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Helldivers 2
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Helldivers II roars onto the scene with impressive gunplay, a hilariously chaotic co-op experience, and satisfying moment-to-moment action. While some critics note initial technical troubles and limited content, most agree it’s a blast with friends, offering strategic depth and enough laughs (and explosions) to make you feel like a true Starship Trooper. Just be sure you have a squad ready to dive into the mayhem because public matchmaking needs further polish.
Game Info
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 100
Editors' Choice
Silver TIER
53% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, Shooter
DEVELOPER(S):
- Arrowhead Game Studios
PUBLISHER(S):
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
100
Critic Reviews
83
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
94%
Median Score
85%
Low Score
60%
What did you think of Helldivers 2?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Leo Gillick (PC Invasion)
February 12, 2024
8/10
A game that has more bugs than it intended but still produces a standout experience. Helldivers 2 gives scale and gravitas to alien warfare in good old-fashioned multiplayer fun.
Ed Thorn (Rock, Paper, Shotgun)
February 13, 2024
Recommended
Impeccable action and clever details make this a rare breed of live service co-op shooter, where the focus lies squarely on laughter instead of racking up loot.
Derek Johnson (Jump Dash Roll)
February 14, 2024
8/10
Helldivers 2 is the third-person Starship Troopers title that never was, which means that if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get into a bug fight, it’s absolutely worth picking up the title so you can do your part to stop the alien menace.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (100 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Fernando Sánchez | 87 / 100 | 02-20-2024 | Quote coming soon | Read review |
| Areajugones | Ramón Gutiérrez | 8.5 / 10 | 02-15-2024 | Arrowhead Game Studios has been able to release a sequel that improves in every aspect what was seen in its first video game. One of the best cooperative titles we’ve probably had in a long time, where fun and madness go hand in hand, something that, sometimes, is difficult to watch in a video game of this type. So, if you want to have some fun time with your buddies on a rainy afternoon, I think Helldivers 2 is the best thing you can play right now. Now it’s your turn to be the next Helldiver. | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 90 / 100 | 02-14-2024 | A great return for a great GBA game. The number of new things and quality of life improvements makes this remake of Mario vs. Donkey Kong a must have. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Keyvan Jahan Bani | 8.5 / 10 | 02-22-2024 | Helldivers 2 takes the single most important component of the previous game and expands it into a full-fledged third person shooter, full of fast paced combat and massive explosions. It’s a rewarding experience especially if played as a group, and can keep you and your buddies entertained for months. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Matt Sowinski | 8.5 / 10 | 02-12-2024 | The gunplay is fantastic, the gameplay loop is satisfying, and the reward progression is consistent. Its live service plans are its biggest question moving forward, but right now, Helldivers 2 is a ton of fun. | Read review |
| Capsule Computers | Admir Brkic | 8 / 10 | 02-17-2024 | One of the best co-op shooters in recent years, with emphasis on team communication, strategy, and friendly fire to keep you constantly on the edge. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Nick Erlenhof | 8.4 / 10 | 02-12-2024 | Helldivers 2 is great co-op fun for fans of action and alien bugs. It’s mindless fun in its purest form and a credit to the developers for refining the basics of the gameplay so well. However, when it comes to the content, the game stops surprising pretty quickly and becomes a marathon of killing thousands of enemies and repeating familiar missions. But there is plenty of potential for surprises and innovations in the future, especially after the difficult server launch. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Philip Watson | 9 / 10 | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a testament to the power of teamwork and tactical gameplay, wrapped in a satirical package that’s hard to put down. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Edie W-K | 7.5 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong has been remade nearly perfectly, and it’s certainly great for any forgotten title to get an update and a facelift. The platforming is still tight, but the simple truth is that puzzle games as a genre have moved on in the twenty years since the original. That means nothing about it really stands out, either as a puzzle game or a Mario game. Still, that doesn’t mean you won’t have fun with it as you wait for Nintendo’s next main-line Mario. | Read review |
| COGconnected | James Paley | 80 / 100 | 02-14-2024 | Quote not yet available | Read review |
| Console Creatures | Bobby Pashalidis | Recommended | 02-14-2024 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong has a lot of exciting puzzles to explore, and fans of the original will find excitement in the remake. With a welcoming difficulty curve, reworked graphics, and expanded gameplay, Mario vs. Donkey Kong kicks off the Switch’s seventh year with a bang. | Read review |
| Daily Star | Tom Hutchison | 4 / 5 stars | 02-10-2024 | All in, this is great fun, albeit slightly limited in its longevity. While there are unlocks to push for, the core game remains largely the same from the off. | Read review |
