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Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is a surprise hit, featuring some of the best moment-to-moment combat and a satisfying rinse and repeat formula.
81%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
81% User Score Based on 690,622 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 51 reviews

Platforms

PCPlaystation 5CloudWindowsPlayStation
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About

Helldivers II is a Science Fiction Shooter game that can be played with 2 players, in multi-player or single-player mode. As a Helldiver, you'll join the fight to protect Super Earth and its inhabitants, upholding freedom and democracy. Teamwork and strategy are crucial as you face hostile alien environments and execute dangerous missions.

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Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Helldivers 2 screenshot
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81%
Audience ScoreBased on 690,622 reviews
story5.4k positive mentions
stability7k negative mentions
  • story
    35,437 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story aspect of "Helldivers 2" is characterized by a satirical and evolving narrative that reflects player actions within a live-service framework. While the game lacks a traditional campaign, it features a community-driven storyline where players' successes and failures in missions impact the ongoing galactic war, creating a sense of shared purpose and engagement. However, many players express frustration over the repetitive nature of missions and the absence of a deeper narrative, leading to a perception that the gameplay can become monotonous despite its chaotic and humorous execution.

    • “With a player-driven galactic war story, constant updates, and solid content; this game is a must buy.”
    • “Witty, sharp, and laced with dark humor, the story binds every planetfall and last-stand firefight into a greater war effort.”
    • “The narrative isn’t just set dressing—it’s the mission briefing.”
    • “The story feels tacked on and does little to enhance the gameplay experience.”
    • “The missions are the same all of the time and they still have not released the other enemies they have been teasing.”
    • “The missions you play are extremely limited, and instead of making new missions for players to deal with on higher difficulties, they simply make players complete more of them.”
  • gameplay
    28,412 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Helldivers 2* is widely praised for its fun, chaotic, and cooperative nature, with many players highlighting the engaging mechanics and strategic depth that enhance the experience. The game features a satisfying loop of completing missions, utilizing unique stratagems, and working together with friends or random players, although some reviews note that the gameplay can become repetitive over time. While the graphics and sound design are also commended, concerns about balance changes, bugs, and the impact of microtransactions on gameplay have been raised, leading to mixed feelings about the game's long-term viability.

    • “The cooperative gameplay is where Helldivers 2 truly shines.”
    • “The gameplay loop is incredibly fun and satisfying, making every encounter a rush of strategy and adrenaline.”
    • “With its blend of intense gameplay and dark humor, Helldivers 2 is a good time that proves that sometimes the biggest threats come from within your own squad.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, but each side generates a new map every time, so the objectives are not in the same location, including the monsters.”
    • “The gameplay loop is fairly samey, but the different 'mini games' involved in completing different objectives keeps things from getting too stale, and the core mechanisms of mowing down hordes of enemies, interspersed with calling massive orbital/air strikes, just never seems to get old.”
    • “The gameplay loop is simple yet effective at keeping you engaged at all times.”
  • humor
    9,127 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Helldivers 2 is widely praised for its humor, which combines dark satire and absurdity reminiscent of *Starship Troopers*. Players enjoy the chaotic gameplay, where friendly fire incidents often lead to hilarious moments, and the game's tongue-in-cheek narrative adds to the comedic experience. The community is noted for its camaraderie and shared laughter, making it a fun co-op experience that thrives on both intense action and unexpected, funny mishaps.

