EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6

About

"EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6" is the sequel to "EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 5," where players assume the role of an EDF soldier fighting against alien life forms threatening humanity. The game is a third-person shooter with a primary focus on destroying numerous giant enemies. The story takes place in 2024 AD, where mankind has recently won a long battle against unknown invaders, and peace has been restored .

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 8,014 reviews

story570 positive mentions

optimization58 negative mentions

EDF 6 is a fun and chaotic shooter that builds on the strengths of its predecessors, offering a plethora of new enemies and weapons.
The game features significant quality of life improvements, such as additional equipment slots for classes, making gameplay more versatile and enjoyable.
The story, while campy, is surprisingly engaging and adds depth to the gameplay experience, especially for players familiar with EDF 5.

The game suffers from frequent crashes, particularly on AMD systems, which can severely disrupt gameplay and frustrate players.
Many missions are recycled from EDF 5, leading to a sense of repetition and making the game feel less like a new installment and more like an expansion.
The requirement to link an Epic Games account for online play has been a major point of contention among players, causing dissatisfaction and review bombing.

story
3,657 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
78%
6%
The story in "Earth Defense Force 6" is a direct continuation of "EDF 5," featuring a more ambitious narrative that incorporates time travel and revisits previous missions, which some players find repetitive. While the plot is often described as chaotic and campy, it has garnered praise for being surprisingly engaging, especially for fans familiar with the series. However, many reviews highlight that the reliance on recycled content and the pacing issues in the early missions detract from the overall experience, making it essential for newcomers to play "EDF 5" first to fully appreciate the story's context.
- “The story of EDF6 is genuinely great and blew me away, the way it expands on the story of EDF5 surpassed any expectations I had from an EDF game.”
- “I honestly couldn't believe how much I enjoyed the story compared to previous EDF games I played, and I think anyone who enjoyed EDF5 owes it to themselves to give the sequel a chance if they haven't already played it.”
- “The story is actually surprisingly engaging for an EDF title, especially if you've already played EDF5.”
- “The story is a confusing mess that repeats tutorial-like missions for plot reasons.”
- “The story picks up after the events of 5, but this title can be picked up and enjoyed regardless.”
- “The use of time travel in the story just feels like a way to excuse the prevalence of recycled content.”
gameplay
811 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The gameplay in Earth Defense Force 6 is largely an evolution of its predecessor, EDF 5, featuring refined mechanics, new enemy types, and additional class-specific abilities that enhance the overall experience. While many players appreciate the chaotic, arcade-style action and the extensive mission count, some express frustration over repetitive elements and technical issues, including crashes and the requirement for an Epic Games account for online play. Overall, the game is praised for its fun, engaging gameplay loop, making it a solid choice for fans of the series, despite some lingering concerns about innovation and stability.
- “Earth Defense Force 6 distinguishes itself as the most compelling entry in the series, successfully drawing me back into its captivating gameplay loop, a feat that previous titles had failed to achieve.”
- “The gameplay is refined even more than 5, and the variety of enemy types in this game is expansive and interesting to fight.”
- “With new weapons and equipment, more level variety, and way more new enemies, EDF 6 builds upon the foundation that previous games found successful, making the gameplay an absolute jewel that we have come to expect from EDF.”
- “However, the game is not without technical and gameplay issues.”
- “The gameplay is largely tedious at best.”
- “I wish I could comment on the gameplay but the game is just broken.”
graphics
618 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
81%
9%
The graphics of EDF 6 have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they resemble those of earlier titles in the series, particularly EDF 5, and are often described as outdated or reminiscent of PS2-era visuals. While some appreciate the game's campy aesthetic and the ability to handle large-scale battles without taxing their hardware, others criticize the lack of significant graphical improvements and the limited options for customization. Additionally, users with AMD graphics cards report frequent crashes, further detracting from the overall experience.
- “While EDF 6 retains the series’ signature charm with its slightly cartoonish aesthetics and whimsical character design, it also benefits from notable visual upgrades.”
- “With refined gameplay mechanics, stunning visuals, and an engaging multiplayer experience, it stands out as one of the stronger entries in the EDF franchise.”
- “Graphics are way better, maps are much more detailed (some are copy and paste with graphics improvements), destructible environments are much improved.”