| Dexerto | Jessica Filby | 4 / 5 stars | 02-15-2024 | Thanks to chaotic battles, a variety of gameplay styles, and an epic environment, Helldivers 2 is the perfect amount of brutal satisfaction. While it may be let down by server issues and slower wait times at launch, this multiplayer shooter is a guaranteed laugh and brings with it all the enjoyable nature of just blasting a few bugs into oblivion – for democracy of course. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Nathaniel Stevens | 8.5 / 10 | 02-17-2024 | Helldivers II from developer Arrowhead Game Studios is a team-driven experience that is goal-driven fun wrapped in a goofy Starship Troopers tip of the hat. While the gameplay can get repetitive, the reward system helps to balance it out. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Giovanni Colantonio | 3 / 5 stars | 02-14-2024 | Mario vs. Donkey Kong is a fun, if unremarkable way to kill time while you wait for the Nintendo Switch 2. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Jeffrey David Brooks | 9.1 / 10 | 02-22-2024 | Helldivers 2 delivers a streamlined, premium experience, features some of the most satisfying space marine-style combat I’ve ever played. | Read review |
| Enternity.gr | Nikitas Kavouklis | 8.5 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Mario Vs. Donkey Kong will provide hours of entertainment as long as you use your brain. | Read review |
| Entertainium | Eduardo Rebouças | Recommended | 02-15-2024 | Arrowhead’s newest multiplayer slaughterfest Helldivers 2 is a blast to play thanks to its over-the-top presentation, hilariously chaotic moment-to-moment gameplay and excellent team mechanics. | Read review |
| Entertainment Geekly | Luis Alvaro | 4.5FALSE | 02-13-2024 | “Helldivers 2” is a worthy sequel and an excellent co-op shooter. It’s a game that offers not just hours of entertainment, but a genuine connection to a community of players united in their quest to bring democracy to the stars. It’s a reminder of the joy found in shared victories, the laughter in shared defeats, and the unbreakable bonds formed in the heat of battle. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Emma Kent | Recommended | 02-14-2024 | With its high-chaos, high-comedy firefights, Helldivers 2 is a riot to play with friends – although its launch has been hampered by persistent matchmaking and progression problems. | Read review |
| Eurogamer.pt | Adolfo Soares | 3 / 5 stars | 02-12-2024 | In short, Helldivers 2 presents itself as a cooperative shooter with the potential to attract at first impulse. With multiple layers of fun, especially when played with friends, it offers some entertaining moments. However, the flaws remain evident, from a variety of technical issues to a lack of long-term content. It is possible to quickly reach the saturation point, and it doesn’t take many hours for this to happen. It seems clear that the game wasn’t ready to launch, lacking more polish and content, something that we hope will be resolved in the near future. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Giovanni Panzano | 8.5 / 10 | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2 was a pleasant surprise and represents the perfect evolution of that twin stick shooter that made many players fall in love with it back in 2016. | Read review |
| Evilgamerz | Daan Nijboer | 8 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | It’s clear, Helldivers 2 is fun. Very nice indeed. It is not without reason that this became the best-selling Playstation game on PC within a few days. The wonderful shooting, the spectacular Stratagems and the teamwork while playing makes Helldivers 2 one big party. There are few games that can give you so much fun and chaos, combined with perhaps not the very best graphics, but one of the most atmospheric. You often imagine yourself in a Starship Troopers or Terminator movie with all the explosions and bullets around you. It’s a shame that the game was plagued by so many technical issues in the first few days, but the developer has done everything they can to resolve this and has already largely succeeded. The problems must of course be taken into account in the assessment, but make no mistake, Helldivers 2 is already one of the best games of 2024 and will only get better in the future with all the new free content. And for only €40 this is a no-brainer, get that trade! | Read review |
| eXputer | Moiz Banoori | 4.5FALSE | 03-09-2024 | Each aspect of Helldivers 2, from its combat to the progression, feels so unique that I can’t help but continuously gush over it. | Read review |
| Fun Factor | César Rodrigues | 7 / 10 | 03-21-2024 | As the first official live-service game from Sony, Helldivers 2 manages to stand on its own despite a certain lack of content. Its gameplay thrives by embracing the chaotic opportunity of its systems: from the hordes to friendly fire, to the multiple in-game effects (meteor showers, muddy terrain. Etc.). And its narrative consistency rarely fails to entertain, by feeding its ultracapistalist and fascist worldview. | Read review |
| Gadgets 360 | Manas Mitul | 8 / 10 | 03-13-2024 | In that way, Helldivers 2 could become an important inflection point in the games business, too. And its larger implications aside, the game is an authentic co-op shooter that keeps you coming back for more. Playing Helldivers 2 took me back to some of my best online experiences in Battlefield games, where a large part of the fun feels organic and player driven. It’s hard to find that sweet spot, to carve a distinct identity amidst a glut of online shooters and live service titles competing for player attention. But Helldivers 2 takes a deceptively simple path to walking the complicated ‘games as a service’ tightrope without tripping and falling down. It is refreshingly funny and self-aware, in addition to being mechanically sound. It never takes itself too seriously, but also doesn’t force the humour. Most generic live service games feel like clueless products trying to jump on a trend and pretending to be hip. Helldivers 2, on the other hand, consistently appears to be in on the joke. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Sarah Thwaites | 9 / 10 | 02-19-2024 | Perhaps the biggest hurdle Helldivers 2 has to face is its own success; servers have been overrun since launch, leading to lengthy wait times and faltering progression systems. Yet, for me, the indoctrination is just too strong. I’m still compelled to wait my turn to get another taste of sweet victory in this live-service diamond in the rough. | Read review |
