It’s painful to see the back-to-back dangerous information in gaming these days, from studio closures to initiatives falling into limbo. I think about myself clutching a well-used copy of Fallout: New Vegas and shouting into the sky that now we have to return, as it will possibly really feel as if the habits and trajectory of the previous decade have failed us. The AAA trade’s transfer to live-service video games has led to quite a few storied disasters, and proper now it seems like virtually nothing new sticks round for lengthy. The exception to the rule just lately is Helldivers 2, which has deservedly discovered and retained an viewers.
One among my main pet peeves with present gaming is the variety of ‘throw-away’ and ‘taste of the month’ releases – particularly with regards to co-op video games. Helldivers 2 was set to be the following FOTM recreation for me, however in opposition to all odds – and its fair proportion of controversy – it has someway managed to remain related.
Helldivers 2 launched spectacularly, peaking at over 450k concurrent gamers on Steam alone, which was tempered by server teething points. In contrast to 2024’s different shock multiplayer hits like Palworld, nonetheless, it’s retained over 1 / 4 of its day by day gamers months after launch, which isn’t any small feat given simply what number of new PC video games are vying for our consideration. However how did it handle it?
First off, let’s speak concerning the worldbuilding. Tremendous Earth’s bravest soldier simulator is dripping with satire, and for many builders that’s the place the joke would cease. Arrowhead Video games has as an alternative leaned into that Starship Troopers aesthetic by posting Main Orders, tongue-in-cheek propaganda, and different in-world updates on its social accounts whereas nonetheless sharing patch notes and different related info. This efficient and inventive blurring of the traces has created a comedic camaraderie and virality round its posts.
Whereas Arrowhead Video games and PlayStation have just lately come underneath fireplace for the now-backtracked resolution to pressure PC gamers to hyperlink their Steam account to the PlayStation Community, I nonetheless respect the developer’s type of communication – it’s refreshing. It’s all too frequent to really feel completely disconnected from builders, particularly when issues begin to go mistaken. Arrowhead Video games invitations us to have interaction virtually regardless of the sentiment; the group behind Remaining Fantasy 14 has fostered an identical type, leading to a tight-knit neighborhood that has stood the check of time.
Secondly, Helldivers 2’s gameplay loop nurtures new gamers, making a welcoming environment whereas nonetheless permitting for a decently excessive talent ceiling. Like most PvE-focused multiplayer video games, competitiveness isn’t woven into the gameplay, and gamers searching for an pleasurable, informal time will really feel proper at dwelling on the decrease difficulties. You don’t have to fret about having the very best gear or lacking that one raid – you may simply click on ‘play’ then dive on in. Against this, these searching for a difficult expertise that requires adaptive playstyles gained’t be left dissatisfied – the notoriously troublesome automatons have seen to that.
The seamless drop-in, drop-out operate permits gamers to hitch others mid-mission to present an additional serving to hand; in case you have ever struggled to get a four-person group collectively because of busy schedules, you’ll instantly perceive why that is such a welcome addition.
However, most significantly, capturing bugs and robots is simply nice enjoyable. I don’t really feel like I have to troll via screeds of convoluted lore or lose sleep studying overly advanced methods and memorizing builds. As a substitute I can dive proper in and begin finishing targets. Helldivers 2 is the proper mix of simple enjoyable and – should you so want – escalating problem, so it’s no marvel individuals are so hooked.
However I can’t ignore the elephant within the room. The account-linking state of affairs rightly drew criticism, and gamers confirmed their disagreement by assessment bombing the sport on Steam. That mentioned, the short and open developer response has been met with plenty of positivity from the neighborhood. It’s endured as a result of gamers love its aesthetic, its simplicity, its developer comms. Helldivers 2 has survived the place different video games haven’t as a result of, at its core, it’s too good to surrender on.
