wouldn’t want to wear them for hours.
That’s an issue when the entire point is to have glasses you can use during long periods at a computer or playing video games. I don’t really have the right face shape for this design, either. There’s nothing obviously broken about the frame; it simply doesn’t fit me well.
Fit is personal, and I wouldn’t assume everyone will have the same experience. But if you normally need larger or less restrictive glasses, I would strongly suggest paying attention to the measurements before buying. This is not a frame I’d recommend purchasing based on looks alone.
“They look cool, but I can’t comfortably wear them for hours.”
Amber Lenses: A Decent Viewing Experience
The lenses are actually one of the better parts of my experience. They have a noticeable yellow-orange tint, and that’s the biggest visual difference I noticed when putting them on.
Looking through them is not bad. The viewing experience is reasonably clear, and I didn’t run into the distracting reflections that bothered me with the GUNNAR Mustang glasses. That’s a positive.
Does the Reaper meaningfully reduce glare? Maybe a little, but I can’t say I experienced a dramatic change. What stands out to me is the color shift from the amber lenses. I wouldn’t want to claim the glasses transformed my gaming experience when the tint is really the most noticeable difference.
GUNNAR markets its G-Shield lens coating as anti-reflective and smudge resistant, and promotes its blue-light filtering technology. Those are manufacturer claims; my firsthand assessment is simpler: the lenses feel fine to look through, the tint is noticeable, and reflections weren’t a significant issue for me.
Gaming or Everyday Style?
Here’s the odd thing: even though they’re sold as gaming glasses, the styling is what makes me want to wear them. I think of their design as something closer to casual or biker-inspired eyewear than a frame I’d pick for long desktop sessions.
That doesn’t mean the amber-lens version should be treated as a substitute for ordinary sunglasses. It just means the visual appeal is stronger for me than the practical appeal. The Reaper glasses look great; unfortunately, their fit keeps me from using them the way I’d want to.
Value: Are the GUNNAR Reaper Glasses Worth $69?
At the original $69 MSRP, these are not outrageously priced for licensed gaming eyewear. You get a distinctive Overwatch 2 design, a well-made-feeling frame, and a decent experience looking through the lenses.
Whether that’s worth the money depends heavily on how they fit. If you’re an Overwatch fan and these sit comfortably on your face, I can see the appeal. But for my needs, the comfort issue is too large to overlook. A good-looking pair of glasses won’t get much use if you keep wanting to take them off.
The Good and the Not-So-Good
What I liked
- The striking, Reaper-inspired wraparound design
- Skull logos on the temples that actually suit the frame
- Build quality that feels reasonably solid
- Decent clarity through the yellow-orange lenses
- No major distracting lens reflections during my use
What held them back
- Too much pressure on the sides of my head
- Not comfortable enough for hours of gaming or computer work
- A thick, restrictive fit that won’t suit everyone
- No dramatic glare improvement that I could confidently identify
Final Verdict: Great Style, Tight Fit
I wanted to like these more than I did. The GUNNAR Overwatch Reaper glasses have a lot of visual personality, and the skull detailing makes them a genuinely fun piece of Overwatch merchandise. Their build quality is respectable, and the amber viewing experience isn’t bad at all.
But the comfort just doesn’t work for me. The sides squeeze too tightly, and the wraparound frame makes extended wear more of a chore than it should be. For gaming glasses, that’s a major drawback.
If you’re interested in the design, my advice is to make sure the fit is right for you first. I can appreciate what GUNNAR made here, even if it’s not a pair I’d reach for during a long gaming session.
Final Rating: 5.5/10 — Great design, decent lenses, but an uncomfortable fit.
GUNNAR Overwatch Reaper: Fact Sheet
| Model | GUNNAR Overwatch Reaper (Overwatch 2 x GUNNAR) |
| Original MSRP | $69 USD |
| Frame color | Black Ash (matte black) |
| Frame material | Precision-engineered polymer |
| Style | Rectangular, high-wrap |
| Hinges | Multi-barrel |
| Frame width | 138 mm |
| Lens width / height | 58 mm / 38 mm |
| Bridge / temples | 17 mm / 126 mm |
| Weight | 38 g (without packaging) |
| Lens material | Polycarbonate |
| Coating | G-Shield, marketed as anti-reflective and smudge-resistant |
| Accessories | Themed microfiber pouch and cleaning cloth |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Specifications and original list price are provided by GUNNAR; options and availability may change. See the official GUNNAR Reaper product page.
Review Disclosure & Photo Credits
GUNNAR provided a pair of Reaper glasses for review consideration through its public relations representative. This rating and review reflect my own experience, and favorable coverage was not guaranteed. The photographs in this article are official GUNNAR Optiks product imagery; the fit and lens observations come from the pair I personally received and used.
Related Reading
For another firsthand perspective on the same brand, see my GUNNAR Mustang Glasses Review: Stylish Look, Mixed Performance, where I rated that pair 6/10.
Have you tried GUNNAR gaming glasses, or do you own the Reaper pair? Let me know how the fit worked for you in the comments.
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