| Game Rant | Brie Hoban | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-17-2024 | Helldivers 2 is an exceptional cooperative experience, featuring a tight gameplay loop that is easy to pick up, and extremely difficult to put down. While its launch was plagued with issues, the title ends its first week as one of modern gaming’s best multiplayer experiences. From the moment the opening cutscene rolls, players are engrossed in a hyper-militarized world that is just as rewarding as it is deadly. Whether players achieve a glorious victory or fail miserably, Helldivers 2 finds ways to make every mission truly memorable, by injecting its vast battlegrounds with a dark sense of humor, gratuitous gore, and uncapped replayability. After just one week, the title has proven itself a must-play experience on both the PC and PS5. With the majority of its universe still waiting to be explored, and the foundations of its story beginning to take shape, Helldivers 2 is sure to be an experience that keeps fans coming back for more. | Read review |
| GameBlast | Luan Gabriel de Paula | 8 / 10 | 02-22-2024 | Helldivers 2 is one of the best multiplayer games in recent years: it’s funny, entertaining, brutal and challenging in just the right way. | Read review |
| Gameblog | _SutterCane | 8 / 10 | 03-03-2024 | Helldivers 2 is one the best co-op games ever made. It’s a full packed-action title with huge references to Starship Troopers and Terminator that will resonate among fans. A full sequel with far greater ambitions and a sense of destruction like Battlefield series. Don’t hesitate, buy it on PS5 or PC. | Read review |
| Gamefa | Unknown | 9.2 / 10 | 03-10-2024 | with ample content, amazing co-op and intriguing combat, Helldivers 2 is a must play game in 2024! | Read review |
| Gameffine | Uphar Dutta | 90 / 100 | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2 is an Action-Third Person Shooter Co-op game that is entirely community-driven. The game offers an entire list of difficulties to find the perfect pick that you can handle with your squad. With a long list of planets to discover and prevent infestations by performing various operations, you are guaranteed to devote yourself to fighting for democracy for hours. With an actual seamless, optimized, efficient performance of the game and multiplayer, I was always in for a good time while playing the game. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Dylan Pamintuan | 8.5 / 10 | 03-03-2024 | HELLDIVERS 2 is worth going through hell to experience its gameplay and world, but server issues and glitches will rain on that campaign. Still, there’s nothing quite like diving in, feet first. | Read review |
| GamePro | Tobias Veltin | 80 / 100 | 02-14-2024 | Helldivers 2 is an excellent co-op shooter that lacks a bit of variety in the long run, despite many unlocking options. | Read review |
| gameranx | Unknown | Recommended | 02-09-2024 | Video Review | Read review |
| Gamersky | Mega杰尼龟 | 8 / 10 | 02-13-2024 | Even though it changed from top-down to third-person view,, Helldivers 2 remains an engaging and unique game. It keeps almost all the good things from the first game and puts them into a new way of playing, making it even more enjoyable than before. However, unstable network connections are still a stumbling block in your fight for Super Earth. Helldivers 2 has a good start. The big question is if the developers can keep adding new stuff to keep players interested. | Read review |
| GAMES.CH | Benjamin Braun | 80 / 100 | 02-14-2024 | Quote not yet available | Read review |
| GamesCreed | Junior Onunkwo | 4FALSE | 02-24-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a highly intense and immersive cooperative multiplayer with much more content than one can count. Of course, you can fight the creatures and droids going solo, but the ultimate experience you’ll receive is with peers. If you’re hoping for a story mode to get on, you won’t be getting much of that here. However, what you’re getting, including the enthralling missions and objectives, won’t matter much. And this game should give you hope for the future of online-based video games. | Read review |
| GameSpace | Brau3er | 8.5 / 10 | 02-26-2024 | Helldivers 2 is an exciting adventure for a group of friends who have long dreamed of immersing themselves in cooperative action and spending time together. Arrowhead Game Studios and Sony worked together to surprise the community, create a very high-quality game and open a portal to an incredibly fun universe. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 8 / 10 | 02-19-2024 | Server issues aside, which eventually should be eliminated, jump into Helldivers 2 and you’re bound to have a good time. Its battles are challenging and engaging, it’s got a fun sense of humour, and it’s rewarding seeing your war efforts pay off. Whether you find yourself fighting against fearsome automatons while waiting for your flag to be raised, or squashing bugs while racing to take down an illegal radio signal, chances are you’ll have a big grin on your face while doing so. And that’s what really matters. Helldivers 2 isn’t particularly big or clever, but boy, is it a lot of fun. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Jordan Ramée | 9 / 10 | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2’s randomized missions and compelling reward track make for a delightfully fun shooter. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Rick Lane | 4 / 5 stars | 02-14-2024 | “The way bugs burst and robots rupture is a masterclass in damage feedback” | Read review |