- “I guess I'm not the target audience; the graphics are from the early 2000s and everything about it is a resounding 'meh'.”
- “The graphics are very dated.”
- “Graphics are dated even for the EDF series; games lag a lot despite being way above the recommended spec, game crashes on AMD video cards (so frustrating to have your game crash at the end of a mission).”
optimization
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
59%
26%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including frame rate drops, stuttering, and crashes, particularly on AMD systems. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay, especially in solo modes, others have found the multiplayer experience marred by desyncs and poor optimization. Overall, the game appears to be a step back from its predecessors in terms of performance, leading to a general consensus that it requires substantial patches to address these issues.
- “Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly, even during intense firefights involving multiple players and chaotic enemy swarms, which is a commendable achievement.”
- “I've also had impeccable performance, never crashed once or had any network issues whatsoever across 100+ missions in co-op.”
- “No performance issues at all, not a single crash so far and co-op works flawlessly.”
- “This is a truly god awful optimization job.”
- “Right now the performance is really bad and needs some major work.”
- “The optimization is truly worse than ever in this title, but I can't help but admire that they are willing to go down with the sinking ship that is whatever engine these games have run in all these years.”
humor
159 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is a defining feature, blending campy dialogue, absurd scenarios, and over-the-top voice acting that evokes the charm of B-movies. Players appreciate the mix of serious and silly elements, with many finding the janky mechanics and friendly fire incidents to be sources of laughter. Overall, the game maintains its trademark humor while introducing new comedic moments, making it a fun experience, especially in multiplayer settings.
- “Incredible action and a funny story.”
- “The edf franchise is best described as every old B-movie blended together into a video game; it's cheesy, it's over the top, and it's downright hilarious at times.”
- “The voice acting is super funny, the gameplay is satisfying and enjoyable, and the weapons are seemingly plentiful.”
- “Think Groundhog Day, but not funny or fun.”
- “Was it supposed to be funny or meta or something?”
music
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
66%
12%
The music in EDF6 has received mixed reviews, with some praising the overall sound design and atmospheric scores, while others criticize the new soldier songs as significantly worse than those in previous installments. Many players express disappointment over the recycled melodies and lyrics, particularly noting that the new anthem lacks the charm and quality of earlier games. Overall, while there are some standout tracks, the consensus leans towards dissatisfaction with the new musical content.
- “Great sound design and music.”
- “The music is amazing.”
- “Music has actually been quite surprisingly good as well.”
- “Oh right, the in-game songs suck even more than ever now, one downside.”
- “The only negative I can report is that the song the soldiers sing for this game is... really bad.”
- “I would have been happier if they just reused songs from 4.1 and 5 instead of wasting their time giving us these abominations we currently have in the game.”
stability
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
84%
The game's stability is a significant concern, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some users have experienced minimal issues, the overall consensus highlights a frustratingly buggy experience, particularly in multiplayer modes and on certain systems. Despite these problems, a few players still find enjoyment in the game when it functions properly, indicating a divide in user experiences.
- “Best EDF so far, runs great on my 1060 and Intel i5-6600.”
- “The game is great, runs great and believe me when I tell you that it keeps things fresh for the entire duration, a hell of a feat for a game with about 160 missions.”
- “Runs great on PC; the lack of graphics options is a bit sad as usual, but it works fine, which is all I'm asking for.”
- “Crashes, freezes, stutters, FPS drops, and more.”
- “But it crashes for no reason regardless of all the troubleshooting, and it's just more aggravating than it is enjoyable.”
- “I wish I could give this game an actual review of the gameplay, but that's extremely hard to do since I cannot even get into the game due to error 1_0 2_0 3_553648128, etc. I would love to tell you that it's a great game, but I paid $60 for a white screen and an error even after troubleshooting the game for hours.”
grinding
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some appreciate the reduced grind compared to earlier titles and enjoy the variety in gameplay, many find the end-game grinding excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring hundreds of hours to achieve desired gear and upgrades. The early game is noted for its slow progression and repetitive missions, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the experience.
- “There's literally no other way to play the end-game material without tens if not hundreds of hours of repetitive lower-level farming just to get your health up so you can somehow survive the hordes later on to get the final gear.”