    • “What sets Helldivers 2 apart is its sense of humor and camaraderie.”
    • “There's something about the satirical humor, the power fantasy, the explosions, the silly ways to die; those things that will give you an immediate joy when you're playing.”
    • “The game is effortlessly silly yet action-packed; you will find yourself blowing yourself and your friends up in hilarious ways.”
    • “Boring, repetitive, poorly optimized, unfunny community, jokes that repeat themselves 99999999999 times.”
    • “Monotonous gameplay, lackluster enemy design, and this whole 'democracy' shtick is boring and unfunny.”
    • “When you slowly become aware of the boring and subpar gameplay loop, and unfunny forced democracy memes, you begin to like it less and less.”
  • graphics
    8,789 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Helldivers 2* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and attention to detail, creating an immersive experience that enhances the gameplay. Many players note that the game looks impressive even on lower settings, although it can be demanding on hardware, requiring a powerful PC for optimal performance. While some users have reported graphical glitches and performance issues, the overall aesthetic and cinematic quality of the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “This sequel elevates everything that made the original a standout experience while introducing thrilling new mechanics, breathtaking visuals, and an expanded universe that begs for exploration.”
    • “The graphics are so real you can hardly tell it isn't real.”
    • “With its sharp storytelling, stellar visuals, and pitch-perfect optimization, it delivers a gaming experience that’s as polished as it is unforgettable.”
    • “Check the specs of your computer before purchasing though because it is very high detail and you need a very powerful computer to play even minimum graphics.”
    • “After this review I am refunding the game I bought this game hoping to play it with some of the guys I work with but upon buying this game it ran very poorly and decided to open up the settings just to see it was using my integrated graphics. Upon seeing this I tried to change this with no luck, so then I went through Windows settings to change it to high performance, didn't work, then I went through NVIDIA control panel and did the same, no difference. After that I knew it was time to turn to the internet and every solution I could find didn't work and I tried for hours and to my surprise nothing worked. I have never had this happen in any other game so all I can say is that the devs definitely need to try harder and that no player should have to do this to play a game, let alone have no solution especially after finding out that this had been happening to other people since the release.”
    • “The graphics are underwhelming for a sequel; they feel dated and lack the polish that gamers expect in today’s market.”
  • stability
    7,340 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of Helldivers 2 has been a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as a "buggy mess." Frequent crashes, glitches, and connectivity issues have marred the gameplay experience, often leading to lost progress and frustrating moments. While some players find the humor in the glitches and appreciate the developers' efforts to address issues, the overall consensus is that the game requires substantial improvements in stability and performance to fully enjoy its potential.

    • “Runs great on many different hardware configurations, even the Steam Deck!”
    • “The game runs great and the updates are all made with intention and detail.”
    • “Game is well optimized, runs great even with a laptop GPU.”
    • “The game is a buggy mess, crashes are often, and when it doesn't crash it'll lock you into a forever loading screen and make the game uncloseable, leading to you spending more time trying to get into a game than playing, only to get kicked from the lobby anyway because of your level.”
    • “This game is a buggy piece of junk that crashes all the time on pc, leading to tons of wasted time (especially fun when it crashes at the end of a long mission and you get nothing for it).”
    • “The game is still very buggy and crashes a lot, and the developers' 'balance' updates make the game borderline unplayable.”
  • optimization
    4,823 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Helldivers 2" has received mixed feedback from players, with many citing significant performance issues, particularly after updates. While some users report smooth gameplay on high-end systems, others experience severe frame drops, stuttering, and crashes, especially on lower-end hardware or AMD graphics cards. The game's reliance on an invasive anti-cheat system has also been criticized for negatively impacting performance, leading to calls for better optimization and bug fixes from the developers. Overall, while the game has potential, its current state leaves much to be desired in terms of stability and performance.

    • “With its sharp storytelling, stellar visuals, and pitch-perfect optimization, it delivers a gaming experience that’s as polished as it is unforgettable.”
    • “Even though this is an old engine, the devs adapted it pretty well, resulting in good performance and good-looking volumetric effects which really let this game shine!”
    • “The atmosphere and graphics are incredible and surprisingly optimized; I can run max settings in everything besides ray tracing with a mid-range PC.”
    • “Great game, but the performance of the game is terrible, and becomes worse after every update.”
    • “Developers should stop relying on upscalers like DLSS to hide the fact the game is poorly optimized.”
    • “The game is poorly optimized and has been plagued with a number of bugs and an exceptional amount of crashes since it was released.”
  • monetization
    4,436 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization in Helldivers 2 has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its relatively fair and non-predatory approach compared to other live service games. While there are microtransactions for premium currency and battle passes (referred to as warbonds), players can earn this currency through gameplay, making additional purchases optional rather than necessary. However, concerns have arisen regarding recent changes, including the introduction of higher-priced items and the requirement for a PlayStation Network account, which some view as a cash grab that undermines the game's initial promise of player-friendly monetization.