| Gaming Age | Braden Czerwinski | 9 / 10 | 02-16-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a fantastic co-op game with lots of content (and arguably the best structure to live service I’ve seen in a long time) wrapped up in a nice $40 package. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Rob Larkin | 8 / 10 | 03-15-2024 | Helldivers 2 is truly a game of the year contender. The gunplay and gameplay is excellent. The variety invites you to keep hoping into one mission or another. The difficulty ramps from fun barrel shoots to harried and hair-raising struggles on the edge of a knife. However, the overall experience greatly suffers when playing as a solo player. If you have a group, dive in to hell. If not, be careful out there, soldier, and watch your back. The bugs aren’t your only enemies. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Ravi Sinha | 8 / 10 | 02-13-2024 | Helldivers 2 is essentially the first game, except bigger, louder and more epic in scale. Despite issues with matchmaking and some desperately needed quality-of-life, it’s enjoyably engaging. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Corvo Rohwer | 90 / 100 | 02-18-2024 | While Helldivers 2 may look like a tropey action game on the surface, what lies underneath is one of the most fun co-op shooters I’ve played in recent memory. Endless explosions and unyielding foes makes for heart-pounding gameplay as you spread democracy across the galaxy one dead bug and bot at a time. | Read review |
| Geeks & Com | Kevin Cormier | 8.5 / 10 | 02-26-2024 | After an impressive start to the year with Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth and Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, the momentum continues. Helldivers 2 is incredibly fun, action-packed and full of highlights. You’ll have the time of your life with the soldiers you meet on your adventures. Battlefields will be filled with scenes worthy of the best cinematics, and memories will be made. While Helldivers I wasn’t as successful as Helldivers II, it’s good to see that this one has been a hit since its release. Now we’ll just have to see what the future holds. Because between you and me, Helldivers 2 could easily take the top spot in terms of hours spent on a game this year. It’s enough to keep my interest renewed on a fairly regular basis. So it’s in the studio’s hands to stay relevant at all times. But for now, the game is fantastic. And that’s what I’ll remember in the end. Long live democracy! | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | Pedro del Pozo | 8.5 / 10 | 02-22-2024 | As a Starship Troopers fan, I almost get excited every time I jump into my Hell pod and I don’t miss the intro video every time I start the game, as a good defender of democracy. The truth is that Helldivers 2 has hit hard in my nineties heart and from what I have seen, also in the hearts of many. The question is whether it will be enough in the medium or long term for the gaming community, because it shows that you don’t need to have a huge AAAA-style promotional campaign like Skulls & Bones or Suicide Squad to succeed. And that’s another signal that players are giving to the big companies. Despite being a PS5 exclusive, I’m happy for the success of Helldivers 2, but even more so, because it proves that locking a game into one platform is becoming more and more of a mistake. | Read review |
| GGRecon | Lloyd Coombes | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-14-2024 | Helldivers 2 keeps kicking me in the rear end, and I can’t help but respect it. Visiting its warzones often feels like a one-way trip, to the point where I’m surprised to make it through. My group chats are awash with war stories of hard-fought victories and those times I dropped an airstrike on my head. | Read review |
| GideonsGaming | Joseph Pugh | Recommended | 04-03-2024 | Helldivers 2 is my forever game, one that I will play for years, and where I look forward to each day, because who knows what new additions the ongoing galactic war effort will bring? Today a mech? Tomorrow a new weapon? Who knows, and that’s the beauty of it! | Read review |
| Glitched Africa | Marco Cocomello | 8.5 / 10 | 02-16-2024 | Helldivers 2 brings the over-the-top action and a little frustration to a never-ending war. It makes for a fun time with friends, is not meant to be played solo and can get quite overwhelming even after unlocking the best Stratagems and gear. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Adam Cook | 7.5 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Mario Vs Donkey Kong is a nice time for all, but those seeking major challenge or wholesale changes to the original might not find what they need here. | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kevin Dunsmore | 4 / 5 stars | 02-19-2024 | Launching a live service game in today’s environment is a risky proposition. Not only are the market leaders incredibly entrenched, but launching a brand new one without a satisfying gameplay loop, content variety and character could doom a game right out of the gate. Helldivers II bucks the trends with highly satisfying gameplay, a good variety of planets to explore and objectives to complete, unique hooks and hilarious improvised moments. Gunplay is punchy, smart and requires some thought to be effective, though it can also just be chaotic fun. Unique hooks like the Galactic War where you’re just another cog in the war effort rather than the “Chosen One” adds more stakes to every match. It’s also fun to hop into a match with friends and unleash all forms of chaos. It’s not perfect with Helldivers II unable to escape every Live Service pitfall. Progression feels unnecessarily padded with multiple currencies to juggle, the fun factor doesn’t extend to playing solo and technical issues plague the post-launch week. Still, Helldivers II delivers where it matters and leaves us excited to see what Arrowhead can bring to the game next rather than leaving us pondering if the game can be saved. Helldivers II is one galactic conflict players can happily dive into. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Alberto Lloret | 82 / 100 | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2 doesn’t invent anything, but what it does, it does so well and in such a fun way that it’s hard not to fall at its feet. You can reproach it for flaws, shortcomings and aspects that are not well balanced, but none of that prevents it from being a fun game, a guilty pleasure, especially in co-op. | Read review |
| IGN | Will Borger | 9 / 10 | 02-16-2024 | Helldivers 2’s combat feels fantastic, its missions stay fresh and interesting, and its smart progression system doesn’t nickel and dime you. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Andrea Peduzzi | 8.5 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Starting with a video game released in 2004 and intended for the handheld market, Nintendo has done an excellent job, producing an intriguing and incredibly rich remake that provides hours of entertainment. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Raquel Morales | 8 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Mario vs Donkey Kong for Switch is the perfect example of what 2D Mario means. A game that feels current despite already being 20 years old thanks to a completely renewed version graphically and with elements that favor its replayability. More strategic and fun puzzles that look better than ever. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Marc Rigg | 4.4 / 5 stars | 02-18-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a lot of fun, assuming you can get into a match to actually play it with other people. If you’re not interested in the co-op aspect of the game, then it might be a tough sell. You can technically play solo, while still being online, but there are no bots to assist, and the difficulty curve is largely designed to be tackled by multiple people. I can’t guarantee the game would be anywhere near as enjoyable played like this. | Read review |
| INVEN | Jaihoon Jeong | 8.5 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Despite the bold genre change, Helldivers 2 has successfully maintained the core enjoyment of its predecessor. The uncontrolled battlefield, incidents that make you laugh uncontrollably, and the thrill of victory make the game worth playing, even with the acceptance of crashes and glitches. | Read review |
| Jump Dash Roll | Derek Johnson | 8 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Helldivers 2 is the third-person Starship Troopers title that never was, which means that if you’ve been looking for an excuse to get into a bug fight, it’s absolutely worth picking up the title so you can do your part to stop the alien menace. | Read review |
| Kakuchopurei | Lewis Larcombe | 80 / 100 | 02-16-2024 | Helldivers 2 opts for a third-person over-the-shoulder perspective, bringing you closer to the action. This, along with its humourous military fanaticism tone and its improved shooting mechanics and action, is what warrants a sequel to take this current year filled with live service games by storm. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Zack Zwiezen | Recommended | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2 is proving to be some excellent co-op fun. Be sure to get the most out of the game by spending some time in the settings to configure the look and behavior of this bug-bashing experience. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Luis Sánchez | 9.4 / 10 | 02-29-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a massive success and a breath of fresh air for the entire industry. Arrowhead Game Studios surprises with an exceptional game that delivers an epic cinematic sensation, keeping you on the edge of your seat without any pretensions. All of this is achieved without succumbing to the vices of the industry, where players are often exploited with predatory monetization schemes. This deserves to be celebrated. At the moment, we can only highly recommend Helldivers 2; it is a much-needed triumph in the current gaming landscape. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Murat Olcan | 87 / 100 | 02-20-2024 | Despite its flaws, HellDivers 2 offers players real fun. Black humor disguised as democracy, propaganda, chaotic gameplay, and the relief of victory are among the game’s greatest strengths. The fact that the price is more affordable compared to the newly released games increases the attractiveness of the game. However, in order to unlock the true potential of the game, it is necessary to play with the right friends; That is, friends who can laugh at the chaos and friendly fire that will occur in the game. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | Recommended | 02-09-2024 | Although it’s undoubtedly fun, the biggest question for Helldivers 2 is its longevity and variety. We haven’t played enough to judge that yet but then longevity is always difficult to discuss with a live service game, whose future plans are always in a state of flux. However, especially with its sensible price tag, this is definitely the best of the month’s online-only shooters, even if much of the appeal comes from shooting the wrong targets. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Alex Varankou | 70 / 100 | 02-18-2024 | Helldivers 2 offers some chaotic and entertaining moments in the early stages, as you hop between planets with friends, call in devastating strikes, and spreading democracy. But as the hours begin to accumulate, increasing difficulty levels unravel some of the annoying design decisions, and along with persistent connectivity problems, it seems that the game could have used more prep time. | Read review |