- “This issue completely takes away from the game; it's not enjoyable anymore because of how ridiculously grindy the end of the game is, which is really unfortunate.”
- “Gear progression on normal doesn't keep up with the increase in difficulty, and there are no early missions where farming is easy to increase your arsenal.”
monetization
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
15%
82%
The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling deceived by vague advertising regarding crossplay and the requirement for a third-party account. Many reviewers express frustration over the lack of updates and the presence of microtransactions and locked content that should have been included in the base game, leading to a perception of low effort and exploitation of fans. Overall, the game's pricing and monetization practices have left a negative impression, particularly among dedicated franchise fans.
- “Enjoy this series, and reward quality video games that aren't rife with monetization.”
- “This entire game felt like a cash grab and, more importantly to my friends and I as huge fans of the franchise: a massive lie.”
- “Instead we get this EDF 5.5 for $60 plus whatever they will charge for the mission packs, which aren't even out yet, plus tons of microtransactions.”
- “And then on top of that, they have microtransactions and DLC drops ready to go by launch and still have no fixed crashing issues.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players express deep connections, such as crying over character deaths, others criticize the lack of emotional engagement in voice acting, describing it as disinterested. The game's wholesome humor and detailed environments contribute positively to the emotional experience, but external controversies have dampened enthusiasm among potential players. Overall, the emotional impact varies significantly among players, influenced by both gameplay elements and external factors.
- “I cried at Sergeant's death.”
- “This game has amazing detail with the cities, landscape, etc. and... if you know a little Japanese... there is subtle wholesome humor everywhere, along with the translated... semi-serious vibes of the game.”
- “Wholesome co-op play.”
atmosphere
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its thrilling cooperative gameplay, enhanced art style, and improved sound design, creating an engaging experience whether playing with friends or strangers. Players appreciate the balance of wacky physics and serious undertones, with massive battlegrounds and a variety of missions contributing to a captivating environment. Overall, the atmosphere exceeds expectations, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “Whether playing cooperatively with friends or taking on a team of strangers, the collaboration required to tackle missions and defeat massive bosses creates a thrilling atmosphere.”
- “A game with better atmosphere than expected, massive battlegrounds of sometimes thousands of enemies at once, and 147 levels (the DLC missions haven't even released in this version yet!).”
- “Edf has always been a fun series with wacky physics and a goofy atmosphere, and the changes in EDF6 to the inventory system allow you to bring even more fun gadgets to the battle.”
- “Personally, I didn't mind; it created a sort of morbid atmosphere because you, the player, know what will eventually happen.”
- “[spoiler] 13 missions in, the atmosphere changes to not post-apocalyptic and is refreshing from the beginning of the game. [/spoiler]”
- “Graphics - to be honest, I don't care about graphics in this game; the atmosphere it brings is more important, and I think the models of insects and robots are still of good quality and definitely watchable.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
41%
18%
The game offers significant replayability through its extensive content, including over 130 missions, five difficulty levels, and a vast array of weapons, making it enjoyable both solo and with friends. While some players note a tendency for missions to feel repetitive and express a desire for additional modes like survival, the overall consensus is that the game provides a fun, chaotic experience that encourages repeated play. However, some critics point out that the reliance on increasingly powerful enemy combinations can lead to frustration, potentially diminishing long-term engagement.
- “Pure arcade-y fun that packs a surprising amount of depth and replayability.”
- “I remember playing 2017 for the first time in 2010 and feeling blown away by it. The amount of chaos on the map, the voice acting, and with each game that just feels like it's increased more and more. This game has over 130 missions, 5 difficulties, and thousands of weapons to add to your arsenal. Its replayability is unmatched; you can enjoy it on your own or with friends. It's a game that doesn't take itself seriously and has stuck to its roots from the day it started.”
- “Has the same flaw as all the other EDF games, where the only replay value is just increasingly more ridiculously powerful combinations of enemies, until at some point you simply give up in utter disgust.”
- “Hence less replayability.”
- “The addition of new modes enhances replayability, offering players a chance to return to the fray long after completing the main campaign.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in EDF 6 is enhanced by notable visual upgrades and the introduction of new character designs, weapons, and enemy types, while maintaining the series' signature charm and whimsical aesthetics. The addition of new gameplay elements for existing character classes further enriches the experience.