    • “Monetization is fair and premium currency can be earned via grinding.”
    • “There's microtransactions but you can earn them through normal gameplay.”
    • “The monetization is very fair, and the devs seem like they're very dedicated to the project.”
    • “The game at its core is fun, and I'm honestly still playing it, but between the most mind-numbing progression system I've ever experienced in a game I otherwise actually like playing, and the devs taking advantage of what little goodwill they have left to start ramping up the monetization to downright scummy, mobile game levels, I can't recommend this game.”
    • “The decision to ramp up the game's monetization right after stealth dropping its biggest update to date was strategic and sinister.”
    • “The monetization is becoming more and more egregious over time, who would have guessed?”
  • music
    3,269 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in Helldivers 2 has received widespread acclaim for its epic and immersive quality, enhancing the game's intense action and satirical themes. Players appreciate the dynamic soundtrack that adapts to gameplay moments, creating a cinematic experience reminiscent of classic sci-fi films like Starship Troopers. However, some reviews note that the limited variety of tracks can lead to repetitiveness over extended play sessions, though many still find the music to be a highlight that significantly contributes to the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “The sound design is equally impressive, immersing players with dynamic audio cues and a heart-pounding soundtrack that enhances every moment.”
    • “The drop music doesn't get old and wants you to deliver more democracy!”
    • “The soundtrack is cinematic and fits the dystopian theme perfectly, while the sound effects - from the crunch of alien bugs underfoot to the roar of the battlefields - are top-notch.”
    • “The music gets repetitive after a while.”
    • “The soundtrack is surprisingly catchy and can often hype up the moment to great levels.”
    • “The music is very iconic if limited, the voice acting is fantastically campy, and the way guns look and feel tickles my guntism.”
  • grinding
    2,989 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of "Helldivers 2" has received mixed feedback from players. Many find the game to be excessively grindy, requiring significant time investment to unlock weapons, upgrades, and premium content, often leading to a tedious experience. However, some players appreciate that the game allows for earning premium currency through gameplay, making it possible to access content without spending additional money, albeit with a considerable grind. Overall, while the game offers enjoyable cooperative gameplay, the grind can detract from the experience, especially for those who prefer a more casual playstyle.

    • “Best part is I haven't (yet) spent any real money and managed to snag almost all of the premium warbond (new weapon, body armor, perk, emote, new color scheme, and callsign) on this live service game, which for me shows that it is not too grindy. The best part is that the premium warbond doesn't have any expiration date, so you can unlock them on your own time.”
    • “It's clear that the devs care a lot about their game and the community, and they are not greedy like many other game studios nowadays: the battle passes can be completely unlocked with nothing but gameplay, with missions often giving you the premium currency, so you can literally get anything in the game by just playing it, and it's not too grindy. Spending money is completely optional and only makes unlocking things faster.”
    • “The progression feels rewarding and not grindy.”
    • “Much of the progression in the game is extremely annoying and feels like I am grinding towards the most minimal improvements.”
    • “The fact that in-game currency can be farmed does not save it at all - the currency gains are minuscule through regular gameplay and the most efficient way of farming - running trivial missions is absolutely mind-numbingly boring.”
    • “Grinding for super credits to unlock more warbonds has become incredibly tedious, and while I didn't personally purchase my copy but rather had it gifted to me, nonetheless it was still paid for fully.”
  • atmosphere
    1,543 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere in Helldivers 2 is widely praised for its immersive and cinematic qualities, drawing strong comparisons to iconic sci-fi franchises like Starship Troopers and Warhammer 40k. Players appreciate the game's rich environmental diversity, dynamic weather effects, and engaging sound design, which collectively enhance the sense of urgency and camaraderie during chaotic battles. The humor and satirical elements further contribute to a unique atmosphere that balances intense action with lightheartedness, making it a standout experience in cooperative gaming.