| NextGen Player | Paul Hunter | 9 / 10 | 02-17-2024 | Helldivers 2 has single-handedly reinvigorated my love for live service games. The lighthearted yet intense gameplay feels like a throwback to multiplayer games from the PS3/360 era where the focus was on fun first and monetization second. Everything is on point with this game, from the immersive environment aesthetics to the great arsenal of weapons to the diverse enemy factions to yes, even the friendly-fire hilarity. | Read review |
| Nexus Hub | Hylton Goodwin | 9 / 10 | 02-20-2024 | Helldivers 2 might just be the best damn space shooter ever made | Read review |
| Nintendo Life | PJ O’Reilly | 7 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | Mario vs Donkey Kong serves up a slick return to the 2004 GBA adventure that finds fresh fun in cooperative play. Yep, the new co-op mode really is the star of the show this time out and, alongside two new worlds, ‘Plus’ versions of each level, a Time Attack mode, and fancy new looks and sounds, there’s plenty to dig into and enjoy with a core puzzle/platforming setup that has aged quite well. Just be aware that, if you’re a more seasoned player looking for platforming challenges, this game finds its strengths as an experience for younger gamers or as a co-op title to enjoy with your kids. Taken as such, it absolutely earns a recommendation. | Read review |
| One More Game | Chris Garcia | Recommended | 02-17-2024 | An utterly enjoyable shooter that shines the brightest with its co-op mechanics, Helldivers 2 has crushed all initial apprehensions about its live service and procedurally generated nature and delivered a dose of lovable democracy. The progression systems look to be on track to keep players invested for the foreseeable future, and the fun just doesn’t seem to want to stop anytime soon. | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Matthew Reyes | 8.6 / 10 | 02-19-2024 | Helldivers 2 is the rare game that honestly benefits from being live-service. Just within a week we’ve already seen new missions being added with new objectives for the community to work towards that will allow all players to reap the benefits. Arrowhead’s dedication and constant communication to enhance the experience for players deserves to be commended. Alongside those rewards, there’s also compensation for players who didn’t get proper rewards for their missions and XP bonuses to make up for time lost under server maintenance. Under the right conditions (working servers and your misfit group of friends), Helldivers 2 is simply one of the greatest co-op games to come out in recent memory. The feeling of fighting for my life waiting for extraction while the orchestra is blaring away is the greatest movie I’ve ever had the pleasure of taking part in. Unfortunately, it’s not always going to be available due to factors outside the game. Yet when it all comes together, democracy has never felt so good. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Jon Bailes | 86 / 100 | 02-15-2024 | Server issues aside, Helldivers 2 is a bombastic, strategically engaging and funny squad shooter. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Leo Gillick | 8 / 10 | 02-12-2024 | A game that has more bugs than it intended but still produces a standout experience. Helldivers 2 gives scale and gravitas to alien warfare in good old-fashioned multiplayer fun. | Read review |
| PCMag | Zackery Cuevas | 4 / 5 stars | 02-15-2024 | Helldivers 2’s thrilling action, absurd humor, and surprisingly fair monetization practices make it one of the best PlayStation 5 multiplayer games. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | John-Paul Jones | 9 / 10 | 02-12-2024 | There’s no getting around it | Read review |
| Press Start | Edward Darling | 9 / 10 | 02-22-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a masterstroke, a sensational sequel to one of my favourite games and an absolute must play for people who enjoy simple, cinematic, and irreverent fun. The shift in perspective, the upgraded graphics and sound design, and the hard lean into satirical humour have launched it easily into one of my favourite games of 2024. I highly recommend that you suit up and hit the Hellpods soldier, I’m doing my part, are you? | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Mateus Alexandre | 90 / 100 | 02-14-2024 | Helldivers II came as a surprise and marks a significant moment in PlayStation Studios’ console and PC releases. If it has the proper support, it will be a game remembered and played for years to come. | Read review |
| Push Square | Aaron Bayne | 9 / 10 | 02-13-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a riotous affair, offering up best-in-class gunplay, a truly epic and often cinematic experience, mixed in with one of the best co-op gameplay romps currently available. Its present matchmaking issues hold it back from true glory, but when it works it really works, forcing you to feel a sense of patriotism for Super Earth as the score swells and bullets fly. Helldivers 2 is a hell of a lot of fun, and is the best laugh you and your mates will have on PS5. | Read review |
| Rectify Gaming | Unknown | 7.5 / 10 | 02-20-2024 | Arrowhead’s Helldivers 2 is an addictively fun co-op shooter that delivers explosive thrills and laughs, when it works at least. The constant server and matchmaking issues prevent it from being a must play experience right now. But it is indeed a worthy successor to the original game, and a great homage to the sci-fi space action genre. Now will you show your patriotism for Super Earth, soldier? | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Ed Thorn | Recommended | 02-13-2024 | Impeccable action and clever details make this a rare breed of live service co-op shooter, where the focus lies squarely on laughter instead of racking up loot. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Kyle Gratton | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-13-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a refreshingly fun power fantasy, where mastery through teamwork breeds satisfaction. Diving out of a charging bug’s way and firing into its exposed back or blowing up a machine dropship before it can deploy its forces feels incredible. The game’s tone is finely tuned so that getting caught in a friendly airstrike and seeing your own character’s limbs go flying isn’t frustrating, it’s a hilariously minor setback. All told, the modestly priced, always online game takes a measured approach to its monetization while being built entirely to bolster its main gameplay loop, making Helldivers 2 a shining example against $70 live-service titles that nickel-and-dime their players. | Read review |
| Seasoned Gaming | Eric Bezanson | 8.5 / 10 | 02-20-2024 | Overall, I loved my time with Helldivers 2. The most exciting thing for me, though, is how well-positioned this game is to deliver into the future. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Peter Dragula | 7.5 / 10 | 02-13-2024 | Overall, Helldivers 2 is a decent co-op game. It’s simple, easy to play and quick to get into. Maybe it’s not a AAA title by any means and don’t expect a story, cutscenes, top graphics, but the gameplay here is good and at the same time the price is quite low. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Lucas White | 8 / 10 | 02-16-2024 | Honestly, just take a look at your social media platform of choice right now. Helldivers 2 is exploding, in a way that even fans of the first game have not expected. And there’s a reason for that. This game is rough around the edges, but those edges are serrated; there’s an authorship to the chaos and slight jank that feels woven together from top to bottom. The systems, humor, structure… every aspect of this game feeds into the other for an experience that nails cohesion. Helldivers 2 plants its flag in the dirt and announces itself with a rare confidence in video games today. Now get out there and serve some piping-hot Liber-Tea, soldier. | Read review |
| Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 02-18-2024 | Video Review | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Marcello Paolillo | 7.5 / 10 | 02-19-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a fun multiplayer co-op shooter clearly inspired by Starship Troopers, and that’s not too bad. Some server issues (which will be resolved eventually) and good | Read review |
| The Game Crater | Chris Melnyk | 8 / 10 | 02-12-2024 | Helldivers 2 offers players a bountiful amount of rich and engaging content, from varied and exciting missions to satisfying gunplay and engrossing progression systems. | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Marco Bortoluzzi | 9 / 10 | 02-15-2024 | What is most refreshing about Helldivers 2 is not just the fact that it’s an incredibly fun game, but that Arrowhead managed to grow in scope without losing its identity: this is, without question, a game made by the same people who created Magicka so many years ago. At present state, however, Helldivers 2 suffers from some stability issues, and employs an invasive anticheat. | Read review |
| The Jimquisition | James Stephanie Sterling | 7 / 10 | 02-21-2024 | Helldivers 2 struggles to appeal after stripping out so much of what made its prequel memorable, and if that’s all that was wrong with it I’d be sadly grateful. Miserably, it’s such a wreck of a product that it spends significant amounts of time in a near-unplayable state while the rest of the time is typified by frequent crashes and other technical difficulties. You’re supposed to expect a certain level of quality in a Sony-published game, and Helldivers 2 is a reminder that such expectations are naive as all fuck. | Read review |
| TheGamer | Sam Hallahan | 4 / 5 stars | 02-12-2024 | After all of this, I got what I was expecting from the game: a damn fun time. What I didn’t expect, however, is to be thinking about it so much after each game, wanting to dive right back into hell with others alongside me. I can’t wait to get better at the game, face bigger threats, to see what planets this galaxy holds, and just what each planet will throw my way. I’m not one to often fall into multiplayer experiences, but even with a quickly-resolved rocky launch, Helldivers 2 is a strong and careful foundation for the beginnings of a flagship multiplayer experience of 2024 and, if it bears the strength of its launch, into the years to come. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Stefan L | 8 / 10 | 02-14-2024 | A naked shower scene away from being an official Starship Troopers game, Helldivers 2 is gloriously daft fun when you can get a group of friends together to play. It’s just a shame about the matchmaking and crash bugs at launch. | Read review |
| Tom’s Hardware Italia | Andrea Riviera | 85 / 100 | 02-19-2024 | Helldivers 2 doesn’t revolutionize anything, but it comes across as a focused production that knows very well what it wants to achieve. From satisfying gameplay to a well-delineated progression, Arrowhead’s new game has fully hit the mark, giving players a solid and fun co-op experience. | Read review |