    • “The atmosphere and graphics are incredible and surprisingly optimized; I can run max settings in everything besides ray tracing with a mid-range PC.”
    • “The atmosphere, the world, the design, and the setting are basically perfect.”
    • “The lore is incredibly deep, expansive, and engrossing; there are an insane amount of details that are absolutely unnecessary but contribute tons to the atmosphere and immersion in this universe.”
    • “The atmosphere, gunplay, music, even the character screams when you dive out of the way of a grenade, does a good job at keeping you immersed.”
    • “The atmosphere is a blend of intense action and dark humor, creating a backdrop that is both engaging and immersive.”
  • replayability
    1,373 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Helldivers 2 is widely praised for its high replayability, attributed to its procedurally generated missions, diverse environments, and a variety of weapons and stratagems that keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Many players highlight the fun of cooperative play, with the game being particularly enjoyable with friends, while some express concerns about potential repetitiveness after extended play. Overall, the game is seen as a standout in the cooperative shooter genre, offering endless opportunities for replay value and enjoyment.

    • “The gameplay is very fun, there are plenty of side objectives to do, and has a substantial amount of replayability due to the randomness of each mission.”
    • “With stunning graphics, immersive sound, and infinite replay value, Helldivers 2 is a true triumph in the genre.”
    • “The game's procedurally generated maps provide endless replayability, ensuring that you'll never tire of the challenges.”
    • “There is not a lot of replayability, and it's probably the reason why they lost so many players.”
    • “The gameplay loop can get monotonous very fast, depending on the person; low replayability as far as objectives and missions go, only for the fun rush.”
    • “The game lacks replayability, and the limited range of effective strategies for handling different enemy archetypes further undermines replayability, making the game feel monotonous over time.”
  • emotional
    1,115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Helldivers 2" is characterized by a profound connection between players and the game, often described as an emotional rollercoaster filled with moments of joy, frustration, and camaraderie. Players express feelings of nostalgia, patriotism, and a sense of belonging within a supportive and wholesome community, which enhances their overall experience. However, the game's recent controversies, particularly regarding corporate decisions and technical issues, have led to heartbreak and disappointment among players, impacting their emotional investment in the game.

    • “I've never played a game that made me feel like I mattered until I played this game.”
    • “This game provided an emotional rollercoaster like no other product in the industry, and that is still ongoing.”
    • “I cried for a solid 5 minutes after surviving super hell dive.”
  • character development
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the distinct and memorable character designs and the immersive environments, while others criticize the lack of meaningful character progression and storytelling. Many players appreciate the attention to detail in character aesthetics and the variety of customization options, but some feel that the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over deeper character development. Overall, while the character designs are often highlighted as a strong point, the depth of character development remains a contentious issue among players.

    • “The character designs are top-notch as well, with a diverse cast of heroes to choose from, each with their own distinct personalities and abilities.”
    • “The attention to detail in character design, environments, and explosive special effects is nothing short of breathtaking.”
    • “Characters are relatable yet special, with great development, inherent inner conflicts, and good evolution.”
    • “There is no real character development.”
    • “The pacing felt off, with too much emphasis on the Triwizard Tournament at the expense of character development.”
    • “The character designs are lackluster, and the animations feel stiff and outdated.”
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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 54 critic reviews
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25h Median play time
68h Average play time
6-100h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2,531 analyzed playthroughs
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