| Too Much Gaming | Carlos Hernandez | 8 / 10 | 02-26-2024 | Arrowhead Games Studios has delivered an impressive sequel that elevates the concept they introduced back in 2015, and has established a commendable foundation for a live service title. I can already see Helldivers 2 being at the top of people’s minds when they are faced with the question – do you have any co-op shooters to recommend? | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Cameron Waldrop | 4 / 5 stars | 02-12-2024 | The beauty of Helldivers 2 is in its simplicity. You’re just a single soldier tasked with the impossible job of contributing to a whole galaxy’s defense. But that’s also where the game shines, as you don’t play as Commander Shepard or someone massively important. You’re essentially just a grunt who survives long enough to get better gear and further fulfill their duty. Whether you want to sink hours into the war effort or just take on a few missions, this game is perfect for as much or as little as you want to give it. | Read review |
| Use a Potion | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 02-13-2024 | Helldivers 2 is absolutely brilliant, with the strategic yet action-packed gameplay complemented by the unpredictable madness that can unfold at any minute. Between the powerful weaponry and Stratagems at your disposal, the co-op focus that sees you working with three other players, and the sheer ferocity and overwhelming nature of your opponents, the game is packed with thrilling moments that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat as you barely scrape through each encounter. I’m completely hooked in, and with the developer promising free additions to the game in the future, I think I will be for a long, long time. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Lee Mehr | 9 / 10 | 03-12-2024 | Between wonderfully-addictive combat, encouraged comradery, & consistent tongue-in-cheek humor, Helldivers II is a fantastic way to spread liberty & prosperity through patriotic destruction. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 8.1 / 10 | 03-06-2024 | I had an exceptional amount of fun with HELLDIVERS 2 and will happily boot it up whenever I want to experience some frantic co-op shooting action. Throw in a superb sense of humour and oodles of rewarding unlockables and you’re left with a cape-worthy offering. 🎖️ | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Antony Terence | 8 / 10 | 02-19-2024 | Helldivers 2 delivers hilarious fist-clenching moments with rock-solid co-op shooter fundamentals but is held back by repetitive missions. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Kyle Nicol | 9 / 10 | 03-21-2024 | To put it plainly, Helldivers 2 is one of the best cooperative games in recent years. An uncomprisingly fun shooter, which may even stand up with the titans like Left 4 Dead 2, Monster Hunter World and Halo Master Chief Collection. Games like these, as well as Helldivers 2, are the ones I have spent hundreds of hours in, and will most likely continue to play for years to come. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to spread some managed democracy. Freedom don’t come free! | Read review |
| Wccftech | Ule Lopez | 6 / 10 | 02-18-2024 | Helldivers 2 is broken at launch. That much is almost unquestionable. The game has many high highs and also abysmally low lows. While I can recommend it for players who are seeking a good time due to the physics and the wacky situations a group of players can find themselves in at lower difficulties, it also is a tough recommendation for players seeking thrills with challenging yet fair content. That may change in the future if the developers can fix all the bugs and connection problems. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Mark Isaacson | 9 / 10 | 02-22-2024 | Crafted with intelligence and brimming with chaotic good vibes, Helldivers 2 sets the kind of tone many others in the action space should take notice of, overcoming some early tech issues by being a sheer delight to play. | Read review |
| Windows Central | Samuel Tolbert | 4.5 / 5 stars | 02-21-2024 | Helldivers 2 is a fantastic co-op game where anything can and will go wrong, thanks to several clever design choices. Calling in orbital bombardments while laying waste to alien swarms and robot armies has never been more fun. However, server capacity remains an ongoing problem for anyone looking to get in. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Cody Medellin | 8.5 / 10 | 02-16-2024 | Helldivers II is a good game that happens to have some current teething problems. Everything | Read review |
| ZTGD | Terrence Johnson | 7 / 10 | 02-21-2024 | If this review reads odd, I apologize; I always try to be real with y’all so I want to be upfront about the state of things with Helldivers 2. Yep, it sucks we can’t play right now due to stressed servers, the good thing is that the game is obviously hot but the bad is that it could lose the player base if this isn’t fixed quickly. Y’all know me, I am an optimist, I have high hopes for Skull & Bones and I am sure that Sony will step in and get this resolved and we can all get back to fighting for freedom and democracy together. But in the meantime, if you don’t mind maybe not being able to play when you want, or having random crashes and missing rewards then dive into Helldivers 2. These are all growing pains and can be resolved, at the end of the day this game is blast, made more so when you are playing with friends which is evident if you watch any of our gameplay videos. If you all pick this up and happen to be teamed with ZeroTolerance, just watch ya back because he is all about completing the mission, teammates be damned. LOL. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
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